Program Overview

Introduction to the Physical Therapy Program

The Physical Therapy program at Virginia Commonwealth University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the field of physical therapy. The program includes a wide range of courses that cover various aspects of physical therapy, including gross anatomy, kinesiology, applied exercise physiology, and more.

Program Courses

The following courses are part of the Physical Therapy program:

• PHTY 501: Gross Anatomy (Physical Therapy): Examines the structural and functional anatomy of the human musculoskeletal system through lecture and cadaver dissection.
• PHTY 502: Kinesiology: Introduces the student to the kinematics and kinetics of human movement, with emphasis on osteokinematics, arthrokinematics, and the structures that limit and/or guide movement.
• PHTY 503: Applied Exercise Physiology: Integrates principles and practices of applied physiology, health promotion, wellness, and adult fitness, with emphasis on assessing physical fitness and developing therapeutic exercise prescriptions.
• PHTY 505: Applied Microscopic Anatomy for Physical Therapy: Examines the basic components of cells in terms of their structure and function, with a focus on cells and tissues of greatest importance to physical therapists.
• PHTY 506: Functional Neuroanatomy: Examines the basic structure and function of the nervous system, with special emphasis on topics of greatest concern to physical therapists.
• PHTY 508: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I: Teaches basic evaluation methods and measurement procedures used by physical therapists, including history taking and physical examination.
• PHTY 510: Rehabilitation I: Introduces basic clinical skills and procedures, including measurement of vital signs, patient lifting and moving techniques, and medical asepsis.
• PHTY 512: Health Care Systems: Introduces students to issues in health care related to organization, finance, access, and regulation of services for individuals, groups, and communities.
• PHTY 520: Clinical Education I: Introduces the profession of physical therapy, with emphasis on professionalism, ethics, and professional behaviors.
• PHTY 531: Evidence-based Practice Concepts: Introduces concepts and principles of the research process, including question, theory, and hypothesis development, research design, and methodology.
• PHTY 537: Rehabilitation II: Presents evaluation and treatment methodology for the acute care patient, with focus on the rehabilitation phase of patient care for different patient diagnoses.
• PHTY 540: Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy: Introduces the student to sociocultural and psychosocial characteristics of patient populations that impact the rehabilitation process.
• PHTY 601: Advanced Measurement Concepts: Investigates the principles of measurement theory as applied to clinical practice, with review of basic principles guiding electronic instrumentation and electromyography.
• PHTY 603: Evidence-based Practice I: Introduces concepts and principles of the research process, including critical review of professional literature and determination of the relevance and applicability of research findings to specific patients.
• PHTY 604: Evidence-based Practice II: Provides an advanced review of the concepts and principles of the research process and evidence-based practice, with focus on skills needed to develop relevant clinical questions and perform a critical appraisal of professional literature.
• PHTY 605: Foundations for Pathokinesiology: Studies the principles that form a foundation for understanding pathokinesiology and therapeutic kinesiology, with integration of principles of motor development, control, and learning.
• PHTY 606: Therapeutic Kinesiology: Studies motor behavior in both normal and pathological conditions, with reading and discussion of the basic literature of current neurologic approaches to therapeutic exercises.
• PHTY 609: Clinical Biomechanics: Provides an opportunity to develop knowledge in sufficient depth to understand how selected biomechanical factors influence normal and pathologic human form and movement.
• PHTY 610: Physical Therapy Evaluation in the Direct Access Setting: Covers critical physical therapy evaluation skills necessary for autonomous practice in the adult outpatient orthopaedic setting.
• PHTY 611: Research Process: Readings, discussions, and reports on the current status of professional literature and validation of clinical practice, clinical administration, and professional education.
• PHTY 613: Evidence for Orthopaedic Practice: Evidence-based medicine course for orthopedic physical therapy, with focus on acquisition, reading, and interpretation of published studies in the area of orthopaedic physical therapy.
• PHTY 614: Evidence for Neurologic Practice: Evidence-based medicine course for neurologic physical therapy, with focus on acquisition, reading, and interpretation of published studies in the area of neurologic physical therapy.
• PHTY 615: Pharmacology (Physical Therapy): Series of lectures on the integrated approach to the study of human disease and pharmacotherapeutics, with emphasis on the pharmacological management of common disease states affecting physical function.
• PHTY 616: Evidence of Tissue Healing and Therapeutic Modalities: Distance-based course that focuses on current trends and topics of tissue healing, including the effects of physical therapy interventions on healing tissues using an evidence-based approach.
• PHTY 617: t-DPT Gross Anatomy: Focuses on musculoskeletal anatomy with high clinical relevance for physical therapists, with incorporation of introductory material on diagnostic imaging of the spine and extremities.
• PHTY 621: Biophysical Agents: Examines the theoretical bases for and therapeutic application of thermal, mechanical, and electrical agents, with emphasis on the physical and physiological effects, indications, and contraindications.
• PHTY 623: Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy: Applies principles of pathophysiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, including physical therapy assessment and treatment of patients with cardiac and respiratory disorders.
• PHTY 624: Clinical Problem-solving I: Provides an advanced review of the concepts and principles of the research process and evidence-based practice, with focus on skills needed to perform a critical appraisal of professional literature.
• PHTY 626: Lifespan I: Covers models of typical motor, psychosocial, neurological, and musculoskeletal development from birth through adolescence, with emphasis on principles of examination and evaluation in pediatrics.
• PHTY 627: Lifespan II: Discusses age-related changes in physical structure, motor control, and psychosocial/cognitive issues in humans from middle adulthood to the end of life, with emphasis on the geriatric population.
• PHTY 629: Special Topics in Physical Therapy: Provides an opportunity to pursue and present a topic of interest related to physical therapy evaluation and treatment.
• PHTY 640: Neurologic Physical Therapy: Applies principles of motor development, control, and learning to the evaluation and remediation of motor disorders, with critical survey of current theory and practice of neuromotor therapeutics.
• PHTY 644: Orthotics and Prosthetics: Prepares the student to participate as a member of the professional prosthetic or orthotic clinic team, with integration of material from other courses and teaching of basic skills in orthotic and prosthetic assessment, prescription, and training.
• PHTY 646: Clinical Medicine: Covers topics in clinical medicine and the sciences relevant to the practice of physical therapy, with participation of medical practitioners from the VCU Medical Center and surrounding areas.
• PHTY 648: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II: Examines principles and techniques used by physical therapists for the treatment of patients with orthopaedic disorders, with use of scientific evidence and theoretical rationale in a problem-solving approach.
• PHTY 650: Clinical Education II: Eight-week, full-time clinical experience designed to develop competency in physical therapy evaluation and treatment, with emphasis on the use of sound scientific rationale and problem-solving skills in all aspects of patient care.
• PHTY 651: Professional Issues in Physical Therapy: Discusses professional issues facing the modern physical therapy practitioner, including ethical decision making, state and national current physical therapy issues, and legislative efforts.
• PHTY 654: Clinical Problem-solving II: Provides the opportunity to review, integrate, and develop strategies using previously presented material and research to present an oral case study of a patient or patients from the clinical experience.
• PHTY 660: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy III: Synthesizes information from prerequisite classes through case study examples, hands-on practice, and lecture on the incorporation of musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment.
• PHTY 661: Administration and Management in Physical Therapy: Provides students with a basic understanding of operational issues related to physical therapy practice in a variety of settings, with topics including leadership, operational and business success measures, and reimbursement.
• PHTY 670: Clinical Integration of Physical Therapy Concepts: Uses a problem-based learning approach to challenge students to integrate knowledge and current literature to support clinical decisions related to patient case studies.
• PHTY 674: Clinical Problem-solving III: Integrates material from D.P.T. courses with clinical research, with experience in writing individual case reports dealing in depth with the history, current status, and problems in a given area of clinical specialization.
• PHTY 676: Comprehensive Study of Physical Therapy Practice: Reviews topics in practice patterns of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, integumentary, and professionalism relative to physical therapy practice, with preparation for the national physical therapy examination.
• PHTY 680: Clinical Education III: Twelve-week full-time clinical experience designed to allow the student to develop entry-level competence in physical therapy evaluation and treatment techniques, with emphasis on the use of sound scientific rationale and problem-solving skills in all aspects of patient care.
• PHTY 690: Physical Therapy Graduate Seminar: Provides opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in evaluating published scientific literature related to physical therapy, developing researchable questions, and orally presenting the material in a professionally appropriate manner.
• PHTY 691: Special Topics in Physical Therapy: Guided independent study of specific topics not discussed in courses or discussed in less detail in courses, with student's desired topic of study identified and approved prior to enrollment.
• PHTY 692: Clinical Specialty Seminar: Individual reports dealing in depth with the history, current status, and problems in a given area of clinical specialization.
• PHTY 693: Clinical Specialty Practicum: Concentrated clinical experience under the guidance of an approved preceptor, with 60 clock hours per credit.
• PHTY 695: Clinical Education IV: Twelve-week full-time clinical experience designed to allow the student to develop entry-level competence in physical therapy evaluation and treatment techniques, with emphasis on the use of sound scientific rationale and problem-solving skills in all aspects of patient care.
• PHTY 798: Research in Physical Therapy: Research in preparation for the advanced master of science degree thesis or doctoral dissertation, with 1-15 credits.