School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science

Reed Humphrey, Chair

The professional program in physical therapy grants the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree. The program has an entry-level D.P.T. program, an entry-level D.P.T./M.B.A. program, and a post-entry level transitional D.P.T. curriculum leading to the D.P.T. degree. The following section describes the profession and the pre-professional requirements and application procedures. This information also is available on the program website at www.health.umt.edu/schools/pt.

The Profession

Physical Therapy is a health care profession concerned with the habilitation and rehabilitation of individuals having limitations resulting from pathological, surgical, or traumatic conditions. The profession is also concerned with health, wellness and prevention of disability in an effort to promote maximal use of an individual's capacities and reduce their risk of illness. Physical therapists are trained to evaluate neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and integumentary disorders. Exercise and physical agents, such as heat, cold, light, electricity, and massage are used to promote healing, relieve pain, maintain or restore strength, and improve joint range of motion and functional capabilities. Physical therapists play key roles in: 1) the physical therapy diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, 2) wellness and injury prevention, 3) rehabilitating injured workers to return to their jobs, 4) rehabilitating senior citizens after debilitating disease to enable them to remain independent, 5) helping handicapped children to live within the least restrictive environment, 6) preventing and treating sports-related injuries, and 7) conducting research in the basic and clinical sciences. Knowledge of the psychological and social ramifications of disability affecting the individual and his or her family is an integral part of physical therapy intervention.

Physical therapy is practiced in diverse settings, including hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, sports medicine programs, public schools, and private practices. Legislation in Montana permits direct public access to physical therapists for evaluation and treatment without a physician referral. Even so, physical therapists remain committed to functioning as an integral member of the health care team.

The physical therapy educational program at the University of Montana seeks to prepare physical therapists who have a broad base of skills upon graduation, and who will be able to implement physical therapy services in many settings, especially rural environments. Rural settings require a physical therapist to serve not only as a provider of direct patient care, but also to fulfill the roles of administrator, supervisor, teacher, consultant, and researcher. Students successfully completing the professional program meet the competencies for physical therapy as determined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and are prepared for state licensure.

The Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association through 2018.

High School Preparation:

Specific high school courses are not required but a background is recommended in mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, English, and communication skills.

Pre-Professional Physical Therapy Curriculum and Application Process

Students wishing to apply to the professional physical therapy program at the University of Montana-Missoula may select any major for their undergraduate degree. While pre-physical therapy is not a degree granting major at the University, prospective applicants should list pre-professional physical therapy (PPPT) as their second major. This will allow them also to receive advising from the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in order to assure adequate preparation for the professional program. In addition to completing a baccalaureate degree, applicants must take the following prerequisite courses and meet the additional application requirements listed. All prerequisite courses must be taken for a traditional letter grade and must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.00) or better.

Prerequisite Courses and Credits

Human Anatomy and Physiology: minimum of two semesters or two to three quarters of human anatomy and physiology. This course work must be completed in a Biology, Anatomy and/or Physiology department. A full sequence must be completed of two semesters or two to three quarters, depending upon what is offered by the institution.  A comparative vertebrate anatomy and an animal physiology course may be substituted for human anatomy and physiology.

Chemistry: minimum of two semesters or two quarters of chemistry with laboratory. A full sequence must be completed of two semesters or two to three quarters, depending upon what is offered by the institution.

Physics: minimum of two semesters or two quarters of physics with laboratory. A full sequence must be completed of two semesters or two to three quarters, depending upon what is offered by the institution.

Statistics: minimum of one semester or quarter of statistics course work.

Social Sciences: minimum of two semesters or three quarters of social/behavioral science classes. These classes may include courses offered by Psychology, Educational Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Cultural Geography and Anthropology departments.

Certification in adult, child, and infant CPR is assumed.

Computer literacy is assumed. You should be able to utilize email communication, word processing, statistical and spreadsheet programs and be able to complete searches on the Web.

Faculty

Professor

  • Reed Humphrey, Dean & Professor
  • Beth Ikeda, Professor, Physical Therapy
  • Charles Leonard, Professor, Physical Therapy
  • Sambit Mohapatra, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

Associate Professor

  • James J. Laskin, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
  • Ryan L. Mizner, Interim Chair, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy

Assistant Professor

  • Jennifer Bell, Clinical Assistant Professor/Associate Director of Clinical Education
  • Anthony Kinney, Clinical Assistant Professor
  • David Levison, Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Education
  • Alex Santos, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, Director of Motor Control Laboratory

Research Faculty

  • Ryan Mays, Research Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology

Course Descriptions

Physical Therapy

  • P T 503 - PT and Health Care System

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. An introduction to physical therapy and its relationship to the health care system. Topics include introduction to the PT literature, medical terminology, medical records, communication, ethics, and professional issues in physical therapy.

  • P T 510 - Applied Clinical Anatomy

    Credits: 5. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., course in human anatomy or comparative vertebrate anatomy. Anatomy of the neuromusculoskeletal system and body cavities in relation to movement and function with clinical correlates. Course lab fee.

  • P T 516 - Movement System Exam & Eval

    Credits: 5. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn Coreq., PT 510, 529. Principles of musculoskeletal examination and evaluation including posture, neurologic screen, palpation, measurement of ROM and muscle performance, assessment of muscle length, and joint play.

  • P T 519 - Musculoskeletal Management I

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 510, 516, 529. Coreq., PT 530. Principles of musculoskeletal examination, evaluation, and intervention. The focus is application of anatomic and biomechanical principles when examining posture and movement, identification of abnormal movement patterns, and analysis of underlying neuromuscular impairments.

  • P T 520 - Development Through Life Span

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Presentation of developmental and physiological changes of humans as they progress through the lifespan. Includes the identification of developmental milestones and disorders as well as functional changes associated with aging.

  • P T 523 - Clin Med I: Intro to Med

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Introduction to the International Classification of Function (ICF) model, tissue healing, pathology of the musculoskeletal system, medical interviewing, vital signs and introduction to medical screening.

  • P T 524 - Clin Med II Intro to Med

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 523. Introduction to pharmacology, medical management of selected orthopedic and hematological conditions.

  • P T 525 - Clin Med III

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PT 523 or PT 516, and PT 524 or 519. Pathophysiology, medical and pharmacological management of hepatic, oncological, immunological diseases and organ transplantation.

  • P T 526 - Foundat Skills & Interv

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Coreq., PT 510, 516. Basic skills of transfers, bed mobility, gait assistive device use, and soft tissue mobilization.

  • P T 527 - Physical & Electrophys Agents

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Physiology, indications, contraindications, and application of electrotherapy and physical agents. Theory and application of electrodiagnostic and electrotherapeutic procedures.

  • P T 529 - Biomechanics

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Coreq., PT 510. Principles of biomechanics and application to physical therapy.

  • P T 530 - Clin Appl Ex Phys

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 510. Application of exercise physiology principles and methods to physical therapy practice, lectures and labs focused on therapeutic exercise testing and prescription. Basic principles and application of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF).

  • P T 536 - Neurosciences

    Credits: 5. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Anatomy of the head and neck, and neuroanatomy of the human nervous system with emphasis on evaluation of central nervous system lesions and pathological conditions, clinical applications to physical therapy.

  • P T 560 - Clinical Reasoning I

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Introduction to the clinical reasoning process in physical therapy, faculty research and scholarship options, and laboratory orientation.

  • P T 561 - Research in PT

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., STAT 216. Research design and statistical analyses in physical therapy and related sciences.

  • P T 563 - Cardiopulmonary PT

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PT 510, 516, 530. Cardiovascular and pulmonary pathology, pharmacology, and differential diagnosis. Physical therapy assessment and interventions for patients with cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disease.

  • P T 565 - PT for Children

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PT 520, PT 536. Evaluation and intervention of neuromotor and musculoskeletal physical therapy rehabilitation of children. Physical therapy for children in school systems.

  • P T 567 - Neurorehabilitation I

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PT 536. Neurologic physical therapy assessment and intervention of adults with cerebrovascular accidents, Parkinson disease, or multiple sclerosis. Motor control and motor learning and application to physical therapy neurorehabilitation. Includes wheelchair and home assessment.

  • P T 568 - Neurorehab II

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 536. Neurologic physical therapy assessment and intervention of adults with traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.

  • P T 569 - Musculoskeletal Mgt II

    Credits: 5. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PT 510, 516, 519, 529, 530. Principles of musculoskeletal examination, evaluation, and intervention for the hip, knee, ankle, foot, and lumbar spine.

  • P T 570 - Psych of Illness & Disabil

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Psychological response to illness and disability to include patient motivation, patient/professional interaction, and treatment of persons with chronic pain.

  • P T 572 - Practice & Administration

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Practice management and operations explored with emphasis on strategic planning, human resource management, regulatory compliance/risk management, quality improvement and coding payment.

  • P T 573 - Musculoskeletal Mgt III

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 510, 516, 519, 529, 530. Principles of musculoskeletal examination, evaluation, and intervention for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), thoracic and cervical spine.

  • P T 576 - Clinical Reasoning II

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Synthesis and analysis of PT evaluation and intervention through case reports.

  • P T 577 - App Clin Teaching in PT

    Credits: 1 TO 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Teaching experience in practical application of clinical therapy.

  • P T 578 - PT for Select Populations

    Credits: 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 510, 516, 529, 530. Physical therapy assessment and interventions are addressed in the areas of occupational health, pregnancy and pelvic floor dysfunction, wound management, prosthetic management, and a variety of other specific populations.

  • P T 582 - Clinical Experience

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Clinical experience in physical therapy clinics.  Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 587 - Clinical Internship I

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered summer. Prereq., successful completion of all first-year DPT courses. Seven weeks of full-time clinical experience with emphasis on developing patient treatment skills. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 588 - Clinical Internship II

    Credits: 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PT 587 and successful completion of year two DPT Autumn semester courses. Five weeks of full-time clinical experience with emphasis on patient evaluation and continuation of developing patient treatment skills. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 589 - Clinical Internship III

    Credits: 5. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered summer. Prereq., PT 588 and successful completion of second year DPT courses. Eight weeks of full-time clinical experience with emphasis on learning about administrative issues, problem solving, time management, and communication skills. Continuation of development of patient treatment and evaluation skills. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 626 - Clin Med IV

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereqs., PT 523 or PT 516, PT 524 or PT 519, and PT 525. Course will focus on the role of the physical therapist in a Direct Access environment. Pathology, differential screening, pharmacotherapeutics, evaluation and management of integumentary, gastrointestinal, endocrine/metabolic and urogenital disease. Course will address abdominal and dermatological screening.

  • P T 627 - Prevention & Wellness Educ

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Nutrition, health promotion, patient and support network education, exercise/fitness, disease and injury prevention, life span emphasis.

  • P T 628 - PT Student Clinic

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn and spring.  Open to 2nd and 3rd year DPT students.  Supervised service learning experience for students providing physical therapy rehabilitation and wellness activities to individuals without health insurance.
    Course Attributes:
    • Service Learning

  • P T 650 - Screening for Medical Disorder

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. PT’s role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding appropriate referral of a patient to a physician for evaluation of medical conditions outside the scope of physical therapy.

  • P T 651 - Med Imaging in Rehabilitation

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, summer. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Provide the physical therapy clinical learner with the tools needed to interpret and apply specialized medical imaging information to the rehabilitation patient.

  • P T 652 - Pharmacology in Rehab

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Provide clinical learners with the primary drug classes and the physiologic basis of their action.

  • P T 653 - Legal and Ethical Issues

    Credits: 1. Level: Graduate. Offered spring, summer. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Foundational information as to the legal, ethical and administrative decision making process often facing physical therapists in clinical practice.

  • P T 654 - Clinical Decision Making

    Credits: 1. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Provide ways to utilize the Guide to PT Practice for effective and efficient clinical decision making.

  • P T 655 - Business and Marketing

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered spring, summer. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Enhance the PT clinical learner’s appreciation of business and management practices needed to succeed within the current healthcare landscape.

  • P T 656 - Coding and Reimbursement

    Credits: 1. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, summer. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Educate the clinical learner in analyzing reimbursement of current billing, accounts receivable, collection procedures and use of proper coding.

  • P T 657 - Professionalism

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. This seminar course provides the clinical learner with the opportunity to analyze and discuss the roles/responsibilities and challenges/opportunities inherent in doctoral level physical therapy practice. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 658 - Critical Assessment

    Credits: 3. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Develop skills in the application of evidence-based practice as a model for effective clinical decision-making.

  • P T 659 - Capstone Project

    Credits: 4. Level: Graduate. Prereq. Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum. Development of the skills needed by physical therapists to fulfill their role as effective participants in the research process. Guide student through the capstone case report completion process. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 660 - Mgmt of MS Disorders

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring, summer.  Prereq., enrolled in t-DPT curriculum.  PT's role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

  • P T 661 - Mgmt of CVP Disorders

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring and summer.  prereq., Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum.  PT's role, responsibilities and decision-making processes regarding appropriate patient management of persons with cardiovascular and/or pulmonary disorders.

  • P T 662 - Mgmt of Neuro Disorders

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring, summer.  Prereq., enrolled in t-DPT curriculum.  PT's role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding patients with neurological disorders.

  • P T 663 - Mgmt of Integ Disorders

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring, summer.  Prereq., Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum.  PT's role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding patients with integumentary disorders.

  • P T 664 - Wellenss Hlth Promotion

    Credits: 2. Level: Graduate. Offered autumn, spring, summer.  Prereq., Enrolled in t-DPT curriculum.  PT's role, responsibilities, and decision-making processes regarding patient/client involvement with wellness and health promotion.

  • P T 672 - Research in PT II

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Data analysis, writing of research manuscript, presentation of project.

  • P T 676 - Clinical Reasoning III

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Course addresses elements of clinical mastery, professional development, career options, ethics and patient advocacy.  Each student develops and presents a case report and provides peer review and feedback. 

  • P T 679 - Trends & Scholarly Act.

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Students are required to complete at least 6 credits during their 2nd and 3rd years. Seminar sections that focus on advanced clinical topics in physical therapy and/or engagement in research with an individual faculty advisor. Traditional or CR/NCR grading as determined by instructor.

  • P T 680 - Clinical Internship IV

    Credits: 12. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Prereq., PT 589 and successful completion of all autumn semester 3rdyear DPT coursework. Custom-designed clinical internship of 15 weeks. Includes writing and presentation of case study or special project. Only CR/NCR grading.

  • P T 690 - Research

    Credits: 1 TO 10. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-10) Prereq., consent of instr. Traditional or CR/NCR grading as determined by instructor.

  • P T 691 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Traditional or CR/NCR grading as determined by instructor.

  • P T 692 - Independent Study

    Credits: 1 TO 4. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Prereq., consent of instructor. Traditional or CR/NCR grading as determined by instructor.

  • P T 694 - Seminar/Workshop

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Traditional or CR/NCR grading as determined by course instructor.

  • P T 699 - Thesis/Dissertation

    Credits: 1 TO 10. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-10)  Offered every term. Only CR/NCR grading. Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on research for presentation and/or publication.