Program Overview

The PhD in Physical Therapy at the University of Central Arkansas is designed to prepare students to become scholars and leaders. The scholar not only discovers, integrates, and applies knowledge but also communicates and disseminates it.

The PhD graduate has the ability to make significant contributions to scholarship in physical therapy. Students in a

PhD program are required to grasp complex intellectual issues in addition to the highly technical standards necessary for research and scholarship. 

PhD Program Graduate will Demonstrate:

• Skill to conduct original research, providing evidence of an understanding of research designs and the ability to formulate, plan methodologies, conduct data gathering (qualitatively and quantitatively), draw conclusions, and effectively communicate research findings;
• Commitment to engage in scholarship after graduation and to discover new knowledge and develop theoretical principles that advance the understanding of their chosen discipline;
• Breadth of knowledge of the discipline and the research literature;
• The ability to teach at beginning and advanced levels of instruction; and
• Leadership traits that guide the profession in identifying and resolving important questions and problems.

The PhD degree program graduate will be able to

1. Demonstrate skill in original research, providing evidence of an understanding of research design and the ability to implement the scientific method for qualitative or quantitative research.
2. Engage in scholarship through dissemination of knowledge to advance understanding of the theoretical principles underlying the framework of the discipline.
3. Exhibit a breadth of knowledge of the discipline and the skill to critically evaluate the published literature with respect to evidence-based models.
4. Organize and integrate current evidence and best practices in teaching clinical and didactic physical therapy courses.
5. Display leadership traits that guide the profession in identifying and resolving important questions, issues, and problems.