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The Mayo School of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Doctoral Program prepares individuals for professional practice in hospitals, clinics and private practice through targeted course work, clinical experiences and research projects.
As a physical therapy student, you will primarily study and work on the Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester. In addition, you will have the opportunity for clinical experiences at approximately 175 clinical facilities in and outside the Mayo system that are used for educating our students.
Didactic
Over the course of the three-year program, you will participate in lectures, workshops, in-service training, case studies, field trips, Grand Rounds and informal discussions. You are encouraged to participate in these opportunities as time permits.
Research
During the program, you will plan and conduct one group research project and one individual project that may involve a single subject or multiple subject research designs. Program mentors and physical therapy faculty and staff are available to help you select and carry out your research.
Course Schedule
Year I - Fall Semester
Anatomy
Movement Science I
Pathopharmacology I
Exam & Systems Review I
Intervention Skills I
Research I
Professional Management I
Year I - Spring Semester
Movement Science II/Biomechanics
Neuroscience I
Pathopharmacology II
Clinical Orthopedics
Exam & Systems Review II
Intervention Skills II
Clinical Experience I
Year I - Summer Semester
Movement Science III
Exam & Systems Review III
Intervention Skills III
Professional Management II
Clinical Experience II
Year II - Fall Semester
Movement Science IV-Life Span Development
Neuroscience II
Management of Neuromuscular Conditions I
Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions I
Management of Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Conditions
Management of Integumentary Conditions
Research II
Year II - Spring Semester
Management of Neuromuscular Conditions II
Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions II
Management of Sports Related Injuries
Management of Complex Medical Conditions
Research III
Professional Management III - Teaching and Learning in PT
Year II - Summer Semester
Clinical Experience III & IV
Year III - Fall Semester
Special Topics -- Medical Screening
Health Promotion and Wellness
Research IV
Professional Management IV
Clinical Experience V
Year III - Spring Semester
Track Time Block (Clinical Experience VI or Research)
Clinical Experience VII
Professional Practice Evaluation
Note: The above curriculum is subject to minor revisions periodically.
Clinical Experiences
Overview
The clinical experiences that take place in the curriculum are a strength of the program. Each student will spend 53 full-time weeks participating in clinical experiences, more than most programs in the country. Outpatient, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation experiences are required, leaving room for each student to choose among electives to complete the clinical education. In the first year of the curriculum, students also participate in a weekly part-time clinical experience designed to expose them to the breadth of practice within the profession (CE I).
Scheduling of Clinical Experiences
Scheduling of clinical experiences is another strength of the program. The Director of Clinical Education uses a process to gather student input and interest, then uses the input to match among available clinical sites. Timing of the scheduling process is mandated nationally and begins very early in the program. The first full-time clinical experience (CE II) is scheduled in October of the first academic year. The subsequent three clinical experiences (CE III-V) are scheduled in the spring of the first academic year. The remaining clinical experiences (CE VI and CE VII) are scheduled in the spring of the second academic year.
Description of Clinical Experiences
The first full-time clinical experience (CE II) takes place during the summer between the first- and second-academic years. This clinical experience is designed to expose the student to a specific patient care area as well as provide an opportunity for students to integrate skills learned during the first year. Appropriate clinical sites are in outpatient orthopedics or acute care. Students must successfully complete CE II prior to advancing to the second academic year.
During the second year, students complete two nine-week, full-time clinical experiences. During the third year, students complete three nine-week, full-time clinical experiences. Combined, three of the 2nd- and 3rd-year clinical experiences will take place in acute care, outpatient orthopedic and adult inpatient rehabilitation settings. The remaining experiences are electives and can take place in such areas as geriatrics, sports medicine, hand therapy, work rehabilitation, or pediatrics. Community hospital and general private practice settings also are options.
Clinical settings are yet another strength of the clinical education program. Each student will have at least two full-time clinical experiences that take place at Mayo Rochester, a setting that includes a diverse patient-care areas and outstanding clinical instructors. The majority of external clinical sites are in the Midwest, located within a 500-mile radius of Rochester. Contracts are also held with sites in Washington state, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Texas, and Florida.
| Clinical Experience |
Approximate Timing |
Description |
I |
Thursdays during Spring Semester of Year I |
Part-time clinical experience designed to expose students to the breadth of the profession |
II |
June-July Year I |
First full-time experience |
III |
May-June Year II |
Full-time terminal clinical experiences in three required areas (outpatient, acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation). Two elective areas. |
IV |
July-August Year II |
V |
October-December Year III |
VI |
January-March Year III |
VII |
March-May Year III |
If you have questions about the clinical education portion of the program, please contact the Director of Clinical Education, Aaron Rindflesch, PT, Ph.D., NCS at rindflesch.aaron@mayo.edu.
Scheduled Breaks
During each academic year, there is a two-week break at the end of fall semester, a one-week spring break during the spring semester, and various breaks before and after the clinical experiences.
Grading or Evaluation
Mayo School of Health Sciences uses student evaluative tools that include:
- Written examination
- Demonstration of skills
- Self-assessment exercises
- Faculty reviews
Our system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities.
Curriculum Enhancements
Mayo School of Health Sciences is committed to developing and maintaining the very best education programs. Changes may be made to the curriculum and other aspects of this program as necessary to assure the highest-quality training.
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