What is the FLEX Program?
The FLEX Program Expansion is a combined distance education and residency (weekend labs) first professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program designed for the student who needs flexibly. This program allows for part-time attendance with the ability to continue working. It enables individuals seeking a career as a physical therapist, who for personal or financial reasons, cannot attend a full-time campus-based program, to obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
How long is the program?
The FLEX Program is divided over 12 trimesters (4 years) with a range of seven to eleven credits per trimester. Each trimester is 15 weeks long. There are three trimesters a year (starting in September, January, and May).
Can I still work and attend this program?
It is very possible that you will be able to work. With the classroom component offered online, you can be flexible in completing your studying and assignments as you can schedule them each week. You will have some required weekend labs on campus and you will not be able to work on those weekends. There are also three full-time internships that will require you to step away from most, if not all of your job responsibilities in order to successfully complete these courses.
Is the program accredited?
State license: The Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education licenses The University of St. Augustine to award the DPT degree.
Institutional accreditation: The University of St. Augustine is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a national accrediting body that is member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. We are approved to offer this degree by DETC.
The DPT program (which includes the campus based and Flex) is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
When did the program start?
Our first class began in September 2005. We start a new cohort group up to three times/year in January, May, and September.
How will the coursework be delivered if I do not come on campus everyday?
Most classroom time is delivered on-line, or in another distance format (such as DVDs) to the student. The online education consists of web-based text with extensive graphics, videos, and audio clips. There are opportunities provided for faculty-to-student and student-to-student interaction and collaboration via electronic communication. Assignments may include, but are not limited to: 1) regular quizzes completed online, 2) graded online discussion assignments, 3) case reports, 4) group projects, 5) research papers, and 6) article critiques.
I've never taken an online course before. How will I know what to do?
The University of St. Augustine has an excellent online orientation program to help you to learn how to navigate the course software and prepare you for being an online student. There is also a help section on all courses and tech support that is readily available to all. If you can write and send an email and know how to access a web address on the Internet, you have the skills necessary for completing an online course.
How often will I have to go to lab sessions?
In courses with a lab component, students come together at a satellite facility for 16 hours of laboratory classes per weekend. Students attend five to eight weekends per trimester. The lab sessions provide an avenue for teaching activities not well suited for online delivery such as the hands-on learning that is vital to physical therapy education, in addition to oral presentations, proctored written examinations, lab practical testing, and socialization activities.
How many students are accepted in each cohort group?
The Flex program enrolls a maximum of 30 students per trimester.
Where will these lab sessions be held?
The satellite site for most weekend lab sessions is in Boca Raton Florida. We have rented space in the Mae Volen Senior Center. There are several large classroom areas, a student lounge area, changing rooms, and ample parking. It is close to Interstate 95 with several local hotels and eateries. Labs are held on the USA campus in St. Augustine for two terms.
How will I complete my clinical work?
As with the campus based program, students in the Flex program must complete three full-time clinical internships that are seven to eight weeks in length in the second half of the program. This portion of the curriculum will require full time attendance by the FLEX student.
Who are the faculty teaching in the Flex program?
We have faculty with a wide variety of clinical expertise. The Flex program utilizes current on-campus faculty, online instructors from other institutions, and lab instructors near the satellite sites in the various courses. Our faculty are qualified and experienced adult educators with a focus on student success.
How will I access student services?
Student enrollment services, technology support, program assistance, registration, financial aid office, and library services are available. The use of email and university website provide communication avenues for the distance education students. The online platform is an individual portal to access course materials and up-date information as needed. Student records are secured at the St. Augustine campus. Textbooks are available via our online bookstore and digital versions of course notes are available online.
Is the program content different between the Flex and Campus-Based programs?
No. Both programs have the same courses with the same course content. The difference is the type of delivery system and the number of courses taken per trimester.
What are the admission requirements?
All applicants need to have graduated with a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The admission requirements for the FLEX Program are the same as the on-campus program. Program prerequisites include:
Applicants from foreign countries will have additional requirements. Please refer to our catalog (www.usa.edu).
When are applications being accepted?
We continually accept applications for each of our trimesters (Spring, Summer, and Fall)
How much will this cost?
Tuition is comparable to the current on-campus entry-level tuition - just spread out over 12 trimesters instead of 7 trimesters. Tuition is reviewed once per year with any tuition and fee increases occurring in the Fall trimester. Tuition for the Fall 2007 term will be $4,900.00 per trimester. Student fees, manuals and texts, malpractice and health insurance, supplies and uniforms, are extra.
Does the University have financial aid available?
The University is able to offer a comprehensive list of private lenders that specialize in supporting graduate students. There are also several academic achievement, leadership, and financial need scholarships available. Please refer to the financial aid section of the catalog, located on the University website, for more information.
What are the graduation requirements?
The Flex DPT program is designed to be completed in 12 trimesters. (4 years). Graduation is awarded to those who successfully complete all 127 credits of coursework, successfully complete the required 23 weeks of full-time clinical internship, and pass all portions of the exit examination.
Updated 8/2007
