By Danielle Hawkins
George Mason University and Marymount University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the admission of qualified students in Mason’s Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science program into Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT).
“Our Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has worked closely with Marymount University for several years in helping our students pursue graduate study in physical therapy. Formalizing our partnership is a logical next step,” says College of Health and Human Services Dean Germaine Louis. “Our collaboration with Marymount is an excellent fit, in part, given our close proximity and integrative curriculum. Like Mason, Marymount provides students with a strong educational foundation and outstanding clinical experiences. Masons’ graduates are highly prepared to pursue a clinical doctorate to enter the physical therapist workforce.”
Under the agreement, Marymount will extend an invitation to their Doctor of Physical Therapy Interview Day to senior students in Rehabilitation Science’s Bachelor of Science degree program if the students meet stringent criteria. Mason students must have submitted an application online by the deadline, have no more than 12 prerequisite credits outstanding, have an overall and science prerequisite GPA of 3.5, be able to demonstrate active involvement in the greater Mason community, have completed 40 hours of observation or volunteer service work in a physical therapy clinical setting, and have minimum GRE scores of 150 verbal / 150 quantitative / 3.5 analytical writing.
“Our program is one of the country’s few undergraduate programs in this field,” says Dr. Andrew Guccione, Chair of Mason’s Department of Rehabilitation Science. “As a department committed to preparing the next generation of rehabilitation scientists and clinicians for graduate study, we take an individual approach with our students, providing opportunities for them to participate in research based on their interests across a range of health conditions as they complete their studies. Many of them go on to DPT programs, which are extremely competitive. Getting to the interview stage makes all the difference in moving on to pursue your career as a health professional.”
Acceptance into Marymount’s DPT program is highly competitive. Marymount’s DPT graduates pass the national physical therapy licensure exam at a rate of 100%, which has stayed steady for the past five years, and they have a 100% employment rate within six months of passing the licensure exam. Full-time students in their third year also have the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua for two weeks during their second clinical rotation, which challenges their clinical reason, decision-making, and creativity as developing practitioners.
“Marymount DPT is excited to enter into this agreement with Mason. The relationship will make it easier for the students to familiarize themselves with our program and may help provide unique opportunities in the future for both Mason and Marymount students and faculty,” says Dr. Skye Donovan, Chair, Physical Therapy.
CHHS Department of Rehabilitation Science and Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will lead this collaboration between both universities.