Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Courses
Course Code and Number, Course Title, Credit(s) PTRS 688 Special Topics (1-3)
Special topic listings are graduate-level special interest courses developed by faculty members of the PhD program in physical rehabilitation science. They vary from year to year. PTRS 702 Graduate Seminar in Teaching I (1)*
Covers learning theories and relevant teaching methods for the adult learner. Laboratory experiences are attached to a physical therapy course being taught concurrently to this course. Students will act as teaching assistants in that course that revolves around a three-hour weekly experience as a laboratory assistant. They will be filmed while teaching a short section of a lab and then self evaluate themselves. The students will keep an ongoing information sheet about their experiences as a laboratory assistant. PTRS 703 Graduate Seminar in Teaching II (1)*
Covers assessment techniques and curriculum construction. Students will participate in the teaching of labs to the MPT professional students and be involved in creating assessment tools for these students. In addition, they must give one or two lectures to these students and lead some laboratory sessions. They will also construct and justify a curriculum for physical therapy students.
Prerequisite: PTRS 702 PTRS 705 Pathology (2)*
Covers the pathological foundation of human disease processes and how they affect the normal function of human organ systems as related to the physical rehabilitation science curriculum. Students also gain experience discussing and teaching pathological processes with an audience of master’s degree students in physical therapy. PTRS 706 Neuroscience (2)*
Covers neuroscience as applied to rehabilitation. Emphasis is on neuroanatomical and neurophysiological aspects of neuroscience and neuroplasticity. PTRS 708 Rehabilitation Physiology (2-4)*
Covers fundamental concepts of physiology as related to the physical rehabilitation science curriculum and provides exposure to the research-based subdiscipline of rehabilitation physiology. The focus is on applied aspects of the discipline and exercise physiology for biological perturbation, physiological evaluation, and therapeutic adaptation. PTRS 709 Rehabilitation Biomechanics (1-3)*
Covers theoretical applications of the principles of biomechanics, Kinematics, Kinetics, and transarticular forces and moments. PTRS 712 Motor Behavior (2)*
Covers fundamental concepts of motor behavior as related to the physical rehabilitation science curriculum and provides exposure to the research-based subdiscipline of motor behavior. The course covers the major theories of motor development and control with a description of changes in motor skill behavior across the life-span and the accompanying changes in growth and aging. PTRS 715 Cellular Mechanisms of Rehabilitation (2)*
Covers cellular aspects of compensatory and rehabilitative adaptations. The course details muscle, bone, and connective tissue aspects. PTRS 718 Applied Human Anatomy, Trunk (3)*
Students attend lectures and laboratory sessions required by the current Human Anatomy course PTAB 400 and concerning the trunk. This course covers the body from head to toe including the systems of musculoskeletal, nervous, integumentary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal. Emphasis is on the applied/functional anatomy. In addition, the student will dissect the human body, submit an anatomical literature review paper on a topic of interest, lecture on one region, and assist in the laboratory. PTRS 719 Applied Human Anatomy, Upper Extremity (3)*
Students attend lectures and laboratory sessions required by the current Human Anatomy course PTAB 400 and concerning the upper extremity. This course covers the body from head to toe including the systems of musculoskeletal, nervous, integumentary, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal. Emphasis is on the applied/functional anatomy. In addition, the student will dissect the human body, submit an anatomical literature review paper on a topic of interest, lecture on one region, and assist in the laboratory. PTRS 720 Applied Human Anatomy, Lower Extremity (3)*
Students attend lectures and laboratory sessions required by the current Human Anatomy course PTAB 400 and concerning the lower extremity. This course covers the body from head to toe including the systems of musculoskeletal, nervous, integumentary, cardiovascular and gastro intestinal. Emphasis is on the applied/functional anatomy. In addition, the student will dissect the human body, submit an anatomical literature review paper on a topic of interest, lecture on one region, and assist in the laboratory. PTRS 780 Plasticity in the Central Nervous System (2)*
Explores published experimental evidence characterizing plasticity during the development of the nervous system, normal neuronal and glial functions, and the mechanisms underlying recovery of neurological function following central or peripheral nerve injuries. Students will read and discuss classic original literature and formulate theoretical constructs for the role of physical rehabilitation interventions designed to promote or simplify plasticity within the nervous system. Lecture and discussion topics include a historical overview of regeneration and plasticity research, collateral sprouting, denervation super-sensitivity, synaptic redundancy, axonal regeneration, synaptogenesis, competitive interactions, behavioral substitution, and critical periods.
Prerequisites: basic neuroscience course PTRS 788 Seminar in Rehabilitation Science (1)
The seminar meets each week with faculty and guest speaker presentations occurring biweekly. On alternating weeks, students discuss relevant research articles under the leadership of faculty members who have research interests in the particular area of discussion. Students present results of projects in which they are involved and lead discussions of journal articles under faculty guidance. Students in the PhD program must register for seminar for at least four terms. PTRS 798 Independent Study (1-3)*
Under the supervision of a faculty adviser, students pursue independent study of a topic, research involvement, or independent project development related to the practice of physical therapy. The student and adviser select the course format with a contractual agreement that they sign before course registration. PTRS 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-12)
Graduate students take dissertation credits for all aspects of the research work required to complete their dissertation work. Students take a minimum of 12 credits to complete their degree requirements. *A permission slip from the program director or instructor is necessary to enroll in this course.
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