2021 NSU Fact Book

2021 FACT BOOK 83 their clinical knowledge and skills to that of the Doctor of Physical Therapy. This program is a hybrid pro- gram combining online courses with an on-campus component two days per semester for each core course taken. The program is designed for practic- ing physical therapists who entered the profession through entry-level bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physical Therapy Program is designed for physical therapists whose professional interests include the aspiration to be an educator, a commitment to research, or the acquisition of leadership skills so as to serve as consultants in the health care arena. The Ph.D. program requires 60 semester hours beyond the master’s degree or the entry-level doctoral degree. Doctoral courses are conducted in a distance, hybrid format with minimal time on campus. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) The PA programs, located on the Fort Lauderdale/ Davie Campus and on NSU’s campuses in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, and Orlando, Florida, are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The programs award a Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) in Physician Assistant degree. Physician assistants (PAs) are health care professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture wounds, and assist in surgery. They can also write prescriptions in every state. The primary care-oriented program combines 15 months of didactic studies with one year of comprehensive clinical training. After completion of clinical training, graduates must take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination for licensure. DEPARTMENT OF CARDIOPULMONARY SCIENCES The Respiratory Therapy Program is located at the Palm Beach Campus. The entry-level, or first- professional, program is a full-time, on-campus, 24-month program. It offers a state-of-the-art facility with more than 1,200 clinical hours and a wide variety of clinic rotations available. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC). The completion or postprofessional program, opened in 2012, is designed for the practicing registered respiratory therapist. The program is fully online, part time, and can be completed in 18 months. DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language and Communication Disorders was approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2012. Classes are offered daytime, evening, and online, for this dual admit program. Graduates of the program may continue on to graduate study or may become support personnel as Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA). The Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology Program, which began in 1983, educates speech-language pathologists to provide a full range of services in a variety of settings to clients with communicative and swallowing disorders and their families. The program provides scientifically based academic and clinical curricula to foster critical thinking and application of best practices. The program prepares the student to meet the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology [CAA] of ASHA. Additionally, the Speech- Language Pathology Clinic provides assessment and treatment services to approximately 100 patients and families each week. Individual and/or group therapy services are available for those with issues such as speech sound delays/disorders, pediatric language delays/disorders (including autism), fluency and fluency disorders, voice issues, aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease. The Speech-Language Pathology Doctorate (SLP.D.) was first offered in 1996 and was the first professional degree program for speech-language pathologists