Strengths of the Program

Effective Transition

In structured interviews, clinical instructors throughout the western U.S. consistently state that Puget Sound students adapt to the clinic more quickly than other students. The clinical instructors use phrases such as "able to hit the ground running," and describe Puget Sound students as extremely comfortable with patients and clinical skills. At Puget Sound, your experience in the on-site clinic gives you an invaluable transitional experience that helps you make the most of your off-site internship experiences.

Valuable Writing Skills

In the same structured interviews, clinical instructors praise Puget Sound physical therapy students for their extraordinary writing ability. At Puget Sound, you will have ample opportunity to hone your writing skills, since you will take part in a writing program that is coordinated across the curriculum to give you experience in every form of writing that is relevant to physical therapy.

Readiness for Licensing Exam

Over the 30-year history of the program, Puget Sound physical therapy graduates have an aggregate 98% passing rate on the first attempt at the licensing exam, and 100% of the 2006 graduates who have taken the exam have passed on the first try. The ultimate pass rate (pass rate regardless of the number of attempts) is 100% throughout the history of the program. You will have opportunities in the program to practice skills that will enhance your ability to be successful on this exam.

High Employment Rate

When you graduate from Puget Sound, you are very likely to find work in physical therapy, since physical therapy graduates have an employment rate of 99.9% within 6 months of graduation.

Innovative Programs

At Puget Sound, you will have the opportunity to participate in innovative and special programs, such as our enhanced curriculum and specialty clinical experience in oncology physical therapy, health promotion programs within the campus such as the musician injury prevention program, and community outreach education programs. In the final semester of the program, you will be able to pursue an area of special clinical interest in our advanced clinical elective courses.

Your Education is First Priority

At Puget Sound, you will work with professors who are hired, retained and promoted based on teaching excellence rather than on their ability to generate outside funding for the program or on the number of publications they can generate over a given period of time. Your professors will hold you and your education as their first priority.

Research Opportunities

Your professors will also be actively involved in research and scholarship, and they will be generous in giving you opportunities to collaborate with them in that research. Over the past three years, the majority of Puget Sound physical therapy students have had the opportunity to present their research at national conferences. Recent research projects presented nationally have dealt with physical therapy intervention for end-stage renal disease, chronic regional pain syndrome, women's health, cancer, musician performance-related injuries, general orthopedics, veterinary medicine, and other areas.