Physical Therapy - PT


The information below lists courses approved in this subject area effective Fall 2015. Not all courses will necessarily be offered these terms. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for a listing of courses offered for a specific term.

500-level courses require graduate standing.

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350 Introduction to Physical Therapy
3 hours. Introduces the career and profession of physical therapy including professional values, care settings, specialties and models of patient/client management. Priority registration will be given to students in the B.S. in Rehabilitation Sciences.

502 Measuring Motor Development and Function
3 hours. Psychometric characteristics of standardized tests of motor development and function. Survey of tests, test evaluation, interpretation of test scores, and application to clinical practice. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and a graduate-level course in statistics.

503 Analysis of Motor Development
3 hours. Sensorimotor development in children, relating changes to maturation, skill acquisition, motor learning, environmental influences and individual differences. Includes critical review of current literature. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Prior experience in or knowledge of child development. Course is targeted to graduate and professional students pursuing health-related degrees.

504 Assessment of Developmental Processes in Infancy
2 hours. Motor and behavioral competencies of the newborn, both term and preterm. Assessment of behavior and motor dysfunction in infants; analysis of the literature on intervention. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and credit or concurrent registration in a graduate-level course in statistics.

505 Advances in Rehabilitation Sciences I
3 hours. Highlights the advances in the knowledge in rehabilitiation of neurological, pediatric and geriatric populations. Provides exposure to methods of assessment, treatment and outcome measurements, and basic understanding of recovery of functions. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor.

506 Advances in Rehabilitation Sciences II
3 hours. Highlights advances in knowledge in non-pharmacological management of pain and rehabilitation of orthopedic and cardiopulmonary populations. Covers assessment, treatment and outcome measurements, and basic understanding of recovery of functions. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor.

510 Control of Posture and Locomotion
2 hours. Review and analysis of normal and developmental aspects, assessment, disorders, and rehabilitation of balance and gait disorders. Prerequisite(s): PT 562; and consent of the instructor.

511 Therapeutic Intervention
3 hours. Provides clinicians with an approach to integrate research into practice. The goal is to acquire skills to evaluate therapeutic interventions in the literature and in practice. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

520 Mechanics of Joint Dysfunction
3 hours. Principles of mechanics applied to pathology of joint components; mechanical and neurological implications of extremity and spinal joint dysfunction; critical review of pertinent literature. Prerequisite(s): PT 519.

521 Biomechanics of Locomotor Dysfunction
3 hours. Principles of mechanics applied to the study of human movement and walking pattern. Kinematic and kinetic analysis of normal and pathological deviations. Prerequisite(s): Human Physiology and Anatomy I or equivalent courses and consent of instructor.

562 Neural Plasticity and Pathophysiology
3 hours. Neurologic concepts underlying PNS/CNS injury process and neural plasticity (nervous system remodeling and reorganization). Neuropathology of conditions producing movement dysfunction. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

563 Measurement in Rehabilitation Sciences
3 hours. Application of measurement science to test development; Assess merits of various clinical outcome measures and research design. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and any graduate-level statistics course.

570 Planning and Evaluating Intervention Programs in Various Settings
3 hours. Planning, implementation, and evaluation of services for children with special needs. Emphasis on conceptual frameworks in human development and family systems. Program planning and evaluation. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Prior experience or knowledge of child development.

571 Biomechanics of Normal and Abnormal Movement
3 hours. Principles of statics and dynamics exemplified by human movements. Examination of muscle mechanics, joint forces, stability. Redundancy and intersegmental interactions in multijoint movements. Same as KN 571. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

572 Psychology of Motor Control and Learning
3 hours. Advanced principles of the control and acquisition of complex, voluntary skills. Same as KN 572. Prerequisite(s): KN 372; or consent of the instructor.

574 Instrumentation for Motor Control Research
3 hours. Introduction to oscilloscopes, amplifiers, filters, and transducers. Origin and processing of electromyograms. Motion capture and processing techniques. Same as KN 574. Prerequisite(s): KN 571 or PT 571.

580 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy I: Extremities
2 hours. Designed to promote clinical reasoning and understanding of the research literature for enhancement of evidenced based clinical practice with an emphasis on extremity joint dysfunction.

581 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Orthopedic Manual Therapy II: Spine
2 hours. Designed to promote clinical reasoning and understanding of the research literature for enhancement of evidenced-based clinical practice with an emphasis on spinal joint dysfunction.

582 Advanced Manipulation and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy I: Extremities
3 hours. Designed to provide an evidenced-based approach toward evaluation and management of peripheral musculoskeletal disorders, including thrust and non-thrust manipulation. Prerequisite(s): Must be a U.S. licensed physical therapist.

583 Advanced Manipulation and Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy II: Spine
3 hours. Designed to provide an evidenced-based approach toward evaluation and management of spinal musculoskeletal disorders, including thrust and non-thrust manipulation. Prerequisite(s): Must be a U.S. licensed physical therapist.

584 Clinical Mentorship I: Extremities
3 hours. Physical therapy practice under the tutelage of a mentor. Students will apply and master skills, techniques and reasoning methods learned in the didactic coursework. Emphasis is on peripheral musculoskeletal disorders. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Instructor approval required; must be a U.S. licensed physical therapist.

585 Clinical Mentorship II: Spine
3 hours. Physical therapy practice under the tutelage of a mentor. Students will apply and master skills, techniques and reasoning methods learned in the didactic coursework. Emphasis is on spinal musculoskeletal disorders. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Instructor approval required; must be a U.S. licensed physical therapist.

586 Physical Therapy Residency Mentorship
2 TO 4 hours. Students will learn to apply and develop advanced skills in a specialized clinical environment that fosters learning, inquiry, and critical/creative thinking through mentorship of experienced clinicians. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 10 hours. Prerequisite(s): Students must have successfully completed each of the following: 1. Successfully graduated from an entry-level DPT program. 2. Be licensed to practice as a physical therapist in the State of Illinois or be scheduled to sit for the board exam. 3. Students scheduled to sit for the board exam must pass the exam on their first attempt or will be withdrawn from the class.

587 Post Professional Residency: Clinical Educator Practicum
1 TO 5 hours. Designed for students in the Clinical Educator Track-Post-Professional Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency to become proficient in: developing/delivering lectures, running/assisting in labs and becoming clinical educators for PT and PTA students. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 10 hours. Prerequisite(s): Students must have successfully completed each of the following: 1. Successfully graduated from an entry-level DPT program. 2. Be licensed to practice as a physical therapist in the State of Illinois or be scheduled to sit for the board exam. 3. Students scheduled to sit for the board exam must pass the exam on their first attempt or will be withdrawn from the class.

594 Special Topics in Rehabilitation Sciences
1 TO 4 hours. Selected topics of interest within physical rehabilitation specialty areas. Particular attention is given to topics of importance on evidence-based strategies in physical rehabilitation. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

595 Seminar in Rehabilitation Sciences
1 hours. Topics of current interest in physical rehabilitation sciences. Includes discussions of current research and important new developments in the specific disciplines. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

596 Independent Study
1 TO 4 hours. For graduate students who wish to pursue independent study not related to their project/thesis research. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

597 Project in Rehabilitation Sciences
0 TO 9 hours. Supervised practicum in laboratory or field setting in which recent research findings are applied, tested, and evaluated. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing, and consent of the adviser and director of graduate studies.

598 Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
0 TO 16 hours. Indpendent research in one area of rehabilitation sciences directed by a faculty member. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Foundation courses in research methods and graduate level statistics and consent of the instructor.

600 Introduction to Physical Therapy
4 hours. Introduction to the profession of physical therapy. Overview of physical therapist practice, physical therapist education framework, professional behavior, infection control, principles of pharmacology, and medical terminology. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

603 Human Gross Anatomy for Physical Therapy
5 hours. Provides in depth investigation of human anatomy with lectures and cadaver dissection labs. It emphasizes anatomy most relevant to the practice of physical therapy with application to disease and dysfunction relevant to clinical practice. Prerequisite(s): Acceptance and enrollment into the DPT program. Recommended background: Undergraduate courses in Anatomy and Physiology (with labs).

604 Anatomy of the Central Nervous System, Head and Neck for Physical Therapy
4 hours. Provides in depth investigation of the nervous system and head and neck gross anatomy. It emphasizes anatomy most relevant to the practice of physical therapy with application to disease and dysfunction relevant to clinical practice. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PT 603 and acceptance into the DPT program. Recommended background: Undergraduate courses in Anatomy and Physiology (with labs).

605 Systems Physiology and Plasticity
6 hours. Presents the mechanisms underlying the capacity to adapt to environmental or physiological stressors of cells, tissues, and organ systems in health and disease. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

616 Biophysics
4 hours. Application of physical properties to the human body and biological tissues. Clinical and diagnostic applications of light, acoustics, electricity, thermal agents, electromagnetic energy, bioinstrumentation and diagnostic imaging. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first semester of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

617 Applied Kinesiology
4 hours. Emphasis on the study of human movement including biomechanics; a regional approach including functional anatomy, pathokinesiology, and palpation, basic joint and muscle performance, range of motion; posture; ergonomics and gait. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first semester of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

618 Motor Control
2 hours. The general concepts pertaining to the normal control and learning of movement and posture, as well as the development of these abilities. Successful completion of the first semester of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

620 Clinical Applications
1 hours. In this course students will be prepared to make decisions relative to their clinical learning and, analyze professional decisions from multiple perspectives. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

622 Psychosocial Theory and Practice I
2 hours. Prepares physical therapists to work with persons and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups. Concepts of culture and personal experience relevant to health, illness, adaption, and rehabilitation. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

623 Psychosocial Theory and Practice II
3 hours. The neurophysiological, perceptual, and emotional aspects of human behavior; environmental, cultural, and developmental determinants of behavior; psychosocial adaptations to illness and physical dysfunction, related to physical therapy practice. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the first year and first semester of the second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

624 Therapeutic Applications
5 hours. Foundational learning. Knowledge and psychomotor skills necessary to perform examination procedures and therapeutic interventions. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the second term of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

625 Professional Development I
2 hours. Overview of physical therapist practice with special emphasis on the evolving roles of physical therapists, laws, ethics, values, evidence, documentation of patient management, and risk management. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first semester of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

626 Professional Development II
3 hours. Explores the impact of social and political issues on the practice of physical therapy and will identify, develop, and defend strategies for improving healthcare by enhancing the quality of physical therapy and access to service. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

627 Professional Development III
2 hours. Management theory and practice, health care economics, and methods of assuring quality. The role of the physical therapist as a supervisor. Models of management and their relationships to changes in the health care system. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the second year and the first semester of the third year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

628 Case Management in Physical Therapy Practice
3 hours. Case management as a special function within health care systems. Skill and tasks involved in managing a case with multiple providers, many episodes of care, or transitions to different levels of care through a problem-based learning approach. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the second year and the first semester of the third year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

629 Science in Practice Seminar I
3 hours. Introduction to methods of scientific inquiry as applied to clinical problem solving in physical therapy. Critique of physical therapy research. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first semester of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

630 Science in Practice Seminar II
1 hours. Scientific inquiry will be applied to selected cases in clinical problem solving. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the second year and the first semester of the third year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

631 Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I
5 hours. Physical therapy management of a person with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremity. Focuses on lower extremity with emphasis on tests and measures to identify impairments and functional limits. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program or consent of the instructor. Students outside the DPT program may be admitted with consent of the instructor.

632 Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II
5 hours. Physical therapy management focuses on impairments of the head, neck, and trunk and includes the following elements of patient/client management: examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the first year and the first semester of the second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

633 Neuromuscular Dysfunction I
5 hours. Management of clients with neuromuscular disorders. Pathophysiology, risk factors, medical/surgical management of disorders of the neuromuscular system. Examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention, with emphasis on pediatrics. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

634 Neuromuscular Dysfunction II
5 hours. Examination, assessment, development of goals and intervention plans for persons with neuromuscular disorders. Principles of motor learning, control and development. Medical/surgical management and risk factors. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first year and first semester of second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

635 Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction
4 hours. Management of clients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. Includes pathophysiology, risk factors, and medical/surgical management of diseases and injuries of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of the spring term of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

636 Applied Pathophysiology
4 hours. Students will apply content from foundations courses to the management of the client with endocrine/metabolic, gastrointestinal, genito-urinary or integumentary disorders. Includes a unit on prosthetics. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

638 Integration and Assessment I
1 hours. Integration and application of knowledge gained across the curriculum. Application of theoretical and technical knowledge through patient/physical therapist simulations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

639 Integration and Assessment II
1 hours. Integration and application of knowledge gained across the curriculum. Application of theoretical and technical knowledge through patient/physical therapist simulations. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Completion of the first year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program or consent of the instructor.

640 Clinical Internship I
2 hours. A 2-week supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Completion of the second term of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

641 Clinical Internship II
12 hours. A 12-week supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therpist practice. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Successful completion through the spring term of the second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

642 Clinical Internship III
12 hours. A 12-week supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): PT 641 and successful completion of the second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

643 Clinical Internship IV
12 hours. An 12-week supervised practicum in a clinical setting to prepare for entry-level physical therapist practice. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): PT 642 and successful completion of the second year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

694 Special Topics in Physical Therapy
1 TO 3 hours. Selected topics of interest within physical therapy specialty areas. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

696 Independent Study
1 TO 3 hours. For Doctor of Physical Therapy students who want to pursue independent study in addition to required course work. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.


Information provided by the Office of Programs and Academic Assessment.

This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Every attempt is made to provide the most current and correct information. Courses listed here are subject to change without advance notice. Courses are not necessarily offered every term or year. Individual departments or units should be consulted for information regarding frequency of course offerings.