Mission Statement:

The Physical Therapy program at CUAA inspires a diverse student body for life-long service of patients in mind, body, and spirit grounded in evidence and best practices in rehabilitation and medicine.

Our Vision:

The Physical Therapy Program will be known as providing a program of study that blends learning methodologies to create a dynamic Interprofessional patient-centered learning curriculum. This unique curriculum prepares graduates for a vocation as compassionate, confident, and active professional members of the healthcare team, who are capable of managing health and wellness together with the complex issues of disease.

Accreditation:

General Information:

The physical therapy program at Concordia University Ann Arbor started in Fall of 2023. Each cohort will enroll up to 28 students; the program is two and-a-half years (seven-and-a- half semesters) long and can be completed in thirty months.  Upon successful graduation students will earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

This accelerated graduate face-to-face program consists of 103 semester credits which is spread over thirty-one didactic courses and three clinical experiences. Students will complete 1,280 hours of clinical education.  The curriculum incorporates interprofessional experiences, simulation activities and immersive, active learning activities to engage students in the rich professional content. This innovative curriculum utilizes Pass/No Credit grades. 

Program Learning Outcomes

By fulfilling all of the course requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (CUAA), students will be able to:

1. Our graduates demonstrate Christian values of care, compassion, respect, empathy and understanding, personal responsibility and trustworthiness in patient, peer, and colleague interactions.
2. Our graduates serve as culturally competent professionals when engaging with patients, families, peers and colleagues, and within service roles in community and professional organizations.
3. Our graduates will be prepared to provide high-quality, efficient, physical therapy services in a variety of settings through direct access or referral. 
4. Our graduates will use clinical problem-solving skills to establish a physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis, based on examination and evaluation of the patient, and carry out a safe and effective plan of care.
5. Our graduates will demonstrate effective written, interpersonal, and communication in all interactions with patients, peers, and colleagues.
   [interpersonal] Demonstrating appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication with patients and families.
   [written] Complete electronic documentation of the physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, interventions, and outcomes.
   [professional] Communicate diagnostic results and clinical impressions with other practitioners as appropriate.
6. Our graduates will demonstrate the ability to select appropriate measures, collect accurate information, and analyze the results in order to determine the need for further physical therapy treatment.

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PT 5221	Introduction to Professional Formation	3
PT 5350	Clinical Foundations in Anatomy, Physiology, and Palpation	6
PT 5431	Foundations of Patient Management	3
PT 5331	Health Literacy, Patient Education, and Prevention	2
PT 5432	Applied Patient Management	4
PT 5561	Mobility Training	2
PT 7222	PTs as Moral Agents and Influencers	3
PT 7445	Musculoskeletal Lower Quarter: Spine, Pelvis, and Hip	3
PT 5425	Applied Exercise and Movement Science	2
PT 5475	Health, Disease and Global Society	2
PT 8446	Musculoskeletal Lower Quarter: Knee, Ankle, and Foot	3
PT 7563	Treating Impairments of Body Structure/Function	2
PT 7800	Clinical Education I	4
PT 6120	Coaching and Collaboration in PT Practice	2
PT 7443	Musculoskeletal Upper Quarter: Head, Neck, and Shoulder	3
PT 7564	Assessing and Treating Activity Limitations	2
PT 7444	Musculoskeletal Upper Quarter: Elbow, Wrist, and Hand	3
PT 7446	Integrated Musculoskeletal Case Management	2
PT 6225	Health Policy, Systems and Social Determinants	2
PT 8572	Participation in Life Roles & Sport	2
PT 8451	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary I	3
PT 8453	Integumentary, Lymphatic, and Limb Loss	4
PT 8573	Rehab and Oncology	2
PT 8425	Leadership Development of Self, Teams, and Organizations	2
PT 8452	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary II	3
PT 8574	Progression of Care	3
PT 8880	Clinical Education II	4
PT 8461	Applied Neuroanatomy	2
PT 8462	Neuromuscular I	4
PT 8575	Managing Complex Patients	2
PT 8335	Clinical Leadership and Community Planning	3
PT 8463	Neuromuscular II	4
PT 8464	Neuromuscular III	4
PT 8890	Clinical Education III	8
Total Hours		103

Program Admission:

The physical therapy program at Concordia University Ann Arbor admits students annually in mid-summer semester. The program begins with a 3-cr, online, synchronous course combined with program orientation and optional opportunities for students to engage with review materials for medical terminology and anatomy content. Students are required to be on campus for full-time, in-person learning beginning with the fall semester. Applications for students are available beginning in June of the year preceding student matriculation into the program. Admissions are completed on a rolling basis so early submission of application materials is encouraged.

We anticipate three types of applicants:

1. CUAA BSRS applicants who meet the criteria for direct admission (see BSRS-PT track).
2. CUAA BSRS applicants who do not meet the criteria for direct admission; however, meet the criteria for general admission (see below).
3. Post-baccalaureate students who meet the criteria for general admission.

All applicants utilize the Physical Therapy Central Application Service (PTCAS). All qualified applicants will be considered for an interview. The Physical Therapy Admissions Committee is responsible for the review and recommendation of qualified applicants for admission to the Physical Therapy program. Applications are reviewed in the year prior to planned matriculation. The admission cycle opens in June of the year prior to admission and remains open until the cohort is filled.

Five of the seven prerequisite courses must be completed at the time of application.

• Earned Bachelor degree from an accredited four-year higher education institution
• 3.2 Cumulative grade point average (GPA) for the earned degree.
• 3.2 Science GPA for all prerequisite courses
• 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs
• 8 credits of General Chemistry I and II with labs
• 8 credits of College Physics I and II with labs
• 3 credits of Statistics

All students applying for admission to the program must submit through PTCAS:

• All official transcripts from previously attended universities*
• Three letters of reference (one from a college instructor, one from a physical therapist, and one additional from a reference that can address specifics about the applicant)
• A personal statement that speaks to your desire to pursue your education in physical therapy as well as your personal story so we can learn more about you beyond your academic and test score achievements
• Documentation of 20 hours of observation under a licensed physical therapist
• Documentation of 20 hours of service work with an underserved/underrepresented population (the identified hours must be completed at time of application)**
• GRE Scores are not required for admission, if submitted please use code #3475. Submission of scores does not increase chances for admission
• Completion of all program-specific application questions and requested materials.
• International Applicants must meet the following TOEFL requirements as described:
  • Writing - 24 on the previous TOEFL scale/5 on the new TOEFL scale adopted 1/21/2026
  • Speaking - 26 on the previous TOEFL scale/5 on the new TOEFL scale adopted 1/21/2026
  • Reading Comprehension - 21 on the previous TOEFL scale/4 on the new TOEFL scale adopted 1/21/2026
  • Listening Comprehension - 18 on the previous TOEFL scale/4 on the new TOEFL scale adopted 1/21/2026

*Students with international transcripts must have them evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service, and the official scores must be submitted directly from the evaluation service to PTCAS.

**Applicants with additional experience beyond 40 hours will not be granted preferential consideration.

Plan

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
PT 5221	Introduction to Professional Formation (this online course will run the summer preceeding semester 1)	3
PT 5431	Foundations of Patient Management	3
PT 5432	Applied Patient Management	4
PT 5561	Mobility Training	2
PT 5350	Clinical Foundations in Anatomy, Physiology, and Palpation	6
	Hours	18
Semester 2
PT 7222	PTs as Moral Agents and Influencers	3
PT 7445	Musculoskeletal Lower Quarter: Spine, Pelvis, and Hip	3
PT 5331	Health Literacy, Patient Education, and Prevention	2
PT 5425	Applied Exercise and Movement Science	2
PT 7443	Musculoskeletal Upper Quarter: Head, Neck, and Shoulder	3
PT 5475	Health, Disease and Global Society	2
PT 7563	Treating Impairments of Body Structure/Function	2
	Hours	17
Semester 3
PT 7800	Clinical Education I	4
PT 7564	Assessing and Treating Activity Limitations	2
PT 6120	Coaching and Collaboration in PT Practice	2
PT 6225	Health Policy, Systems and Social Determinants	2
PT 8572	Participation in Life Roles & Sport	2
	Hours	12
Semester 4
PT 8446	Musculoskeletal Lower Quarter: Knee, Ankle, and Foot	3
PT 8453	Integumentary, Lymphatic, and Limb Loss	4
PT 8461	Applied Neuroanatomy	2
PT 8451	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary I	3
PT 7444	Musculoskeletal Upper Quarter: Elbow, Wrist, and Hand	3
PT 8462	Neuromuscular I	4
	Hours	19
Semester 5
PT 8452	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary II	3
PT 7446	Integrated Musculoskeletal Case Management	2
PT 8463	Neuromuscular II	4
PT 8880	Clinical Education II	4
	Hours	13
Semester 6
PT 8464	Neuromuscular III	4
PT 8574	Progression of Care	3
PT 8335	Clinical Leadership and Community Planning	3
PT 8425	Leadership Development of Self, Teams, and Organizations	2
PT 8575	Managing Complex Patients	2
PT 8573	Rehab and Oncology	2
	Hours	16
Semester 7
PT 8890	Clinical Education III	8
	Hours	8
	Total Hours	103

Course options and schedule are subject to change.