Clinical Rotation Information
See clinical rotation information and scoring expectations for students in KU's physical therapy program.
Your clinical rotations are an essential component in your preparation for a career in physical therapy. This critical part of your training includes learning through the provision of service to diverse and underserved populations and learning the importance of ethical, compassionate care.
Full-Time Clinical Experience I (6-8 credit hours)
Nine to twelve weeks of full-time clinical experience. During the clinical rotation, the student will have the opportunity to develop the patient care skills needed for successful practice as a physical therapist. The student will work under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist in clinical settings affiliated with the program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the first 7 semesters of the D.P.T. curriculum or permission of instructor. The student should be able to integrate skills learned in didactic curriculum to achieve entry-level performance in all aspects of patient and practice management in selected settings including inpatient, outpatient and a setting of student’s interest.
Full-Time Clinical Experience II (6-8 credit hours)
Nine to twelve weeks of full-time clinical experience. During the clinical rotation, the student will have the opportunity to develop the patient care skills needed for successful practice as a physical therapist. The student will work under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist in clinical settings affiliated with the program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the first 7 semesters of the D.P.T. curriculum or permission of instructor. The student should be able to integrate skills learned in didactic curriculum to achieve entry-level performance in all aspects of patient and practice management in selected settings including inpatient, outpatient and a setting of student’s interest.
Full-Time Clinical Experience III (6-8 credit hours)
Nine to twelve weeks of full-time clinical experience. During the clinical rotation, the student will have the opportunity to develop the patient care skills needed for successful practice as a physical therapist. The student will work under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist in clinical settings affiliated with the program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the first 7 semesters of the D.P.T. curriculum or permission of instructor. The student should be able to integrate skills learned in didactic curriculum to achieve entry-level performance in all aspects of patient and practice management in selected settings including inpatient, outpatient and a setting of student’s interest.
Full-Time Clinical Experience IV (2-6 credit hours)
Three to nine weeks of full-time clinical experience. During the clinical rotation, the student will have the opportunity to develop the patient care skills needed for successful practice as a physical therapist. The student will work under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist in clinical settings affiliated with the program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the first 7 semesters of the D.P.T. curriculum or permission of instructor. The student should be able to integrate skills learned in didactic curriculum to achieve entry-level performance in all aspects of patient and practice management in selected settings including inpatient, outpatient and a setting of student’s interest.
Specialized Clinical Experience (2-6 credit hours)
Three to nine weeks of clinical experience. During the clinical rotation, the student will have the opportunity to have exposure to a different health care system such as an international clinical experience, or a specialized area of physical therapy practice. This course is also used as a bridge between the fall and spring semesters for 12 week full-time clinical experiences for maintaining the appropriately distributed credit hours. The student will be under the supervision of an experienced physical therapist in clinical settings affiliated with the program. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the first 7 semesters of the D.P.T. curriculum and permission of instructor. Students are expected to develop their own specific learning objectives and provide an annotated bibliography supporting their learning objectives and any applicable performance rubrics. Upon completion, the student will prepare and/or deliver a scholarly paper or presentation.
For complete, current information about courses and requirements in KU's doctorate program in physical therapy, please visit the KU Academic Catalog.
Schedules
Explore the full-time clinical rotation schedules:
| Dates | Clinical Rotation | Didactic Semester |
|---|---|---|
|
August 14-October 13, 2023 Core education complete - initial clinical rotation |
PTRS 920 (9 weeks) |
Semester 8 |
|
August 14-November 3, 2023 Core education complete - initial clinical rotation |
PTRS 920 (12 weeks) |
Semester 8 |
|
October 16-December 15, 2023 Core education complete - intermediate clinical rotation |
PTRS 921 (9 weeks) |
Semester 8 |
|
November 6, 2023-February 9, 2024 Core education complete - intermediate clinical rotation |
PTRS 921 (12 weeks) |
Semester 8-9 |
|
January 2-March 1, 2024 Core education complete - intermediate clinical rotation |
PTRS 922 (9 weeks) |
Semester 9 |
|
February 12-May 3, 2024 Terminal clinical rotation |
PTRS 922 (12 weeks) |
Semester 9 |
|
March 4-May 3, 2024 Terminal clinical rotation |
PTRS 923 (9 weeks) |
Semester 9 |
Scoring expectations
At midterm, students should minimally be halfway to the final expected score. On the final web-CPI assessment, students should have the following scores:
- PTRS 920: Intermediate or better.
- PTRS 921: Advanced intermediate or better.
- PTRS 922:
9-week clinical rotations: advanced intermediate or better with 60% at entry level or better.
12-week clinical rotations: entry-level or better. - PTRS 923: Entry-level or better.