Physical Therapy

College of Health and Human Development

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Chair: Sheryl Low
Jacaranda Hall (JD) 1537
(818) 677-2203
www.csun.edu/hhd/pt

Faculty

Janet Adams
Janna Beling
Aimie Kachingwe
Sheryl Low
Beth Phillips
Peggy Roller,

Staff

Terre Blumer
Donna Van Helsland

Programs

Graduate Degree:

MPT in Physical Therapy

The Profession

The physical therapy profession contributes to the health needs of society. It focuses primarily on individuals whose impairment is related to the neuromusculoskeletal, pulmonary, integumentary and cardiovascular systems on methods of evaluating the functions of these systems and on the selection and application of the appropriate therapeutic procedures to maintain, improve, or restore these functions

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy is to prepare a competent, reflective physical therapist professional who is able to effectively practice both independently and interdependently in an ever-changing health care environment.

Academic Advisement

All students in the program must have advisement in order to enroll. Group advisement sessions are held regularly for students interested in applying for entrance into the program. The advisement schedule is available on our Department website. Inquiries can also be directed to the department by email. ADVISORS: Adams, Beling, Kachingwe, Low, Roller, Phillips

College of Health and Human Development

A. Admission Requirements

Completion of a Bachelors Degree prior to enrollment in the program
Admission to Graduate Studies at CSUN
Completion of all prerequisite courses or approved substitutions prior to enrollment with a minimum grade of C and minimum GPA of 3.00
Passing grade on the Upper Division Writing Exam (unless previously passed at CSUN or another CSU campus) prior to or within the first semester of the program
Completion of the Graduate Examination (GRE) prior to filing the application
The applicant must score at the 50th percentile or higher on at least one area of the GRE if the undergraduate cumulative GPA is less than 3.0

The following criteria are reviewed by the Selection Committee:

Academic success as reflected by performance in required prerequisites (GPA 3.0 minimum; a C- grade or below is not accepted), and performance in undergraduate coursework
Three (3) letters of recommendation, with at least one from a physical therapist
Validation of relevant experience (minimum of 100 documented work/volunteer hours.) At least two-thirds of validated hours must be in a physical therapist-supervised setting
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

Meeting the above criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the MPT Program.

The MPT Program begins in the fall semester. The initial filing period to the University for the fall semester is the previous November. The deadline for submitting the supplementary application for the Master of Physical Therapy program is the following December. Applicants are notified by February. Late applications may be considered dependent upon space and University restrictions.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Graduate Program

After successful completion of both the MPT and the 10-unit clinical component of the physical therapy curriculum, graduates will be prepared to:

Demonstrate comprehension of the foundational sciences of anatomy, physiology, neurology and pathology for application to the physical therapy clinical setting
Communicate in a professional manner to a diverse population in classroom activities and in clinical settings
Practice in an independent and interdependent role in providing physical therapy services
Practice as a reflective and competent clinician whose clinical decision making skills are guided by ethical practice standards
Apply the principles of evidence-based practice to clinical decision making

1. Prerequisite Courses:

The following courses or approved substitutions (taken at CSUN or other accredited college or university) must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in classes:

BIOL 101/L General Biology/Lab (3/1)
BIOL 211 Human Anatomy (2)
BIOL 212 Lab Studies in Human Anatomy (1)
BIOL 281 Human Physiology (3)
BIOL 282 Lab Studies in Human Physiology (3)
CHEM 101/L General Chemistry I/Lab (4/1)
CHEM 102/L General Chemistry II/Lab (4/1)
HSCI 390/L Biostatistics/Lab (or Statistics) (3/1)
PHY 100A/L General Physics/Lab (3/1)
PHY 100B/L General Physics/Lab (3/1)
PSY 150 Principles of Human Behavior
(or General or Developmental Psychology)(3)
PSY 310 Behavior Disorders (or Abnormal Psych) (3)

2. Required Qualifying Courses (31 Units)

Taken at CSUN during first year of the program while in “Conditionally Classified” graduate status.

PT 300 Introduction to Physical Therapy (2)
PT 301/L Applied Anatomy for PT/Lab (2/2)
PT 302/L Applied Physiology for PT/Lab (3/1)
PT 302A Pathophysiology (3)
PT 400/L Applied Biomechanics for PT/Lab (3/1)
PT 401A/L Therapeutic Procedures I/Lab (2/1)
PT 404 Proseminar: Physical Disability and Illness (3)
PT 405/L Applied Neuroscience/Lab (3/1)
PT 449/L Introduction to Patient Management: Evaluation and Intervention/Lab (2/2)

3. Required Mpt Courses (44 Units)

Taken during the second and third years of the program after achieving “Classified” Graduate status.

PT 502/L Evaluation and Treatment of the Pediatric Patient/Lab (2/1)
PT 503/L Therapeutic Intervention for Peripheral Dysfunction/Lab (2/2)
PT 504/L Therapeutic Intervention for Spinal Dysfunction/Lab (2/2)
PT 506A Evidence-Based Practice I (2)
PT 506B Evidence-Based Practice II (2)
PT 549/L Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Treatment/Lab (2/1)
PT 601B Business and Professional Concepts in Physical Therapy (3)
PT 601E Educational Practices in Physical Therapy (2)
PT 601G Geriatric Rehabilitation (2)
PT 601T/L Therapeutic Procedures II/Lab (1/1)
PT 603/L Prosthetics, Orthotics, Advanced Gait Analysis/Lab (2/1)
PT 604/L Neurologic Physical Therapy I/Lab (2/2)
PT 605 Pharmacology/Imaging for PT (2)
PT 607 Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy (2)
PT 608 Neurological Processes in Development and Aging (2)
PT 609/L Neurologic Physical Therapy II/Lab (2/2)

4. Electives (2 Units)

Select 2 units from the following, or other graduate courses as approved by advisor:

PT 505 Advanced Neuroscience (2)
PT 507/L Cardiac Rehabilitation/Lab (1/1)
PT 601N Neonatology for Physical Therapists (3)
PT 606/L Advanced Analytical Anatomy/Lab (2/1)
PT 610 Seminar in Advanced Orthopedics (3 )
PT 690 Special Topics in Physical Therapy (1-3)
PT 699A Independent Study (1)
PT 699B Independent Study (2)

5. Required Culminating Experience (3 units)

PT 697 (Directed Comprehensive Studies) (3)
The MPT requires this culminating experience. These units do not apply to the required 46-unit total.

6. Clinical Component (10 units)

All students must successfully complete the 10-unit clinical component of the curriculum. These units do not apply to the MPT degree and are earned during clinical internships and practicums scheduled during the academic year and summers.

PT 509C, D, E Internship (2, 2, 4)
PT 580A, B Practicum (1, 1 )

Total Units Required Excluding the Culminating Experience: 46

Course List

PT 300. Introduction to Physical Therapy (2): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program.Investigation and critique of the development and role of physical therapy in health care management. Includes ethics, medical terminology, and basic principles of clinical research.
PT 301/L. Applied Anatomy for Physical Therapists and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 301L.This course promotes an understanding of the structural and functional organization of the human body, with an emphasis on the neuromusculoskeletal system. Dissected and prosected cadavers, models and audiovisual materials are used to identify and study 3-dimensional relationships and their application to the principles of human movement. Although gross anatomy is the primary emphasis, histology, arthrology and myology are integrated with structure and function. two hours lecture, six hours lab per week.
PT 302/L. Applied Physiology and Physiological Assessment, and Lab (3/1): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 302L.Principles of circulatory, respiratory, neuromuscular, integumentary and metabolic physiology as applied to physical therapy procedures and therapeutic exercise. Utilization of cadaver dissection, selected demonstrations and assigned readings. Three hours lecture, three hours lab per week.
PT 302A. Pathophysiology (3): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program.Study of abnormal functioning of neuromusculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, integumentary, metabolic and endocrine systems. Includes causes of disease, inflammatory response, and immune system.
PT 400/L. Applied Biomechanics for the Physical Therapist and Lab (3/1): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 400L.Covers the biomechanical and kinesiological principles underlying the assessment of normal and pathological movement and function. Integration of knowledge from anatomy, biology and physics with current concepts in biomechanics as applied to the assessment of patients/clients is required. Lectures will focus on the biomechanical processes underlying human movement in health and disease including muscle and tissue mechanics, leverage, internal and external torque production, kinematics and kinetics. Labs will focus on the application of these principles to client/patient evaluation, including analysis of normal and pathological gait. Three hours lecture, three hours lab per week.
PT 401A/L. Therapeutic Procedures I and Lab (2/1): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 401AL.Physiological and physical basis for the selection and application of therapeutic modalities in the treatment of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and integumentary disorders. Emphasis on the application of thermal agents, hydrotherapy, traction and massage. two hours lecture, three hours lab per week. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 404. Proseminar: Physical Disability and Illness (3): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT Program. Study of multifaceted adjustment problems of hospitalization, illness, and disability. Emphasis on patient management and intervention.
PT 405/L. Applied Neuroscience and Lab (3/1): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT Program.Recommended Corequisite: PT 405L. Study of normal structure and function of the peripheral and central nervous system as a basis for understanding clinical manifestations seen in neurological disorders. Three hours lecture, three hours lab per week.
PT 449/L. Introduction to Patient Management: Evaluation and Intervention and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT program.Recommended Corequisite: PT 449L. Theoretical bases and principles of patient evaluation, mobility, and therapeutic exercise. Students learn to design and implement treatment programs to promote and maintain the health and wellness of patients with a variety of disease processes, orthopedic and neurological impairments.

Graduate

PT 502/L. Evaluation and Management of the Pediatric Patient and Lab (2/1): Prerequisite: PT 609/L. Recommended Corequisite: PT 502L.Evaluation procedures and treatment techniques for various pediatric disabilities, including neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions, mental retardation and learning disabilities. Emphasis is on developing observation skills to recognize developmental delays in infants and toddlers.
PT 503/L. Therapeutic Intervention for Peripheral Dysfunction and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 503L.Evaluation, methods of therapeutic intervention and clinical decision-making in the management of pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Emphasis on mobilization of the peripheral joints and extremities.
PT 504/L. Therapeutic Intervention for Spinal Dysfunction and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: PT 503/L. Recommended Corequisite: PT 504L.Evaluation, methods of therapeutic intervention and clinical decision-making in the management of pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Emphasis on spinal mobilization techniques.
PT 505. Advanced Neuroscience (2): Prerequisite: PT 609L.Application of motor control and motor learning theories to rehabilitation of individuals with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal dysfunction.
PT 506A. Evidence-Based Physical Therapy
Practice I (2): Prerequisite: HSCI 390 or equivalent statistics; classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT program.An introduction to the research processes that apply to evidence-based clinical decision making in the practice of physical therapy.
PT 506B. Evidence-Based Physical Therapy
Practice II (2): Prerequisite: PT 506A.Application of research design and appraisal of scientific literature to evidence-based clinical decision making in physical therapy. The student will develop a position paper addressing the accuracy and precision of diagnostic tests, the power of prognostic markers and the efficacy of therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive interventions in a specific diagnostic group.
PT 507/L. Cardiac Rehabilitation and Lab (1/1): Prerequisite: PT 549/L. Recommended Corequisite: PT 507L.Principles and practice of cardiac rehabilitation, including definitive evaluation and program planning for patients following myocardial infarction and/or patients following medical or surgical procedures related to cardiac abnormalities. Utilization of selected demonstrations and assigned readings. Field trips to clinics or hospitals may be required as part of lab section.
PT 509C. Internship in Physical Therapy I (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.Experience in evaluation, program planning, and application of physical therapy procedures in a supervised clinical environment. A minimum of 240 clock hours in supervised clinical experience. Part of the program clinical component; offered summer only. An academic internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 509D. Internship in Physical Therapy II (2): Prerequisite: PT 509C.Experience in evaluation, program planning and application of physical therapy procedures in a supervised clinical environment. A minimum of 240 clock hours in supervised clinical experience will be reflected upon completion of 509D summer session. An academic internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 509E. Internship in Physical Therapy (4): Prerequisite: PT 509D.Experience in evaluation, program planning, and application of physical therapy procedures in a supervised clinical environment. A minimum of 480 clock hours in supervised clinical experience will be reflected upon completion of 509E. An academic internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 549/L. Cardiopulmonary Assessment and Treatment and Lab (2/1): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 549L.Principles of pulmonary and cardiovascular pathophysiology and the physical therapy evaluation and treatment of those disorders. Utilization of selected demonstrations and assigned readings. two hours lecture, two hours lab per week.
PT 580A. Clinical Practicum I (1): Prerequisite: Acceptance into MPT Program.Directed supervision in selected physical therapy clinical facilities. Seminar on clinical decision-making process and documentation. An academic internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 580B. Clinical Practicum II (1): Prerequisite: PT 580A.Directed supervision in selected physical therapy clinical facilities. Emphasis on orthopedic or cardiopulmonary disabilities. Application of educational principles to the clinical setting. An academic internship course. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 601B. Business and Professional Concepts in Physical Therapy (3): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.This course examines the role of the physical therapist in administration and management of patient care, personnel and resources, with consideration of ethical, medical and legal implications. Concepts of organizational change, conflict management, and leadership style are included.
PT 601E/CS Educational Practices in Physical Therapy (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT program.Theory, principles, and current research applicable to patient/family education, patient compliance and management, staff development, clinical and continuing education. Requires design and application of an educational unit in a physical therapy, educational or other health care setting implemented through a community service requirement of 20-40 hours.
PT 601G. Geriatric Rehabilitation (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.In-depth investigation of selected topics in geriatric rehabilitation.
PT 601N. Neonatology for Physical Therapists (3): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.Neonatal assessment and intervention as applied to physical therapy; postnatal development with reference to muscle tone, range of motion, somatosensory skills and reflex development. Role of the physical therapist on the neonatal team. May require field observation.
PT 601T/L. Therapeutic Procedures II and Lab (1/1): Prerequisite: PT 401A/AL. Recommended Corequisite: PT 601TL.Physiological and physical bases for the selection of electrotherapeutic/electrodiagnostic procedures in the treatment and evaluation of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. Latest research and methodology in evaluation and treatment of wounds, including debridement, topical agents, dressing techniques, and use of physical therapeutic modalities. Field trips to clinical facilities will be required. One hour lecture, three hours lab per week.
PT 603/L. Prosthetics, Orthotics and Advanced Gait Analysis, and Lab (2/1): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 603L.In-depth study of the principles of orthotic and prosthetic management in patients with impairments and disabilities. Includes a systematic approach to gait analysis in normal and pathological conditions. two hours lecture, three hours lab per week.
PT 604/L. Neurological Physical Therapy I and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 604L.The 1st of a 2-semester course sequence focusing on management of patients/clients with neurological impairments and disabilities. Emphasis on examination procedures and clinical decision making.
PT 605. Pharmacological Intervention and Clinical Diagnostic Measures (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.A study of pharmacological interventions for individuals with dysfunction of the neuromusculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary systems. Also includes radiographic and clinical lab tests used in diagnosing a variety of diseases and disabilities.
PT 606/L. Advanced Analytical Anatomy and Lab (2/1): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 606L.This course is designed to provide the MPT student with an opportunity to perform detailed dissections on human cadavers and to appraise and critically evaluate the scientific literature associated with the anatomical region of interest. Each student will choose 4 anatomical regions to dissect (e.g., cervical spine, ankle, sacroiliac joint, brain, knee, etc.). Dissected cadavers, models, and audiovisual materials may be used as supplementary aids to identify structures and study 3-dimensional kinematic relationships as they apply to the principles of Please eliminate large gaps between words human movement.
PT 607. Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.Study of signs and symptoms manifested by a variety of diseases and the process of relating them to specific medical conditions. Identification of symptom complexes and the systematic techniques used in arriving at the PT diagnosis. Process of and reasons for referral to other practitioners.
PT 608. Neurological Processes in Development and Aging (2): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.Study of the relationship between the principles of neurology and the development of motor skills from birth through senescence. Emphasis on applying those principles to physical therapy practice. May require field observations.
PT 609/L. Neurological Physical Therapy II and Lab (2/2): Prerequisite: PT 604/L; Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT program. Recommended Corequisite: PT 609L.Advanced study of the philosophies, treatment and intervention skills for the neurologic patient. two hours lecture, six hours lab per week.
PT 610. Seminar in Advanced Orthopedics (3): Prerequisite: PT 503/L, PT 504/L.Development of advanced examination and evaluation skills and therapeutic intervention strategies in the management of musculoskeletal system dysfunctions. Emphasis on critical thinking, collaborative learning in clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice, and service learning. Students will be involved in a minimum of 24 hours of service learning administering physical therapy services at CSUN’s Student Health Center to meet the needs of a diverse student community. two hours seminar per week, 24 hours service learning per semester.
PT 690A-J. Special Topics in Physical Therapy (1-3): Prerequisite: Classified graduate status; acceptance into MPT Program.A seminar-discussion course centering on advanced study in the subject matter areas at the graduate level in physical therapy. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, collaborative learning in clinical decision-making and evidence-based practice.
PT 697. Directed Comprehensive Studies (3): Culminating Experience. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 698. Thesis or Graduate Project (1-6): Enrollment with advisor approval only. (Credit/No Credit Only)
PT 699A-D. Independent Study (1-4): Enrollment with advisor approval only. Investigation of a significant issue related to the physical therapy field.