Doctor of Physical Therapy Program - Stratford

Introduction

Phone: (856) 566-6456; Fax: (856) 566-6458

Director:
Marie Koval Nardone, PT, MS, EdD
Inquiries: mptgradm@umdnj.edu

Become a Rutgers Graduate Prospect!

THE NEXT PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM OPEN IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2008.

News Flash:

Come visit us to see the campus and meet the faculty!!!!

Click here for information and Open House Dates (doc)

For a complete brochure click here. (pdf)

Introduction

Welcome to the web site of the Physical Therapy Program which is jointly sponsored by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Health Related Professions and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Graduate School at Camden! Graduates of this program shall earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) from UMDNJ-SHRP and Rutgers University-Graduate School at Camden.

The DPT Program is located on the beautiful Stratford campus of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It is conveniently located one half hour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one hour from the New Jersey shore.

The Program accepted its first students in 1988 and was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Physical Therapy Association in 1990 with the graduation of our first class. Graduates of our program are employed in a variety of educational and practice settings throughout the country. Faculty represents a broad spectrum of physical therapy practice and includes board-certified clinical specialists in the areas of hand, orthopedic, neurologic, pediatric, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Our program's unique character is enriched by the history of two outstanding sponsoring universities; Rutgers-Camden and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey was founded in 1970 as the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and achieved status as a free-standing University in 1981. UMDNJ includes eight schools on five campuses: Newark, Piscataway/New Brunswick, Camden, Scotch Plains, and Stratford. UMDNJ is New Jersey's public university of the health sciences and is the largest such institution in the nation. The UMDNJ School of Health Related Professions has over 1200 students enrolled in 33 specialties. Rutgers University was chartered as Queens College in 1776 and opened its doors to the first students in 1771 in New Brunswick. Since its assumption of university status in 1924, Rutgers has expanded significantly. Rutgers now has over 50,000 students on campuses in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick. As members of both these university communities, our students have access to a wide range of educational, library, career planning, and social resources.

The program requires the completion of a minimum of 110 credits over a 36-month period. Each new class begins on Tuesday after Memorial Day. Graduation occurs three years later after the completion of all of the clinical education experiences. The DPT Program faculty focuses upon the growth and development of each individual student. The average class size (26) and faculty-to-student ratios (26:1 for classes; 13:1 for labs) are small. Students participate in a number of small group activities, including visits to local clinical facilities for patient observation, examination and intervention sessions under the direction of academic and clinical faculty. Community service projects are integrated within the curriculum and provide unique learning experiences along with the opportunity to provide care to populations who are underserved. Many students present research in the form of poster and platform presentations at American Physical Therapy Conferences on both state and national levels.

The DPT Program maintains affiliation agreements with over 300 clinical facilities throughout the country. Clinical experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum. Clinical placement is based upon the students' educational needs, clinical availability, and a lottery selection. Students who enroll in the DPT Program should be prepared to assume the costs of travel and living expenses associated with their clinical affiliations.