LC muscles new doctoral program
Tiffany Nious, Assistant Editor
Issue date: 9/3/09 Section: Academics
Lynchburg College will launch a Doctoral of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the fall of 2010. This comes as a result of predictions of a rise in the need for physical therapists, according to the LC DPT website. This decision came after a feasibility study that considers determining factors and helps decide whether or not the program is best for LC.
This program will be the only doctoral program offered at LC. Students not interested in the DPT program are even excited about it because it means that LC could possible start a well-rounded doctoral program.
"This is the start to more," freshman and elementary education major Kat Chappell said.
Sophomore Melissa Monaco agrees that the program is a good start, but that doctoral programs in other disciplines should be added as well.
The program will be a full time three-year program beginning in late August or early September 2010, depending on when the application for candidacy for accreditation is approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, according to a presentation by Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Kevin Brueilly at an information session.
"The program cannot accept any student applications until its application for candidacy is approved," Brueilly said.
Once the application is accepted, the program will not be accredited until after the first class graduates The program will then be reviewed and either accepted or rejected. If the program is accepted for accreditation, it is retroactive and includes the first graduating class, Brueilly said.
The top 40 students will enter the program together, take all their classes together and graduate in August 2013, Brueilly said. He also said there will be 10 faculty members and multiple adjuncts and community partners. The curriculum will include 120 credit hours with 38 weeks of clinical training.
"This is almost twice the amount of the national average of 20.5 weeks," Brueilly said.
The school considers leasing the old shoe depot next to the Chevron on Lakeside Drive for use for the program, Vice President and Dean for Student Development John Eccles said. However, this plan has not been approved, Brueilly said. This proposed space has over 30,000 square feet and will include state of the art labs, offices for all faculty and classrooms, according to the Information Session presentation.
This program will be the only doctoral program offered at LC. Students not interested in the DPT program are even excited about it because it means that LC could possible start a well-rounded doctoral program.
"This is the start to more," freshman and elementary education major Kat Chappell said.
Sophomore Melissa Monaco agrees that the program is a good start, but that doctoral programs in other disciplines should be added as well.
The program will be a full time three-year program beginning in late August or early September 2010, depending on when the application for candidacy for accreditation is approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, according to a presentation by Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Kevin Brueilly at an information session.
"The program cannot accept any student applications until its application for candidacy is approved," Brueilly said.
Once the application is accepted, the program will not be accredited until after the first class graduates The program will then be reviewed and either accepted or rejected. If the program is accepted for accreditation, it is retroactive and includes the first graduating class, Brueilly said.
The top 40 students will enter the program together, take all their classes together and graduate in August 2013, Brueilly said. He also said there will be 10 faculty members and multiple adjuncts and community partners. The curriculum will include 120 credit hours with 38 weeks of clinical training.
"This is almost twice the amount of the national average of 20.5 weeks," Brueilly said.
The school considers leasing the old shoe depot next to the Chevron on Lakeside Drive for use for the program, Vice President and Dean for Student Development John Eccles said. However, this plan has not been approved, Brueilly said. This proposed space has over 30,000 square feet and will include state of the art labs, offices for all faculty and classrooms, according to the Information Session presentation.