The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program is a graduate course for physical therapists who aspire to advance their competencies as practicing clinicians and to develop a specialized area of practice. The program highlights the use of advanced concepts in the clinics, including critical analyses of theories that underpin practice in physical therapy, a more comprehensive study of the physiological bases of physical therapy, careful integration of research evidence and ethics in decision making, conduct of clinical research, efficient application of the different modes of clinical reasoning, and an enhanced appreciation of issues affecting contemporary practice.
The proposed program comprises four components: courses designed to increase understanding of the theoretical bases and current issues of physical therapy practice; research-related courses designed to improve the physical therapist’s ability to engage in and utilize research to further practice; clinical practice courses to develop advanced professional skills and a mastery of applying the physical therapy process; and a graduate-level elective or cognate which provides complementary competencies.
Full-time students can complete the program in 5 semesters. The first three semesters are classroom-based courses. The fourth semester will focus on the application of knowledge in clinical settings, while the last semester will be focused on completing a research-oriented special problem and learning a selected topic of choice.
