Thank you for choosing Northern Illinois University for your studies. The Physical Therapy Program is a component of the School of Allied Health and Communicative Dosirders, in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The Physical Therapy Program started in 1980 as a Bachelor's program, made the transtition to the Master of Physical Therapy degree in 1999, and is currently awaiting state approval to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree. To practice as a Physical Therapist, an individual must be licensed by the state in which he or she wishes to practice. Requirements for licensure include successful completion of an accredited program in Physical Therapy and meeting all licensing requirements of the state. The Physical Therapy Program has been fully accredited since its inception, and will undergo re-accreditation in 2013.
Note: The list below shows the required courses for the M.P.T. program. It will be replaced with the D.P.T. professional curriculum, upon approval of the D.P.T. professional program.
Fall Semester, Year One
BIOS 355 Human Physiology(4)
BIOS 446 Gross Human Anatomy (6)
AHPT 400 Introduction to Physical Therapy (1)
AHPT 402 Health Care Systems (2)
AHPT 410 Physical Therapy Science I - Assessment (4)
AHPT 460 Clinical Experience I (1)
Spring Semester, Year One
AHPT 403 Communication and Patient Education (2)
AHPT 404 Case Studies in Physical Therapy I (1)
AHPT 411 Physical Therapy Science II - Therapeutic Modalities (4)
AHPT 413 Musculoskeletal Basis of Human Movement (2)
AHPT 440 Evaluation and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders - Extremities (4)
AHPT 442 Medical Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders (3)
AHPT 461 Clinical Experience II (1)
Fall Semester, Year Two
AHPT 409 Physical Therapy Research I (2)
AHPT 412 Physical Therapy Science III - Electrotherapy (2)
AHPT 415 Neurological Basis of Human Movement (4)
AHPT 417 Pathology and Pharmacology for Physical Therapists (3)
AHPT 450 Physical Therapy Administration (3)
AHPT 462 Clinical Experience III (4)
Spring Semester, Year Two
AHPT 425 Motor Development for Physical Therapists (3)
AHPT 436 Acute Care for Physical Therapists (3)
AHPT 509 Physical Therapy Research II (3)
AHPT 503 Psychosocial Issues for Physical Therapists (2)
AHPT 504 Case Studies for Physical Therapists II (1)
AHPT 540 Evaluation and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders - Spine (3)
Summer Semester, Year Two
AHPT 560 Clinical Experience IV (4)
Fall Semester, Year Three
AHPT 437 Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (3)
AHPT 505 Case Studies in Physical Therapy III (2)
AHPT 545 Independent Study (1 - 3)
AHPT 550 Neurological Physical Therapy (4)
AHPT 551 Medical Issues in Neurological Physical Therapy (2)
AHPT 555 Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy (4)
Spring Semester, Year Three
AHPT 561 Clinical Experience V (12)
AHPT 570 Physical Therapy Seminar (2)
Course Descriptions for M.P.T. Physical Therapy courses
Physical Therapy Clinical Education Manual 2009