CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Creation of a master’s degree program in physical therapy at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga was approved Thursday by a committee of the UT board of trustees.
The proposed six-year program, which would gradually replace UT-Chattanooga’s current four-year bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, was approved by the board’s academic affairs committee.
The recommendation is scheduled for consideration Friday by the full board.
UT Senior Vice President Homer Fisher said the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education requires the change of all bachelor’s degree programs in physical therapy to the master’s level by 2002.
The current program requires students to take two years of preparatory courses, followed by two years of physical therapy study, Fisher said.
The master’s program would require three years of preparatory courses, followed by three years of physical therapy study.
The bachelor’s degree in physical therapy has been offered at UT-Chattanooga since 1989. Since then, six classes — representing 141 of the 144 students admitted into the program — have graduated, Fisher said.
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Contact: Mr. Homer Fisher (423-974-3211)