The Health Sciences Major or Athletic Training Education Major are among choices for students wishing to apply to a Physical Therapy program. The Physical Therapy Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is a doctorate level program. A Bachelor's Degree is required prior to admission.
NOTE: The OUHSC requires certain courses or their equivalent for admission to their doctorate level program.
Profession
Physical Therapists plan, organize, and administer treatment based on a knowledge of each patient’s condition, in order to restore functional mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent disability for those suffering from a disabling injury or disease. Therapists may treat patients with a wide variety of problems, or they may specialize. Specialty areas include pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
Employment
Employment for Physical Therapists varies from specially equipped physical therapy departments of hospitals or clinics, home health care, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, residential facilities for handicapped children, school systems, HMO’s, physicians’ offices or private practice.
Curriculum/Accreditation
Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements the graduate is awarded a degree of Doctorate of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.). The graduate is then able to take the National Physical Therapy Examination conducted under the direction of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.