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California State University, Long Beach
Department of Physical Therapy
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Department of Physical Therapy

PT program graduate with THA patient

The Physical Therapy curriculum is designed to prepare entry-level physical therapists to become an integral part of the medical rehabilitation team. Successful completion of the degree requirements and clinical internships qualifies one to write the State of California licensing examination to practice as a physical therapist.

The program is within the College of Health and Human Services .

MIssion

To prepare entry-level physical therapists who demonstrate exemplary critical thinking and clinical skills and are able to address the societal needs of a diverse community while adhering to the evolving professional standards of practice.

Vision

To graduate clinical doctorate physical therapists who are highly-valued professionals who practice autonomously in a highly diverse community.  Graduates will provide care in consideration of scientific evidence and will assume social responsibility in their communities.

Graduation Rate:

  • 2006-2008: 94%

  • 2009:83%

  • 2010: 86%

  • 2011: 92%

  • 2012: 97%

MPT Program Learning Outcomes

  • To pass required clinical internships (Criteria).

    • Ultimate pass rate from 2007-2012 is100%.

  • To pass National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) required for practice.

    • Ultimate pass rate

    • 2007-2011: 100%

    • 2012: 100% for those who have taken the exam.

Employment Rate:

  • 100% of those passing NPTE examination

DPT Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate comprehension of the foundational, behavioral and clinical sciences for application to the physical therapy clinical setting.
2. Demonstrate skills necessary for entry-level doctoral practice.
3. Apply principles of critical thinking and evidence based practice to clinical decision making.
4. Communicate in a professional manner to a diverse population in clinical settings.
5. Apply ethical and legal standards of practice to patient care.

Accreditation

California State University, Long Beach is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The MPT program and DPT program at CSULB is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.

CAPTE has “standards that assure quality and continuous improvement in the entry-level preparation of physical therapists, and reflect the evolving nature of education, research, and practice."

Last CAPTE review: 2012: re-accredited for 10 years (the maximum).

School Ranking

While the Academic Council of the APTA recognizes that there are proprietary organizations that rank physical therapist education programs, the profession encourages prospective students to provide their own comparisons through careful examination of information on program and APTA websites, and visits to the campuses to talk with enrolled students and program faculty.

 

 

News & Announcements

The department welcomes Vennila Krishnan, Ph.D. as new tenure-track faculty effective fall, 2013.

Dr. Krishnan received her BSPT and MIT degrees at Pondicherry and Manipal Universities in India, respectively. She earned her doctorate in biomechanics and movement science from the U of Delaware. Her dissertation research focused on motor coordination in the hand. Dr. Krishnan attended 3 separte post-doctorates at the U of Illinois and at the Rehab INstitute of Chicago. While there, she collborated with researchers at Penn State U. Dr Krishnan's research interests are in applying a multi-disciplinary approach to walking, posture and handrehab tailored to populations with movement dysfunction. She will be teaching the DPT biomechanics and observational gait analysis classes.

PT@The Beach

The CSULB Physical Therapy Faculty Practice will open its doors on August 19th, 2013.

The Faculty Practice will provide students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community acess to the most highly skilled physical therapy clinicians in the area, the CSULB Physical Therapy Department faculty. PT@The Beach Director, James Buenaventura, DPT, invites all to visit the faculty practice inside the LifeFit Center or call at 562-985-8286 for any questions related to your needs for physical therapy.

MPT Student, Chester Lin, attends APTA House of Delegates with Chief Delegate, James Buenaventura, DPT

MPT Student, Chester Lin, attended the APTA House of Delegates, 2013, mentored by Chief Delegate and Director of PT@TheBeach, James Buenaventura, DPT. Chester shared his perspective on the HoD with Long Beach-South Bay CPTA members in the LBSB Summer Newsletter.