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area of specialty practice. The Doctor of Philosophy
in Occupational Therapy (Ph.D.) Program strives to
develop scholarly practitioners who will serve as leaders
in advancing the knowledge base of their discipline
through research. The Dr.OT and the Ph.D. are offered
through distance learning formats. The entry-level
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program (O.T.D.)
degree is offered in a hybrid format from NSU’s Tampa
Student Educational Center.
The Physical Therapy Program began in 1994 and was
granted full accreditation from the Commission on
Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education in 1996.
Physical therapists (PTs) perform examinations and
provide treatment to patients/clients who suffer from
movement dysfunctions. They assess joint motion,
muscle strength, endurance, and heart and lung function,
among other responsibilities. PTs practice in a variety
of settings such as hospitals, private physical therapy
outpatient centers, community health centers, nursing
homes, pediatric centers, sports facilities, rehabilitation
centers, home health agencies, schools, and research
institutions, as well as in academic settings including
colleges and universities.
There are three distinct Physical Therapy programs
at NSU. The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy
Program (D.P.T.) at Nova Southeastern University
is a full-time, on-campus program that takes 36
months to complete. The entry-level program has
been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
for Physical Therapy Education since 1996 and was
granted accreditation status for an additional period of
10
years on April 24, 2002. The Tampa SEC offers an
expansion program of the main campus D.P.T. Delivered
in a hybrid format, this course of study is designed to be
completed in 48 months.
The Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
(
T-D.P.T.) is a postgraduate program designed for
working physical therapists that want to advance their
clinical knowledge and skills to that of the Doctor of
Physical Therapy. This program is provided in a distance
education format and is designed for practicing physical
therapists who entered the profession through entry-
level bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy (Ph.D./
PT) is the first and only Ph.D./PT degree program in
the nation that is offered online in a distance education
format. The Ph.D./PT program is designed for physical
therapists whose professional interests include the
aspiration to be an educator, a commitment to research,
and the acquisition of leadership skills so as to serve
as consultants in the health care arena. This program
is for practicing physical therapists that entered the
profession through entry-level bachelor’s and master’s
degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy
(
Ph.D./PT) Program requires an additional 60 semester
hours or more beyond the master’s degree or beyond an
advanced master’s degree in which the undergraduate
or master’s degree was in physical therapy. The program
requires 75 hours beyond the undergraduate professional
physical therapy degree. Doctoral courses are conducted
in various formats including distance education and
other online and computer-based technologies, enabling
practicing professionals to complete course requirements
with minimal time on campus.
The Department of Health Science is an interdisciplinary
group of programs designed for the health care
professional with a desire to advance both academically
and administratively within his or her respective career.
Offering distance education from the undergraduate
to doctoral level is consistent with the university’s
and college’s commitment to lifelong learning. The
department offers the following online degree programs:
the Bachelor of Health Science Program, the Master of
Health Science Program, the Doctor of Health Science
Program, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Health
Science Program. In addition, an on-campus, entry-level
Bachelor of Health Science specialization in Vascular
Sonography, an on-campus Master of Health Science
specialization in Vascular Sonography, and a Master
of Health Science specialization in Anesthesiologist
Assistant are offered.
The vascular sonography specialization (within the
Bachelor and Master of Health Science Programs)
offers an undergraduate degree and prepares graduates
for work in the field of vascular technology. Vascular
technologists use ultrasound and other diagnostic
technology to detect and assess the condition of arteries
and veins in the body. They work with vascular surgeons,
radiologists, and cardiologists and are considered an
essential part of the medical team.