Membership & Leadership Practice Professional Development Education Programs Advocacy Reimbursement Research Publications Tools & Resources	Home Virginia Commonwealth University (A4, D6, F1, PU) Last Updated by Program: 09/01/2009 Address:   Department of Physical Therapy Box 980224 Medical College of Virginia Campus Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA 23298-0224 Phone:   (804)828-0234 Fax:   (804)828-8111 Web Address:   http://www.vcu.edu/pt Program E-mail:   jkendric@vcu.edu PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Thomas Mayhew, PT, PhD Chair    INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION:   Accreditor:   Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges   Carnegie Classification:   Research Universities (high research activity) PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM ACCREDITATION:   Date of Initial Accreditation:   Bachelor's degree, December 1931 (no longer offered); Master's degree, April 1990 (no longer offered); DPT degree, April 2002   Current Accreditation Status:   Accreditation   Next Visit   2016   Five Year History:   Accreditation DEGREE CONFERRED: Doctor of Physical Therapy GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The VCU Department of Physical Therapy offers a three year degree program leading to a professional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. DPT students participate in five full-time clinical education experiences for a total of 36 weeks. The first two clinical experiences occur during the summers after the first and second academic years. The three terminal clinical experiences are concluded prior to May in the third academic year in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices, etc., throughout the country. The faculty's primary mission is to prepare individuals for general practice. The faculty strongly believes that physical therapists entering the profession must have a thorough understanding of the theoretical basis for treatment and skills in problem solving, evaluation, and communication.   FACULTY: There are 13 full-time faculty members. Eleven of the full-time faculty hold post-professional doctoral degrees. Three faculty are APTA board certified clinical specialists, one faculty member is a certified exercise specialist, and one faculty member is a certified athletic trainer. Nine faculty are engaged in clinical practice. Over the past 3 years, the faculty has published over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12.5.   ENROLLMENT: More than 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and health professional students attend VCU on its two campuses. The Department of Physical Therapy is located on the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus of VCU and accepts 54 students a year.   ADMISSION: The VCU Department of Physical Therapy participates in the Physical Therapy Common Application System (PTCAS). Applications for admission to the physical therapy program are due to PTCAS on November 2nd. All students are notified of admissions decisions by April 1st. Students applying to the program are required to have a Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree from an accredited college or university. Requirements for admission include the GRE and a total of 100 volunteer hours in two physical therapy settings. The grade point average of the last three classes upon admission was 3.50. Prerequisite courses include 3 hours in each: mathematics and statistics; 6 hours in psychology; 8 hours in each: chemistry and physics; and 12 hours of biological sciences including anatomy and physiology. Interviews are not required. In 2009, 27% of the applicants were offered admission to our DPT program.   OUTCOMES: The average graduation rate for the Classes of 2006–2008 was 85%. Overall licensure pass rate for class of 2008 was 100%. All graduates that were actively seeking employment had positions within six months of graduation.   TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID: In-state tuition and fees for 2008-2009 are $4,513 per semester. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $8,937 per semester. Room and board costs range from $4,000-$5,000 per semester. A $250 program fee is charged each semester. More than half of the students at Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus receive some form of financial assistance from state, federal, or university funds. For assistance in obtaining financial aid, contact: Sanger Hall, Room 1-055, 1101 E. Marshall St., P.O. Box 980244, Richmond, VA, 23298-0244, Telephone (804) 828-9800.   STUDENT LIFE: VCU offers students a wide range of comfortable and convenient housing arrangements, including low-rise apartment buildings and high-rise residence halls. Off-campus housing is readily available at a reasonable cost. A variety of facilities, services, and programs designed to meet the leisure and health needs of the university community are available. Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus is located in historic downtown Richmond, near the government, financial, and retail centers. The Academic Campus is situated 2 miles west in Richmond's historic Fan District. Attention Program Directors, corrections to program data should be directed to the Accreditation Department at Accreditation@apta.org or 1-800-999-2782 x3245.
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