Frequently Asked Questions
Revised
9/15/09
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Program
Is the STAIRS program fulltime or part-time?
The program is part-time. It is intended to allow students (scholars) to
take classes following a schedule that will allow them to continue to work
full-time as they progress through the program.
How many students can enroll in each course?
Currently, each course enrollment depends on the instructor, but most are
capped at 20-30 students. Registration is on a first-come, first-served
basis with students enrolled in the program and receiving a stipend given
priority over non-degree seeking students.
How many credit hours total in the STAIRS program? What are the courses
in the curriculum?
The program is 26 credit hours for those with a master’s degree. Applicants
that do not have a master’s degree in some field will need an additional 4
graduate credit hours. These 4 credit hours can be taken at UTMB or can be
transferred from another university.
The courses in this curriculum include:
- Therapy Services in the NICU
- Therapy Services in Early Intervention Settings
- Therapy Services in Educational Environments
- Assistive and Adaptive Technology
- Family-Centered and Community-Based Intervention
- Investigative Studies in
Evidence-Based Practice
- Imaging
- Pharmacology
- Medical Spanish for Rehabilitation Specialists
- Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy
- Management
How long is the program?
We anticipate that most students will complete the transitional DPT in 2-3
years. The length of time required will depend on the student. The program
is 26 hours in length, or 11 courses. If a student takes one course each
semester, it will take about 3.5 years to complete. Some of the courses are
only 1-2 credit hours, so students might be able to take more than one
course in those semesters.
How long do I have to complete all the required courses?
Once you matriculate into the t-DPT program at UTMB, you will have 5 (five)
years to complete all degree requirements without needing to request special
permission for continuation.
Is the university accredited and is the program accredited?
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The University has degree
authority to award the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The entry-level DPT
program at UTMB is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of
Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Post-professional degree programs are
not currently accredited by CAPTE. The program has been submitted to the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; approval is pending.
Is the degree awarded a transitional DPT (t-DPT) or DPT?
The degree awarded is a DPT.
How are the DPT and t-DPT different? Where can I find general information
about transitional DPT programs?
Go to the APTA website to find out more:
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Post_Professional_Degree&CONTENTID=32362&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm#Answer2
How does this program differ from the IMPRINTS program offered at UTMB?
The IMPRINTS program awards a post-professional certificate, and it
originally was designed for students enrolled in the UTMB MPT program. The
STAIRS program awards a transitional or post-professional DPT and is offered
to all U.S. licensed PTs with experience in pediatrics. We expect to offer
it to U.S. licensed OTs in the near future.
Can I enroll in the courses but not accept the stipend?
Yes, you may enroll in the STAIRS courses and decline the stipend, or not be
awarded the stipend in the current year. However, course registration
preference will be given to those that accept the stipend.
Can some of the courses be waived if I have work experience and/or prior
similar DPT courses?
Work experience is not acceptable for course waiver. Successful completion
of similar DPT coursework may be acceptable for course waiver and will be
determined on a case-by-case basis.
When are courses offered? Set order of courses? Is there flexibility in
taking them?
The post-professional DPT program is an online educational experience,
requiring the successful completion of 11 courses. The t-DPT courses may be
completed in any sequence with the exception of the ‘Investigative Studies
in Evidence-Based Practice’ course, which should be taken after successful completion of all
other pediatric content courses; it may be taken earlier with instructor
approval.
Can students begin the program in any semester?
We expect that entry into the program can occur at any point in time.
Availability of the stipend may be limited until the next funding cycle
begins, but students can take courses and not receive a stipend. Not all
courses are offered each semester, so students need to plan their program
carefully. Over a one year period of time, all courses are expected to be
offered once, pending sufficient enrollment.
Do I need to be on campus in Galveston?
All courses are designed for online delivery with no ‘on campus’ course
requirements here in Galveston, Texas. That said, we welcome you come to
campus to interact with faculty! A 3-5 day on-campus orientation may be
required.
Will I have to meet a residency
requirement?
Residency requirements will be satisfied each semester by attending and
interacting with program faculty at professional conferences, and/or using
online networking tools (such as Skype and Second Life).
Are courses graded?
Yes.
Is it required that I have a Master’s degree?
No. The program is designed for all U.S. licensed physical therapists with
an interest and experience in pediatrics. Those applicants that do not hold
a masters degree in some field will need also to take at least 4
post-baccalaureate (i.e. graduate) credit hours. These 4 credit hours can be
taken at another university and transferred to UTMB. These 4 (or more)
credit hours need to have been taken since the awarding of the bachelor’s
degree.
Will I be expected to write a thesis?
This is a clinical doctorate. Investigative Studies in Evidence-Based
Practice is one course and
there is a constant theme throughout the courses, requiring students to
locate supporting literature. In ‘Investigative Studies in Evidence-Based
Practice’,
students will choose to develop a case report, author a scholarly paper, or
design an original project unique to the student’s professional interests.
These may include performing a clinical research project.
What are the program faculty credentials?
Drs. Baker, Fingerhut and Utsey all hold professional doctorates (PhDs or
EdDs); Drs. Baker and Utsey are licensed physical therapists each with more
than 30 years of experience, and Dr. Fingerhut is a licensed occupational
therapist with 30 years of experience. Ms. Wild has been a licensed PT for
more than 20 years, has her PCS (Pediatric Certified Specialist awarded by
the APTA) and is currently enrolled in a PhD program in Rehabilitation
Sciences.
Do I have to be a UTMB graduate to participate in STAIRS? Get the t-DPT?
No, the STAIRS program is designed for all U.S. licensed PTs (and OTs in the
future, we hope).
Do I have to have participated in your post-professional certificate
program, IMPRINTS, to be eligible for the STAIRS program?
No, but students that have participated in the IMPRINTS program will have
completed 3 of the required courses for the STAIRS program and t-DPT.
I completed the face-to-face IMPRINTS certificate. Which
3 classes do I already have
credit for?
In your IMPRINTS program you took these three 3-credit courses:
- Therapy Services in the Early Intervention Settings
- Family-Centered and Community- Based Intervention
- Therapy Services in the NICU
I completed the online IMPRINTS certificate. Which
4 classes do I already have
credit for?
In your IMPRINTS program you took these four 3-credit courses:
- Therapy Services in the Early Intervention Settings
- Family-Centered and Community- Based Intervention
- Therapy Services in the NICU
- Independent Investigative Studies /
Evidence-Based Practice
Application
Are certain prerequisite courses required?
No particular courses are required prior to beginning in this t-DPT program.
Students must hold a current U.S. physical therapy license and should be
employed in a pediatric setting. Those that do not have a masters degree in
some field will need to take at least 4 credit hours of post-baccalaureate
coursework; this can be taken at UTMB or at another university and
transferred to UTMB. Those that have not had a statistics course might want
to consider taking a basic statistics course before enrolling in this t-DPT
program.
What are the admission requirements for the program?
- A baccalaureate or master's professional degree (or certificate) from a CAPTE- accredited professional degree program
- A current license to practice physical therapy in the U.S., or be
licensure-eligible
- Completion of an online UTMB application
- Completion of an online STAIRS application
- Transcripts from all universities and
colleges you have attended
- 2 letters of recommendation; one of these should be from a current or
prior employer. The other letter may be from a co-worker or family you have
provided services to.
- Health clearance/current immunizations
Go to the
application page for more details.
Is the GRE required?
No, GRE scores are not required for admission to this t-DPT program.
Which health forms and immunizations are needed?
The immunization requirements comply with the State of Texas Higher
Education Mandatory Immunizations Requirements and the recommendations of
the Texas Department of State Health and the CDC. It is your responsibility
to ensure that you complete the immunization requirements. Proof must be
provided of MMR and varicella (chicken pox) vaccines (or proof of
illnesses), and tetanus/diphtheria and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, and
hepatitis B vaccines. A TB skin test (PPD) must be within 6 months of
enrollment.
Why are current immunizations necessary for this online degree program?
Immunizations are required because participants will be making observation
visits into homes, NICUs, schools, or other pediatric settings where they
will be in contact with clients/patients.
Is there a requirement that I have a drug test or security background
check?
As a condition of admission, all matriculating students at UTMB must
complete a security background check, at cost to the student. Cost is
approximately $37.00. Instructions will be sent to each applicant after
acceptance into the program. Drug tests are not required at this time.
Who should provide a letter of reference?
Letters of reference provide us with insight into an applicant’s work
habits, diligence, and commitment to learning. Further, a letter from an
employer ensures that the employer knows your additional obligations and
dedication to the profession. Anyone credible who can speak to your
professionalism would work well as a reference.
Can I apply if I don’t have a license to practice physical therapy in the
United States?
We require United States licensure as one of the minimum criteria to be
admitted to this t-DPT program. The licensure process as developed in the
U.S. insures that all PTs have achieved the minimum educational standards
required by the Commission for Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.
Assurance of this education baseline allows us to offer the t-DPT program
for a minimum number of credits. Consequently, if you do not have a license
you would need to submit your education materials to a state license board
to determine the equivalency of your education and then successfully pass a
U.S. license exam to be considered for admission to this program.
Costs/Stipend/Financial Aid
What are the costs for students in the program? How do these differ for
in-state vs. out-of-state students?
You can find this information at:
http://www.utmb.edu/enrollmentservices/about/pdf/Fees0910SHP-DPT.pdf
What are my options for financing this post-professional degree? Does the
university offer financial aid?
We will award up to 20, $6,500 stipends each year to STAIRS program
participants that agree to the work obligation requirements. Some employers
offer tuition reimbursement for graduate coursework. UTMB financial aid is
reserved for full-time students. Students do not have to apply for financial
aid to be eligible to receive the $6,500 stipend.
What are the work obligation requirements for those that accept the
stipend?
Our funding agency, the U.S. Department of Education, requires that each
student (scholar) that receives a stipend then completes a ‘service
obligation’ (i.e. work requirement) at the conclusion of the degree program.
Each stipend recipient is expected to work for 2 years on a full-time basis
(or 4 years on a part-time basis) in a position in which at least 51% of the
caseload is pediatrics, or that at least 51% of their time is providing
related services to children with disabilities. If the position involves
supervision, research, administration or teaching at a university, the
stipend recipient should spend at least 51% of his/her time performing work
related to the training for which a stipend was received. The service
obligation should be completed within 5 years of completion of the degree
program. All stipend recipients are required to provide Dr. Baker/UTMB with
a current address, phone number, email and employer contact information upon
exit from this degree program so that required annual reports can be
submitted to the Department of Education. Further, the U.S. Department of
Education will monitor each graduate’s service obligation. If a service
obligation is not fulfilled, the graduate/scholar will repay to the U.S.
Department of Education any stipend received, plus interest, in an amount
proportional to the service obligation not completed.
Do I have to be from an under-represented group or have a disability to
receive the stipend?
No, but priority will be given to those that have a caseload that is at
least 50% culturally-diverse.
If a person were fortunate enough to get the stipend, does $6,500 cover
the cost of the entire program?
No, the $6,500 will not cover the entire cost of the t-DPT. For Texas
residents, it will go further, since tuition for in-state students is less
than for out-of-state students. Based on 2009-2010 data, tuition and fees for
each 3 credit
hour course will be about $1,100 for in-state students, and about $1,950
for out of state students. Go to
http://www.utmb.edu/enrollmentservices/about/pdf/Fees0910SHP-DPT.pdf to see the
current tuition and fees.
If I am awarded a stipend, will the tuition and fees be waived for that
year?
No, you are responsible for paying tuition and fees by the due date each
semester, or you will be assessed a late fee. Stipend checks are sent after
the semester begins.
Other
What computer skills are needed?
It is recommended that students have basic knowledge of programs such as MS
Word, PowerPoint, and email. Washington Online has an excellent survey to
help you decide if online learning is an effective learning strategy for
you. You can take their survey by visiting
http://www.waol.org/getstarted/IsOnline4Me.asp (link opens in a
new window). Survey results are confidentially provided to the
student.
Will I need a certain type of computer in order to take this course?
See the UT TeleCampus site for information on computer requirements.
http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/technicalinformation/computerrequirements.aspx
I'm not very computer savvy; is there assistance for students like me?
Our online courses are delivered via the University of Texas TeleCampus (UTTC).
The UT TeleCampus provides free 24/7 help desk support to academic students,
faculty members teaching online through the UT TeleCampus, and the UT System
campus staff who support them. The Help Desk can provide answers to
questions about using UT TeleCampus technology and services, as well as
technical support. Information on how to contact the UT TeleCampus Help Desk
is available online at www.uttchelpdesk.org.
Can I get Continuing Education Units (CEUs)? And will the course
instructor complete the paperwork for me to get my professional CEUs?
These university course credits can be submitted by the therapist/student
for continuing education (CE) credit to a professional state licensing
agency; and many agencies will provide CEUs for the successful completion of
graduate coursework. It is the responsibility of the enrolled student to
determine the requirements for CEU credit in their profession and state and
to submit the needed paperwork to that agency. Typically, proof of course
completion (i.e. university transcript) is required for CEU credit to be
awarded. Official UTMB transcripts are available at
http://www.utmb.edu/enrollmentservices/alumni/diplomareplacement.html
