DPT Fort Lauderdale Curriculum
Curriculum Overview
The NSU DPT Curriculum spans three years and combines didactic (classroom) and clinic (hands-on) education preparing students for a variety of settings and healthcare conditions.
Year 1 builds foundational physical therapy skills and knowledge through applied sciences. Students will begin to practice hands on skills through Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE) and service learning opportunities.
| Summer Year 1 | Credits | Fall Year 1 | Credits | Winter Year 1 | Credits |
| PHT 5400 Physiology | 3 | PHT 6705Essentials of Exercise Physiology, Health Promotion and Wellness | 3 | PHT 6816 Neuroscience | 3 |
| PHT 5420 Human Anatomy for Physical Therapists | 5 | PHT 6710 Clinical Skills I | 4 | PHT 6720 Clinical Skills II | 3 |
| PHT 5610 Human Anatomy for Physical Therapists Lab | 2 | PHT 6715 Essentials of Biomechanics and Kinesiology | 3 | PHT 6727 Radiology and Pharmacology | 2 |
| PHT 5609 Medical Terminology for Physical Therapists | 1 | PHT 6718 Systems Management I: Medical Pathology | 3 | PHT 6725 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy | 4 |
| PHT 5611 Introduction to Physical Therapy | 2 | PHT 6722 Integumentary Physical Therapy | 2 | PHT 6814 Clinical Practicum IB | 1 |
| PHT 6721 The Healthcare Educator | 1 | PHT 6707 Geriatric Physical Therapy | 3 | ||
| PHT 6804 Clinical Practicum IA | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 17 | 16 |
| Summer Year 2 | Credits | Fall Year 2 | Credits | Winter Year 2 | Credits |
| PHT 6700 Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis | 1 | PHT 6802 Evidence-Based Practice II: Using Research to Inform Clinical Decision-Making | 3 | PHT 6821 Musculoskeletal III | 2 |
| PHT 6815 Physical Agents | 2 | PHT6827 Motor Control and Motor Learning | 2 | PHT 6821L Musculoskeletal III Lab | 2 |
| PHT 6810 Musculoskeletal I | 2 | PHT 6807 Systems Management II: Medical Issues in High-Acuity Settings | 3 | PHT 6819 Pediatrics II | 2 |
| PHT 6810L Musculoskeletal I Lab | 2 | PHT 6820 Musculoskeletal II | 3 | PHT 6830 Neuromuscular I | 3 |
| PHT 6823 Practice Management | 2 | PHT 6820L Musculoskeletal II Lab | 2 | PHT 6830L Neuromuscular I Lab | 2 |
| PHT 6824 Clinical Practicum II (6 week full time clinical experience) | 3 | PHT 6817 Pediatrics | 2 | PHT 6835 Systems Management III: Medical Screening and Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists | 3 |
| PHT 6834 Clinical Practicum IIIA | 1 | PHT 6813 Special Topics in Physical Therapy | 2 | ||
| PHT 6844 Clinical Practicum IIIB | 1 | ||||
| 12 | 16 | 17 |
| Summer Year 3 | Credits | Fall Year 3 | Credits | Winter Year 3 | Credits |
| PHT 6907 Clinical Education Experiences Orientation | 1 | PHT 6917 Clinical Education Experience A (8 week full-time clinical experience) | 4 | PHT 6937 Clinical Education Experience C (10 week full-time clinical experience) | 5 |
| PHT 6914 Neuromuscular II | 2 | PHT 6927 Clinical Education Experience B (10 week full-time clinical experience) | 5 | PHT 6948 Professional Development | 1 |
| PHT 6914L Neuromuscular II Lab | 2 | PHT 6947 Wrap-up and Review | 1 | ||
| PHT 6915 Prosthetics and Orthotics | 3 | ||||
| PHT 6920 Systems Management IV: Applied Clinical Decision-Making | 4 | ||||
| 12 | 10 | 6 |
PHT 6910 Independent Study (1-6 credits)
PHT 6904 Independent Study: Research Capstone (1-5 credits)
Independent study requires students to complete a single or group faculty mentored research or scholarly project. The topic, methodology, and depth of the study will be determined by the supervising faculty. Though this is an individual or group project, students receive individual grades for the work they contributed to the project.