Curriculum for the Combined Doctor of Philosophy/Physical Therapy Degree First year, fall semester: Gross Anatomy (ANAT 609, 9 credits) Histology (ANAT 611, 5 credits) Introductory laboratory presentations (ANAT 697, 1 credit) Seminar (ANAT 690, 1 credit) First year, spring semester Neuroanatomy (ANAT 610, 5 credits) Embryology (ANAT 691, 2 credits) Laboratory rotations (ANAT 697, 6 credits) Seminar (ANAT 690, 1 credit) Summer following first year: Directed Research in Anatomy (ANAT 697, 6 credits). Work in the research laboratory their chosen thesis advisor. Second year, fall semester Techniques in Neuroscience and Cell Biology (ANAT 615, 2 credits) Laboratory rotations (ANAT 697, 12 credits) Seminar (ANAT 690, 1 credit) Two of the following physical therapy courses or other elective course(s) approved by the students committee. Advanced Measurement Sciences (PHTY 601) Biomechanics (PHTY 602) Foundations of Pathokinesiology (PHTY 605) Therapeutic Kinesiology (PHTY 606) Advanced Musculoskeletal Concepts (PHTY 608) Seminar Requirement: Anatomy and Neurobiology Seminar (ANAT 690) (1 credit course repeated for a total of 4 credits) Physical Therapy Seminar (PHTY 690) (1 credit course repeated for a total of 4 credits) Summer following second year: Directed Research in Anatomy (ANAT 697, 6 credits). Work in the research laboratory their chosen thesis advisor. During the summer following the second year the student will take the written and oral comprehensive exams. Written Comprehensive: The written exam consists of two parts. Part one is an open book written exam which is designed to: 1) assess the student's ability to integrate course material and 2) demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation of the literature in the basic health sciences related to student's area of research. For part two, the student will prepare an NIH-style grant proposal based on their research plan. Oral Comprehensive: After successful completion of both parts of the Written Comprehensive Exam, the student's graduate advisor committee will administer the Oral Comprehensive Examination which entails an oral defense of the student's grant proposal as well as the topics covered in part one of the Written Comprehensive. The Oral Comprehensive Exam covers (1) course work (anatomy and other basic health sciences) related to the student's proposed research, (2) the literature cited in or related to the proposal, and (3) the hypotheses, research techniques and procedures presented in the proposal. Successful completion of the Oral Comprehensive Exam advances the student to candidacy for the Doctoral degree. Third academic year and beyond The student must conduct a substantial original investigation under the supervision of the advisor and prepare a dissertation reporting the results of this research and analyzing its significance in relation to existing scientific knowledge. The research advisor is typically within the Department of Physical Therapy, but the student may choose to work with an advisor from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. There is no expectation of the time required to complete the doctoral degree. Beginning with the Fall semester of the second year in the graduate phase, the student will devote their full time to conducting their research in the laboratory of the advisor. Students are also required to register for one unit of Seminar (PHTY 690) each semester. At the appropriate time in their research, the student will prepare a dissertation and schedule an oral defense of the dissertation. For more information, visit Department of Physical Therapy (www.vcu.edu/pt/prospectivestudents/phdprograms_anatomy.html) web site. Contact John W. Bigbee for questions, comments regarding this site. Responsible unit - Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology Virginia Commonwealth University