Clinical Education Rotation

The SRU Doctor of Physical Therapy clinical education program is managed by two DPT faculty members that serve as the Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education (ACCE). The ACCEs recruit clinical sites for the use of our students and assign students to specific clinics for completion of each clinical rotation. They also supervise the students' clinical learning experiences. Students are directly supervised during clinical rotations by a clinical instructor (CI) who is a licensed physical therapist working at the clinical site. The ACCEs work closely with students and CIs to assure that the student is getting an excellent clinical learning experience. The four clinical education courses (rotations) are listed below:

Clinical Experience I

This is a two-week clinical rotation that begins at the end of the first summer semester (semester 3) in the program. The purpose of this course is to provide students with firsthand knowledge of the multi-faceted role of the profession of physical therapy through an introductory clinical experience. Students have the opportunity to practice basic examination and intervention skills under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Clinical Experience II

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity for continued professional development during a five-week clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to practice basic patient management skills under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This clinical experience will begin in January of the second academic year just before the Spring semester (semester 5) begins.

Clinical Internship I

This course will provide students with the opportunity for further professional development through a fifteen-week, full-time clinical internship. Students will experience all aspects of patient management under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist in one or more clinical settings. This rotation occurs during the fall semester of the third year in the program (semester 7).

Clinical Internship II

This course will provide students with the opportunity for further professional development through a fifteen-week, full-time clinical internship. Students will experience all aspects of patient management under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist in one or more clinical settings. This rotation occurs during the spring semester of the third year in the program (semester 8).

Note: Clinical Internship I and II will be completed in different clinical settings.