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Department Mission
Master of Physical Therapy and Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (MPT-DPT) Program
Physical Therapy is a profession dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life. It serves humanity, which is holistic in nature and provides services to persons of all ages, gender and cultures. In concert with the mission of the university and to meet the needs of the community, the Physical Therapy department faculty has developed the following mission statement.
Mission Statement:
The mission of physical therapist professional education is to graduate competent, adaptable, and compassionate Physical Therapy practitioners of the highest quality committed to life-long learning, self-development, and critical inquiry and prepared to function autonomously in current and future healthcare environments. The Physical Therapy professional education at California State University, Fresno seeks to stimulate scholarly inquiry and critical thinking while supporting and encouraging research and its dissemination to develop outstanding, competent, professional practitioners and future leaders of the profession of Physical Therapy.
In concert with the American Physical Therapy Association 2020 Vision Statement, we will prepare graduates with skills to examine, evaluate, establish a diagnosis and prognosis within the scope of Physical Therapy practice, implement and manage a Physical Therapy plan of care, and provide a sound rationale for evaluation and treatment procedures based on a theoretical framework for practice including evidence-based practice.
Successful completion of the MPT-DPT program will prepare students with the following outcomes and abilities in Physical Therapy management and professional development to:
- Practice across all settings in a safe, legal, ethical and nondiscriminatory manner.
- Screen individuals to determine the need for Physical Therapy evaluation or referral to other health professionals
- Accurately perform and interpret examination findings to establish a Physical Therapy diagnosis
- Choose and effectively perform appropriate examination procedures.
- Develop and manage an appropriate Physical Therapy plan of care including patient education, prevention, enhancement, referral and discharge planning
- Utilize, with safe client-handling skills and an awareness of indications and contraindications, cost-effective efficacious patient management activities that address goals in the plan of care.
- Re-evaluate/modify the Physical Therapy plan of care
- Provide sound rationale for evaluation and treatment procedures and plan of care development based on a theoretical framework for practice (including evidence-based practice)
- Cognitively understand patient needs, limits and capabilities, in conjunction with the theory and application of Physical Therapy practice, to determine when a task or skill can be safely and effectively delegated to another care provider
- Provide effective patient/client-related instruction, education and consultation
- Effectively communicate orally, in writing, non-verbally and with cultural sensitivity with clients, caregivers, colleagues, educators and the public
- Participate in administrative/management, and supervisory processes
- Participate in the community as an advocate for the practice of Physical Therapy
- Engage in critical inquiry
- Plan and implement strategies for continued self assessment and professional growth