Membership & Leadership Practice Professional Development Education Programs Advocacy Reimbursement Research Publications Tools & Resources	Home Hardin-Simmons University (A4, D6, F1, PR) Last Updated by Program: 11/19/2009 Address:   Department of Physical Therapy Hardin-Simmons University 2200 Hickory Box 16065 Abilene, TX 79698-6065 Phone:   (325)670-5860 Fax:   (325)670-5868 Admissions/Student Inquiry Phone:   (888)820-0218 Financial Aid Phone:   (325)670-1206 Web Address:   http://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate/programs/physicaltherapy/ Program E-mail:   ptoffice@hsutx.edu PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Janelle K O'Connell, PT, PhD, DPT, ATC, LAT Department Head    INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION:   Accreditor:   Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges   Carnegie Classification:   Master's Colleges and Universities (medium programs) PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM ACCREDITATION:   Date of Initial Accreditation:   Master's degree, October 1997 (no longer offered); DPT degree, April 2002   Current Accreditation Status:   Accreditation   Next Visit   2017   Five Year History:   Accreditation DEGREE CONFERRED: Doctor of Physical Therapy GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The physical therapy program is a two-and-half-year, seven consecutive semester (118 credit hour) program. Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) is a private institution providing an "education enlightened by faith and values." HSU was the first school in Texas to offer the DPT program and is the only private school in Texas to provide a physical therapy degree. Small class size, personalized attention, and a dedicated full-time faculty, all of whom are licensed and practicing physical therapists leads to the successful education of outstanding physical therapists. The well-rounded program produces caring and thoughtful professionals with excellent evaluative, diagnostic and treatment skills who are fully prepared for independent practice in manual therapy, orthopedics, neurology, cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. Faculty, students, and graduates are widely known for their dedication to serving those in need on a local and international basis. A new class begins each fall semester and enrollment is competitive. A professional project is required of all students. Commencement occurs in December.   CLINICAL EXPERIENCES: Students complete 39 weeks of clinical experience, including a 3-week experience at the end of the first year, three 7-week experiences in an acute, outpatient and rehabilitation facility during the final year, with a comprehensive 14-week experience in the final fall semester. Students also participate in a campus clinic beginning their first week on campus. While the program has developed sites for clinical placement in many parts of the country, the majority are in Texas or surrounding states. Students work directly with the Director of Clincal Education to select clinical experiences that will best suit their professional and personal needs.   FACULTY: Hardin-Simmons Physical Therapy faculty consist of eight full-time faculty members and one adjunct faculty members. Of the eight, six professors hold post-professional doctoral degrees, three hold DPT degrees, and one is working toward his doctoral degree. Full time faculty average 27 years of clinical experience and 20 years of academic experience. All full-time faculty are physical therapists engaged in clinical practice. Over the last 3 years, the faculty has averaged 2 publications in a peer-reviewed journal and approximately 18 presentations/year at state or national conventions. The on-campus faculty student ratio is 1:7 and 1:3 for 6-months of each calendar year.   ENROLLMENT: The university has a total enrollment of 2,400 students. The physical therapy program admits ~26 students per year.   ADMISSION: The majority of students admitted to the program have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. There are two application options for admission consideration to the DPT program: the Early Admission Option and the Post Baccalaureate Option. Students selecting the Post Baccalaureate Option complete their undergraduate degree and their prerequisite courses. Letter grades are required in all prerequisite courses. Correspondence courses may not be used to satisfy prerequisite requirements. Prerequisite courses completed 10 or more years prior to the time of application may have to be repeated. Prerequisites include: 2 courses in each: general biology (including zoology), general chemistry, and general physics (all w/labs and for science majors); and 1 course in each: statistics, introductory or general psychology and developmental psychology (or abnormal psychology), and speech communications; upper division anatomy, upper division physiology preferred; students with lower division Anatomy and Physiology must complete an additional upper level human biology course. HSU has developed a cooperative agreement with selected universities for early admission. These agreements usually require an undergraduate major in biology and specific prerequisite courses. Students complete all but their final semester of their undergraduate work before beginning the physical therapy degree. Following the early admission option does not guarantee admission to the physical therapy program. Students must demonstrate exposure to the profession with a recommendation letter from a physical therapist. Exposure to a variety of physical therapy sites is highly recommended. A personal interview and a writing sample are required. Applications are accepted from July 1st to October 15th. Accepted students complete a medical terminology course prior to enrollment.   OUTCOMES: 100% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); 98% of the graduates pass the licensure exam (3-year average); 100% of graduates are employed (3-year average).   TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID: Tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students is $7,800 /semester or $23,100/year (three semesters/year). University sponsored off-campus houses rent for $245-$345 per month. Books for the entire program are approximately $2500. Physical therapy students are eligible to apply for financial aid. Texas equalization grants, Perkins and Stafford Loans are commonly utilized by PT graduate students. Information regarding these sources are available from through the Financial Aid Office by calling 325/670-1331. Additionally, the Department maintains a file of other scholarships, loans and work payback programs available specifically for physical therapy or health professions students.   STUDENT LIFE: The University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention and located in Abilene, Texas, a city of 106,000. The campus has 23 major buildings, including recreational, worship and art facilities. On campus housing is in residence halls, while off-campus university housing includes rental houses and apartments. Abilene, Texas is known as the "Friendly Frontier" where there is a mixture the Ol' West and contemporary living. Students may select to participate in enjoy intramural sports, attend movies, Broadway shows, The Abilene Philharmonic, great barbeque and steaks. All laboratories, classrooms, and computing facilities are located within the Mabee Physical Therapy Building are available to physical therapy students 24 hours daily, 365 days of the year. 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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