DPT & MSAT Dual Degree

Program Overview

The DPT & MSAT Dual Degree program combines expertise in athletic training and physical therapy, preparing graduates to excel in sports medicine. Through a rigorous curriculum and clinical experiences, students develop skills in rehabilitation, prevention, and coaching to support athletes' development. The program's small class sizes and dedicated faculty foster personalized attention and mentorship, ensuring students' success in this competitive field.

Program Outline

Outline:

Track I:

• Summer Year 1: Focuses on foundational knowledge in athletic training, including risk management, prevention, anatomy, therapeutic exercise, examination, assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic modalities, and clinical field experience.
• Fall Year 1: Dives deeper into medical terminology, gross human anatomy, examination and intervention, histophysiological aspects of movement, evidence-based practice, research design, professional issues, and pre-clinical screening.
• Spring Year 1: Continues the exploration of gross human anatomy, musculoskeletal system, histophysiological aspects of movement, clinical documentation, evidence-based practice, integrated clinical experience, functional neuroanatomy, medical fundamentals, neurocognitive assessment, and clinical field experience.
• Summer Year 2: Covers advanced topics in athletic training, including leadership, therapeutic exercise, examination and assessment, advanced rehabilitation, clinical decision making, capstone project development, imaging, casting, and bracing.
• Fall Year 2: Delves into musculoskeletal system, pathology, integrated clinical experience, clinical conference, adult neurotherapeutics, gait analysis, biomechanics, sports nutrition, and clinical field experience.
• Spring Year 2: Focuses on pediatric physical therapy, musculoskeletal system, professional issues, non-ambulatory care, advanced medical fundamentals, clinical medicine, and clinical field experience.
• Summer Year 3: Offers the first full-time clinical education experience in physical therapy.
• Fall Year 3: Covers amputee rehabilitation, wound care fundamentals, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, professional issues, clinical conference, advanced topics, and comprehensive examination.
• Spring Year 3: Includes contemporary business practices, clinical field experience in athletic training, theories and practice of conditioning athletes, and terminal full-time clinical education experience in physical therapy.
• Summer Year 4: Provides the second terminal full-time clinical education experience in physical therapy.
• Fall Year 4: Consists of clinical field experience in athletic training, healthcare administration, and senior seminar.

Track II:

• Summer Year 1: Similar to Track I, focusing on foundational knowledge in athletic training.
• Fall Year 1: Continues with advanced topics in athletic training, including evidence-based practice, sports nutrition, and clinical field experience.
• Spring Year 1: Further explores clinical aspects, including psychological intervention, clinical medicine, neurocognitive assessment, ethics, and professionalism.
• Fall Year 2: Transitions to physical therapy coursework, covering medical terminology, anatomy, examination and intervention, histophysiological aspects of movement, evidence-based practice, research design, professional issues, and capstone project development.
• Spring Year 2: Continues physical therapy coursework with anatomy, musculoskeletal system, histophysiological aspects of movement, clinical documentation, evidence-based practice, integrated clinical experience, functional neuroanatomy, medical fundamentals, and capstone in athletic training.
• Fall Year 3: Focuses on musculoskeletal system, pathology, integrated clinical experience, clinical conference, adult neurotherapeutics, gait analysis, biomechanics, and clinical field experience.
• Spring Year 3: Continues with pediatric physical therapy, musculoskeletal system, professional issues, non-ambulatory care, advanced medical fundamentals, clinical experience, and health care administration.
• Summer Year 3: Offers the first full-time clinical education experience in physical therapy.
• Fall Year 4: Covers amputee rehabilitation, wound care fundamentals, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, professional issues, clinical conference, advanced topics, and comprehensive examination.
• Spring Year 4: Includes contemporary business practices, clinical field experience in athletic training, theories and practice of conditioning athletes, and terminal full-time clinical education experience in physical therapy.

Other:

• Program Objectives: The DPT & MSAT Dual Degree program aims to prepare graduates with expertise in sports medicine, encompassing skills in rehabilitation, prevention, and coaching to assist athletes in their growth and development.
• Admission Information: The program is highly competitive, admitting only five students annually.
Applicants must complete the PTCAS application and the Shenandoah Dual Degree Supplemental Application.
• Application Process: Applicants should contact the program coordinators for both DPT and MSAT to confirm their interest and navigate the application process.
• Faculty Role in Admissions: Both DPT and MSAT faculty are involved in the selection process, reviewing applications and ranking candidates.