Program Overview

Physical Therapy Program Details

The Physical Therapy program at the University of Illinois Chicago offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for a career in physical therapy. The program includes a range of courses that cover the theoretical and practical aspects of physical therapy, including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and motor control.

Course Descriptions

• PT 440: Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Physical Therapy in the United States: This course is designed for international students to develop and apply their learning from their physical therapy curriculum in an academic training environment.
• PT 496: Independent Study: This course provides students with the opportunity to pursue independent study in a specific area of interest related to rehabilitation sciences.
• PT 502: Measuring Motor Development and Function: This course covers the psychometric characteristics of standardized tests of motor development and function.
• PT 503: Analysis of Motor Development: This course examines sensorimotor development in children, relating changes to maturation, skill acquisition, motor learning, environmental influences, and individual differences.
• PT 504: Assessment of Developmental Processes in Infancy: This course assesses motor and behavioral competencies of the newborn, both term and preterm, and analyzes the literature on intervention.
• PT 505: Advances in Rehabilitation Sciences I: This course highlights the advances in knowledge in rehabilitation of neurological, pediatric, and geriatric populations.
• PT 506: Advances in Rehabilitation Sciences II: This course covers advances in knowledge in non-pharmacological management of pain and rehabilitation of orthopedic and cardiopulmonary populations.
• PT 510: Control of Posture and Locomotion: This course provides an analysis of normal and developmental aspects of posture, balance, and gait.
• PT 511: Therapeutic Intervention: This course provides clinicians with an approach to integrate research into practice.
• PT 520: Mechanics of Joint Dysfunction: This course applies principles of mechanics to the pathology of joint components.
• PT 521: Biomechanics of Locomotor Dysfunction: This course applies principles of mechanics to the study of human movement and walking patterns.
• PT 529: Science in Practice Seminar I: This course introduces methods of scientific inquiry as applied to clinical problem-solving in physical therapy.
• PT 531: Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I: This course covers examination and physical therapy interventions for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper and lower extremities.
• PT 532: Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II: This course covers physical therapy management of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders of the head, neck, and spine.
• PT 533: Neuromuscular Dysfunction I: This course covers management of clients with neuromuscular disorders, including pathophysiology, risk factors, and medical/surgical management.
• PT 534: Neuromuscular Dysfunction II: This course covers examination, assessment, development of goals, and intervention plans for persons with neuromuscular disorders.
• PT 540: Principles and Practices of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: This course focuses on the major causes of premature morbidity and mortality, theoretical determinants of health and health-related behaviors.
• PT 541: Theoretical Applications of Technology in Health Promotion and Health Care: This course introduces students to the general use and overall value of information and communication technology in health and health care settings.
• PT 542: Applied Health Communications and Content Marketing: This course provides students with a critical understanding of the role of print, broadcast, and online media in health promotion and disease prevention.
• PT 550: Teaching Approaches and Strategies: This course describes and discusses evidence-based teaching approaches and provides the opportunity to develop and assess active teaching strategies.
• PT 555: Cardiovascular Imaging and Research Methods I: This course teaches students to understand the principal aspects of cardiac and vascular imaging modalities.
• PT 556: Cardiovascular Imaging: This course teaches the skills and knowledge to conduct cardiac and vascular imaging studies using advanced tools and techniques.
• PT 557: Ultrasound Clinical Rotation I: This course provides students with the clinical skills and knowledge to conduct cardiac and vascular imaging studies and interpret clinical findings.
• PT 558: Ultrasound Clinical Rotation II: This course provides students with the clinical skills and knowledge to conduct cardiac and vascular imaging studies and interpret clinical findings.
• PT 562: Neuroplasticity and Rehabilitation: This course reviews evidence and mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity from a neural-behavioral perspective.
• PT 563: Research Methods in Rehabilitation Sciences: This course provides students with foundational skills in clinical research, including formulation of research questions, research designs, and review of outcome measures.
• PT 570: Planning and Evaluating Intervention Programs in Various Settings: This course covers planning, implementation, and evaluation of services for children with special needs.
• PT 571: Biomechanics of Normal and Abnormal Movement: This course examines principles of statics and dynamics exemplified by human movements.
• PT 572: Psychology of Motor Control and Learning: This course covers advanced principles of the control and acquisition of complex, voluntary skills.
• PT 573: Instrumentation for Rehabilitation Sciences Research: This course introduces data acquisition and signal processing theory and techniques.
• PT 574: Instrumentation for Motor Control Research: This course introduces oscilloscopes, amplifiers, filters, and transducers.
• PT 580: Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy I: Extremities: This course promotes clinical reasoning and understanding of the research literature for enhancement of evidenced-based clinical practice.
• PT 581: Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Orthopedic Manual Therapy II: Spine: This course promotes clinical reasoning and understanding of the research literature for enhancement of evidenced-based clinical practice.
• PT 582: Advanced Manipulation and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy I: Extremities: This course provides an evidenced-based approach toward evaluation and management of peripheral musculoskeletal disorders.
• PT 583: Advanced Manipulation and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy II: Spine: This course provides an evidenced-based approach toward evaluation and management of spinal musculoskeletal disorders.
• PT 584: Clinical Mentorship I: Extremities: This course provides physical therapy practice under the tutelage of a mentor, with emphasis on peripheral musculoskeletal disorders.
• PT 585: Clinical Mentorship II: Spine: This course provides physical therapy practice under the tutelage of a mentor, with emphasis on spinal musculoskeletal disorders.
• PT 586: Physical Therapy Residency Mentorship: This course provides students with the opportunity to apply and develop advanced skills in a specialized clinical environment.
• PT 587: Post Professional Residency: Clinical Educator Practicum: This course is designed for students in the Clinical Educator Track-Post-Professional Physical Therapy Residency to become proficient in developing and delivering lectures and running labs.
• PT 591: Special Topics in Rehab Science Lecture-Discussion: This course covers selected topics of interest related and tangential to rehab science, education, health, wellness, prevention, and health policy.
• PT 592: Special Topics in Rehab Science Lecture and Laboratory: This course covers selected topics of interest related and tangential to rehab science, education, health, wellness, prevention, and health policy.
• PT 594: Special Topics in Rehabilitation Sciences: This course covers selected topics of interest within physical rehabilitation specialty areas, with particular attention to evidence-based strategies in physical rehabilitation.
• PT 595: Seminar in Rehabilitation Sciences: This course covers topics of current interest in physical rehabilitation sciences, including discussions of current research and important new developments.
• PT 596: Independent Study: This course provides graduate students with the opportunity to pursue independent study not related to their project/thesis research.
• PT 597: Project in Rehabilitation Sciences: This course provides a supervised practicum in a laboratory or field setting, where recent research findings are applied, tested, and evaluated.
• PT 598: Research in Rehabilitation Sciences: This course provides independent research in one area of rehabilitation sciences, directed by a faculty member.
• PT 600: Introduction to Physical Therapy: This course introduces the profession of physical therapy, including an overview of physical therapist practice, education framework, professional behavior, and medical terminology.
• PT 603: Human Gross Anatomy for Physical Therapy: This course provides an in-depth investigation of human anatomy, with lectures and cadaver dissection labs, emphasizing anatomy relevant to physical therapy practice.
• PT 604: Anatomy of the Central Nervous System, Head and Neck for Physical Therapy: This course provides an in-depth investigation of the nervous system and head and neck gross anatomy, emphasizing anatomy relevant to physical therapy practice.
• PT 605: Systems Physiology and Plasticity: This course presents the mechanisms underlying the capacity to adapt to environmental or physiological stressors of cells, tissues, and organ systems in health and disease.
• PT 616: Biophysics: This course applies physical properties to the human body and biological tissues, including clinical and diagnostic applications of light, acoustics, electricity, thermal agents, and electromagnetic energy.
• PT 617: Applied Kinesiology: This course emphasizes the study of human movement, including biomechanics, functional anatomy, pathokinesiology, and palpation.
• PT 618: Motor Control: This course covers the general concepts pertaining to the normal control and learning of movement and posture.
• PT 620: Clinical Applications: This course prepares students to make decisions relative to their clinical learning and analyze professional decisions from multiple perspectives.
• PT 622: Psychosocial Theory and Practice I: This course prepares physical therapists to work with persons and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups.
• PT 623: Psychosocial Theory and Practice II: This course covers the neurophysiological, perceptual, and emotional aspects of human behavior, environmental, cultural, and developmental determinants of behavior.
• PT 624: Therapeutic Applications: This course provides foundational learning, including knowledge and psychomotor skills necessary to perform examination procedures and therapeutic interventions.
• PT 625: Professional Development I: This course provides an overview of physical therapist practice, including laws, ethics, values, evidence, documentation of patient management, and risk management.
• PT 626: Professional Development II: This course explores the impact of social and political issues on the practice of physical therapy and identifies strategies for improving healthcare.
• PT 627: Professional Development III: This course covers management theory and practice, healthcare economics, and methods of assuring quality.
• PT 628: Case Management in Physical Therapy Practice: This course covers case management as a special function within healthcare systems.
• PT 629: Science in Practice Seminar I: This course introduces methods of scientific inquiry as applied to clinical problem-solving in physical therapy.
• PT 630: Science in Practice Seminar II: This course applies scientific inquiry to selected cases in clinical problem-solving.
• PT 631: Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I: This course covers examination and physical therapy interventions for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper and lower extremities.
• PT 632: Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II: This course covers physical therapy management of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders of the head, neck, and spine.
• PT 633: Neuromuscular Dysfunction I: This course covers management of clients with neuromuscular disorders, including pathophysiology, risk factors, and medical/surgical management.
• PT 634: Neuromuscular Dysfunction II: This course covers examination, assessment, development of goals, and intervention plans for persons with neuromuscular disorders.
• PT 635: Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction: This course covers management of clients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders.
• PT 636: Applied Pathophysiology: This course applies content from foundations courses to the management of clients with endocrine/metabolic, gastrointestinal, genito-urinary, or integumentary disorders.
• PT 638: Integration and Assessment I: This course integrates and applies knowledge gained across the curriculum, including theoretical and technical knowledge through patient/physical therapist simulations.
• PT 639: Integration and Assessment II: This course integrates and applies knowledge gained across the curriculum, including theoretical and technical knowledge through patient/physical therapist simulations.
• PT 640: Clinical Internship I: This course provides a supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice.
• PT 641: Clinical Internship II: This course provides a supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice.
• PT 642: Clinical Internship III: This course provides a supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice.
• PT 643: Clinical Internship IV: This course provides a supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice.
• PT 647: Clinical Education Experience V: This course provides a supervised full-time practicum in a clinical setting to prepare students for entry-level practice.
• PT 648: Clinical Education Readiness: This course provides a supervised full-time readiness practicum in a clinical setting for DPT students who do not meet the required performance expectations.
• PT 670: Topics in Sports Physical Therapy: This course surveys how sport-related injury may affect various systems in the body.
• PT 671: Physical Therapy Management of the Older Adult: This course addresses physiologic changes of aging, common pathologies, and physical therapy management of the older adult population.
• PT 672: Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and Other Gender Considerations: This course covers the role of the physical therapist in the treatment of pelvic issues and gender health throughout the lifespan.
• PT 694: Special Topics in Physical Therapy: This course covers selected topics of interest within physical therapy specialty areas.
• PT 696: Independent Study: This course provides Doctor of Physical Therapy students with the opportunity to pursue independent study in addition to required coursework.