The Program

The program emphasizes a whole person approach to the investigation of clinical issues using a problem-based format. The students are admitted to the program from a number of different undergraduate fields of study, professional backgrounds, and levels of maturity. Diversity and variety of life experiences are most valuable in this program. The Problem-Based Learning format encourages teamwork, open discussion, and researching appropriate resources to acquire the essential didactic knowledge. Due to small class sizes, the students receive individual attention and meet with faculty advisors on a regular basis.

The Opportunities

During the two years of this graduate program, the students have multiple opportunities to engage in clinical experiences. Frequently, students from our program are offered employment by their clinical sites while still in the program as their skills and professionalism are considered to be particularly desirable. In some cases, the students have been sponsored by a certain hospital or clinic for their tuition costs and will return to that site to work for the contracted period. Graduates of the program are prepared to take the physical therapy licensure examination and have consistently attained a higher pass rate than the national average. They can, therefore, be employed immediately at the expected salary for an entry level general therapist.

Research is a key component of the program, and our students are required to contribute to the body of knowledge. The profession requires evidence that therapeutic interventions have been proven to be relevant and appropriate to the patients. The students also have the opportunity to present their doctoral research projects at state and national levels and to publish the results in professional literature. Additionally, the research-training seminars prepare students for public speaking.

Facilities & Faculty

The Department of Physical Therapy offers an excellent physical environment conducive to learning and to quiet studying. In addition to the department’s facilities and equipment, the students have access to all the university’s resources.  The full-time faculty is comprised of licensed physical therapists, some with clinical specialist credentials. Adjunct faculty members bring additional skills in related fields, offering the students a broad and comprehensive range of associated topics relevant to practice.  For more information on Wheeling Jesuit Physical Therapy Program, contact Luis G. Vargas, Ph.D., PT, ARCS at 1-866-243-2068 or lvargas@wju.edu .