Department of Physical Therapy
The goal of the Department of Physical Therapy is to prepare entry-level practitioners in exercise physiology and in physical therapy. Exercise physiology is the study of acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations resulting from exercise and physical activity. The undergraduate curriculum is broad based and includes courses in liberal arts, basic sciences (anatomy & physiology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry), and professional courses (exercise physiology, kinesiology, exercise prescription/program planning). The EP curriculum is sequential, comprehensive, and cumulative and prepares students for the capstone clinical practicum in the senior year. Students are assigned to either a cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation setting or to a fitness setting for a semester. While working in the clinical practicum setting, students attend a weekly seminar to discuss issues which arise on clinicals.
Why choose the Exercise Physiology program at 51视频?
- Highly qualified and caring faculty
- Dedicated students
- Graduates are competent, polished beginning professionals
- Career pathway into many graduate programs, including the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UML
Career Opportunities
There are numerous career opportunities for graduates of the exercise physiology program. Graduates can work as exercise practitioners (group exercise instructor, personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach) in private or corporate fitness settings or with sport teams. The focus is on improving or maintaining health, fitness, or performance. Graduates can work in sports medicine (the field of medicine dealing with injuries sustained in athletic endeavors and/or illnesses impacting sport performance). Practice settings may include sports medicine clinics or sports training facilities. Graduates can also work as clinical exercise physiologists in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and medically supervised fitness centers. Patients/clients present with cardiac and pulmonary conditions, and may be recovering from surgery or acute hospitalization.
There are no national professional licensing requirements at the present time. Some states do have licensing for exercise physiologists. There is a certification process for health/fitness instructors by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and a separate certification in strength and conditioning by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Graduates can pursue graduate study in Exercise Physiology. Advanced degrees in EP (Master’s, Doctorate) prepare individuals for positions as exercise specialists (ACSM certification, NSCA certification) or exercise program directors. Graduate degrees in EP also prepare individuals for research or teaching positions. A Ph.D. is typically required for teaching or research positions in higher education.
Graduates of the exercise physiology program meet all the necessary requirements for application to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The DPT program is a fully accredited, 3 year program designed to prepare entry-level practitioners in physical therapy. It includes 96 credits of coursework and 35 weeks of clinical education experience. Applications to the DPT program at UML are competitive. A percentage of available spots in the DPT program at UML are reserved for graduates from the EP program. Requirements for admission to the graduate program in physical therapy include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, a GPA in science courses of 3.0 or better, Graduate Record Examination (GRE), documented personal experience in a physical therapy setting, three letters of recommendation, and personal interview. Highly qualified UML EP students can be admitted following the junior year through the Expedited Admissions Program (minimum overall GPA and science GPA of 3.5 required and successful completion of the senior year in the EP program). Students are also well-qualified to enter graduate programs in other health professions including medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, sports nutrition, etc.