Program Overview

Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science

The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Iowa offers several programs, including the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, the MA/PhD program, and the Combined DPT/PhD program.

Education

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
  • Admissions
  • Curriculum
  • Clinical Education
  • Student and Program Resources
• MA/PhD Program
  • From Our PhD Students
  • Admissions
  • Objectives
• Combined DPT/PhD

Research

• Human Movement Control/Performance
• Neuromuscular Biomechanics
• Neurobiology of Pain
• Human Integrative and Cardiovascular Physiology
• Applied Neuroplasticity
• Human Performance and Clinical Outcomes
• Movement, Imaging & Rehabilitation

Clinical Education

Clinical education is a valued component of professional formation. Actively engaging in the provision of physical therapy services fosters student development in professional identity, motivation, confidence, communication, and clinical skills. Our clinical education curriculum begins in the first fall semester and consists of both integrated and terminal clinical education experiences.

Our Mission

The mission of our clinical education program is to graduate new physical therapists who strive for excellence in professional behavior, clinical care, and lifelong learning. Our Directors of Clinical Education provide advisement, teaching, support, and student assessment throughout the clinical education curriculum to endorse this mission.

Clinical Education Curriculum Overview

Integrated Clinical Education (ICE)

ICE experiences are scheduled during the first and second year of the program to afford the opportunity for students to apply their new skills and knowledge in an authentic learning environment, explore a variety of patient/client care settings, and to begin to develop their professional identity. ICE experiences may be part-time or full-time.

Terminal Clinical Education (TCE)

Full-time clinical education experiences that occur after the student has completed the didactic curriculum of a physical therapist professional education program. The expected outcome of the final, or terminal, experience is entry-level performance.

Clinical Education Curriculum

Year 1-Integrated Clinical Education

• Course: PTRS:5790-ICE I
  • Half-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Begin to apply new knowledge and skills in a clinic environment
• Course: PTRS:5791-ICE II
  • Full-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Practice skills learned in the classroom in a clinic environment

Year 2-Integrated Clinical Education

• Course: PTRS:5793-ICE III
  • Rural Health Initiative (RHI)-Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Outpatient Clinics and Home Health
  • 6-week full-time clinical experience at RHI partnered sites
  • Primary care role allows students to practice the skills learned in the first year on a variety of patient types--ages, diagnoses, life experiences
• Course: PTRS:5792-ICE IV
  • 2-week full-time clinical experience in any setting
  • Often used to explore a specialty area of practice or to round out a well-balanced overall clinical education plan

Year 3-Terminal Clinical Education

• Course: PTRS:6794-TCE I
  • Three 9-week full-time clinical experiences
  • Occur after the completion of didactic curriculum
  • Students must complete one outpatient orthopedic and one medically complex clinical experience.
  • Their 3rd experience may be in a setting of their choice, including specialty settings if desired.
• Courses: PTRS:6795-TCE II, PTRS:6796-TCE III
  • Full-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Practice skills learned in the classroom in a clinic environment

About

Who We Are

• Department History
• Mission and Vision

Welcome from the Chair

Join Our Team

New Facilities

Support Us

People

• Primary Faculty
• Staff
• PhD & DPT Students
• Alumni
• Adjunct Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty
• Secondary Faculty

News & Events

• Educational Summit
• Alumni Newsletter