Kutztown University Signs Agreement for Biology Graduates to Enter Doctorate Program at Alvernia University
KUTZTOWN, Pa – Kutztown University signed a five-year agreement with Alvernia University to allow Kutztown University biology graduates in the allied health track to continue their education in the accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Alvernia University.
Kutztown University students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science in biology: allied health will meet the prerequisites for admission into Alvernia’s graduate-level program. Upon successful completion of the program at Alvernia, students will graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and be eligible to sit for any license-credentialing examinations, for which the degree prepares its graduates.
KU students must maintain minimum grade-point averages in overall (3.25), science (3.0) and pre-requisite courses (3.0) to be eligible.
“We are excited to bring this regional partnership with Alvernia University to our students of biology: allied health,” said Kutztown University president Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson. “This agreement provides KU students the opportunity for a local, accredited, graduate-level education as they strive toward a career in physical therapy.”
Kutztown University’s biology program offers four competitive program concentration tracks led by faculty dedicated to teaching who provide all students with an excellent foundation in biology. Nearly all courses have a lab component, allowing students to experience a lab-intensive, hands-on approach using state-of-the art equipment to learn and apply important biological principles.
The allied health track prepares students for medical professions distinct from medicine or nursing such as medical technologists, physician assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dental hygienists, athletic trainers, genetic assistants, optometrists and surgical technologists, and more.
Alvernia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE). The DPT program is a clinical doctoral program that is three years in length and the required credential for preparing graduates to make significant contributions to the profession. As an Alvernia DPT graduate, students will be prepared to engage in evidence-based clinical care, understand their rights and responsibilities as a member of a doctoring profession and possess the required knowledge and skill to change the lives of those whom they serve. Consistent with the vision of the American Physical Therapy Association and Alvernia University, the DPT program endeavors to develop graduates who are "ethical leaders with moral courage" and are prepared to assume a leadership role in addressing the health-related concerns that society faces.
“We are grateful to partner with Kutztown University to prepare the next generation of physical therapists in Greater Berks County and beyond,” said Alvernia University President-Elect, Dr. Glynis A. Fitzgerald. “Students will gain both international and interdisciplinary educational experiences with students from occupational therapy, nursing, behavioral health, athletic training, medical imaging and healthcare science programs among others to gain an appreciation for the unique contribution of each discipline within the healthcare team at Alvernia.”
For more information, contact Dr. Chris Sacchi, department chair, Kutztown University, at 610-683-4308 or sacchi@kutztown.edu.
Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves over 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.