Our Programs

The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program offers three educational opportunities in clinical care and rehabilitation science.

Learning Outcomes

Doctor of Physical Therapy Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes for the DPT Program are founded on 5 Curricular Elements: 1) Patient-Centered Care, 2) Clinical Reasoning and Evidence Based Practice, 3) Movement for Participation, 4) Teamwork and Collaboration, and 5) Quality Improvement and Safety. Specifically, the learning outcomes are that all (100%) of program graduates and their employers will be competent in:

1. Delivery of patient-centered clinical care.
2. Clinical reasoning and decision-making. 
3. Applying foundational science knowledge to clinical care to promote patient/population movement for life participation. 
4. Applying principles of teamwork and collaboration within healthcare systems. 
5. Providing quality patient-centered health care that is safe, effective, ethical, equitable, and takes cost into account.

Pediatric Residency Learning Outcomes

1. Residents will demonstrate advanced skills as direct service providers and/or consultants in a variety of practice settings with a variety of patient populations as delineated in the current Pediatric DSP and DRP.
2. Residents will demonstrate preparedness to sit for and successfully pass the ABPTS pediatric clinical specialist certification examination.
3. Residents will contribute to the profession of physical therapy, and the larger healthcare community, through leadership, evidence-based practice, teaching, and service.

Faculty Residency Learning Outcomes

1. The Resident will demonstrate an understanding of the academy through teaching, scholarship, and service.
2. The Resident will create innovative instructional experiences for students based on learning theories and aligned with course objectives and assessments.
3. The Resident will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of clinical education in a DPT curriculum.
4. The Resident will develop, design, implement, and disseminate an education research or scholarship project.
5. The Resident will be employed in a PT or PTA education program in a core faculty position within 12 months of graduation from the residency.

Orthopaedic Residency Learning Outcomes

1. Residents will demonstrate advanced skills as direct service providers and/or consultants in outpatient orthopaedic setting with a variety of patient populations as delineated in the current Orthopaedic DSP and DRP. 
2. Resident will demonstrate preparedness to sit for and successfully pass ABPTS orthopaedic clinical specialist certification examination.
3. Residents will contribute to the profession of physical therapy, and the larger healthcare community, through leadership, evidence-based practice, teaching, and service.

Rehabilitation Science PhD Program Learning Outcomes

1. Critically analyze and integrate research findings from specialized disciplines to address complex problems of physical disablement.
2. Design and implement rigorous, innovative, and ethical research that will advance theoretical and/or applied principles of clinical practice in rehabilitation.
3. Disseminate findings of original research using standard scientific oral and written formats.
4. Compete for funding from national agencies to support interdisciplinary research and educational initiatives in rehabilitation.
5. Teach graduate level courses in a selected area of specialization within the field of rehabilitation.
6. Effectively communicate with clinicians, research scientists, and students in the field of rehabilitation and its affiliated disciplines using the common language of disablement.
7. Serve in leadership roles for professional activities that will advance the science and practice of rehabilitation medicine.