Physical Therapy Degree

A physical therapist helps to rehabilitate individuals after injury or disease has affected their functioning and mobility in some way. If you are interested in a career of this nature, you will want to acquire the proper education to teach you all of the necessary skills you will need to have. There are various degrees that are available in the field of physical therapy. You will need to have some type of physical therapy degree in order to acquire a job in this area, even if you intend to be an assistant to a physical therapist. Below is a brief summary of a few available degrees.

• Associate’s Degree in Physical Therapy: In order to help an individual who requires physical therapy, you need to have a basic understanding of the human body and how it works. You also need to know how various injuries will affect the body. This degree will instruct you in these areas. With an Associate’s Degree, you will be able to assist a physical therapist in helping individuals who are recovering from surgery, illness or injury. Classes will include:

1. Anatomy.
2. Physiology.
3. First Aid.
4. Exercise Therapy.
5. Musculature.
6. Rehabilitation.
7. Emergency Care.

• Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy: There are two types of Master’s Degrees in physical therapy, the direct entry and the transitional. The direct entry degree is for those students who have a Bachelor’s Degree and are interested in a career in physical therapy. It is a two-year program and includes classroom work during the first year and fieldwork during year two. The transitional Master’s is for physical therapists with previously acquired Bachelor’s Degrees in Physical Therapy who now want to attain a higher degree and more advanced education in the field. The Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy has been replaced by Master’s and Doctorate Degrees.
• Doctorate in Physical Therapy: This degree is also in a direct entry and transitional form, similar to the Master’s Degree mentioned above. Anyone who had previously obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy when it was still available may be interested in furthering their education and advancing their career with this degree.

A physical therapy degree will involve taking part in a curriculum that will include:

• Bio-mechanics
• Human Growth.
• Human Development.
• Disease Processes.
• Neuroanatomy.
• Therapy Procedures.
• Introductory Psychology.
• Clinical Pathology.
• Manual Therapy.
• Clinical Examination.
• Motor Control.
• Exercise.
• Electrotherapy.
• Therapeutic Agents.
• Electrodiagnosis.
• Case Management.
• Kinesiology.
• Clinical Evaluation.
• Intervention Techniques.
• Neuroscience.
• Clinical Internship.