Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Capstone Project

The University is promoting ways for a doctoral student to make a contribution to the profession and supports the value of publishable case reports and/or articles reflecting information important to the profession. The Capstone Project is a summation of the body of knowledge learned during the degree program. It is designed to assist the student in critically reviewing professional literature and being able to express ideas using a scientific style of writing. Students are assigned a faculty advisor to assist with the completion of this manuscript. It is anticipated that, after completion of this written project, a student will be ready to submit the manuscript to an appropriate journal for review and possible publication or be able to submit the material for an oral or poster presentation at a professional meeting.

Option A: One Case Report

A case report for publication is a detailed presentation, analyzing a particular real life patient case. It should be well reasoned and referenced showing a depth of comprehension and understanding, as well as exhibiting learning and reasoning sufficient for a publishable product in a peer-reviewed journal.

Recommended Text: Writing Case Reports, Second Edition by Irene McEwen (APTA Publication, 2001)

Option B: One Article

An article may take the form of:

• Literature Review: critical analysis of literature on a specific topic of interest to PT's.
  
• Perspective: scholarly paper addressing professional issues.
  
• Descriptive Technical Report: describes, evaluates, and documents the specification or mechanical aspects of a device used by PT's in intervention or measurement.
  
  

Course Prerequisite

• Completion of all DPT Coursework
  
• 2.25 Overall GPA
  
  

Course Instructions

The Capstone Project is a total of 5 credits, divided into two courses:

PHT6496 Capstone Project I 1 credit

PHT6497 Capstone Project II 4 credits

1. The student registers for Capstone Project I.
   
2. The University sends the student information to complete the Capstone process, criteria forms, and assigned reading.
   
3. The student completes the application and written assignment and submits this to the University.
   
4. The University assigns a faculty advisor
   
5. The faculty advisor evaluates the written assignment and works with the student to make revisions as needed. When the faculty advisor considers the proposal completed, he/she submits a grade and the student is awarded 1 credit for Capstone Project I. The student has a one semester time frame for full completion of the proposal.
   
6. The Student registers for Capstone Project II.
   
7. The student completes the written assignment and submits it to the faculty advisor. Revisions are made as necessary. Multiple revisions may be necessary until the University is satisfied that the criteria have been met and the case report or article is deemed publishable. When the faculty advisor decides that the manuscript has met University standards, he/she submits a grade and the student is awarded 4 credits. The final version of the Capstone Project is to be completed within two semesters after approval of the proposal.
   
   

Grading

Capstone Project I is Pass/Fail and Capstone Project II is awarded a letter grade. The assigned faculty advisor will determine when the submissions have met the University's criteria.

The University has developed a proposal format and criteria sheets for grading your manuscript. Contact the University prior to commencing your manuscript in order to follow the required format.

For more information or if you have any questions about the program, please email t-dpt@usa.edu or call the Transitional DPT Department at 1-800-241-1027.