Doctor of Physical Therapy Program - Stratford
Introduction
Phone: (856) 566-6456; Fax: (856) 566-6458
Program Director: Marie Koval Nardone, PT, MS, EdD
Inquiries: mptgradm@umdnj.edu
Become
a Rutgers Graduate Prospect!
News Flash:
Applications for the upcoming admissions cycle are now being accepted.
COME VISIT US!
Our next program open house is scheduled for Saturday November 7, 2009!
Click here for information on
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. Both Rutgers and UMDNJ are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, nongovernmental, peer-based membership association dedicated to promoting standards of excellence and improvement in higher education.
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.
Back to Top
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 admissions process is competitive. In the most recent admissions cycle, 51% of applicants were accepted. The matriculation rate (percentage of accepted students who enrolled in the program) was 54%.
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.
Back to Top
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.
Physical therapy education is an academically rigorous experience. The program’s graduation rate (ratio of graduates to initially enrolled students) for the Class of 2007 was 89%.
Our program’s weighted average ultimate 3 year (2004-2006) pass rate on the licensure exam was 96.55%.
100% of program graduates in the Class of 2007 have found employment as a physical therapist after graduation and passing of the licensure exam.
Back to Top
| |
The Students
Students in the DPT Program are graduates
of a variety of undergraduate programs
from across the nation and come from diverse
backgrounds.
Representative student comments:
"In addition enthusiastic, experienced, and knowledgeable faculty, the Program is willing to bring in experts in the field to ensure a complete education. Perhaps the best part of this program is the bond developed with fellow students - throughout the program we have supported and encouraged each other to grow as both PTs and people." – Mike Pechulis, DPT Class of 2009
"Along with our qualified professors, this program always recruits outstanding adjunct faculty and guest lecturers who are front runners in their specialty." - Jacqueline Walford, DPT Class of 2009
"With the professors’ open door policy and well trained upper classmen, help was never far away for me.” – Ankita Patel, DPT Class of 2010
"I was really drawn to the fact that the admissions committee at UMDNJ looks at you as a whole person....not just a name and a bunch of numbers on a transcript." – Jeremy Martinsen, DPT Class of 2010
"If you are searching for a didactic experience to successfully manage the demands and skills imperative to this industry, than look no further. The intimate class sizes and clinically competent instructors promote a positive learning experience. I highly recommend this program, and I look forward to becoming a valued member of the physical therapy profession." – Rocco Gervasi, DPT Class of 2011
“The small class size attracted me to the PT program at UMDNJ. One semester in, and I am excited for what lies ahead as I have already learned a lot in my first semester in the PT program” – Eric Cohen, DPT Class of 2011
|
| |
Graduates
Graduates of the DPT Program practice in
a variety of clinical settings within
facilities across the country.
Three-year Program graduate performance
on licensure examinations is above average.
|
| |
Unique Learning
Opportunities
Students engage actively in the learning
process through a variety of teaching
strategies. Students are provided with
early and frequent exposures to the clinical
setting through their coursework allowing
them to begin applying what they have
learned.
Students have the unique opportunity
to participate in a community service
project in which they screen migrant
workers and their children for musculoskeletal
dysfunction and developmental delays.
|
Back to Top
|
