Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

Bachelor Degree Programs

Combined Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences offers a combined Bachelor of Science in Health Science/Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Graduates are prepared to meet the intellectual, social, cultural, and economic challenges of our changing healthcare system. A Bachelor of Science degree is a requirement for entry into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program received re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in 2013. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been approved by the Department of Higher Education, State of Connecticut.

Combined Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences offers a unique five year combined Bachelor of Science in Health /Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (B.S./M.S.P.O.) with partner support from Hanger Orthopedics, Inc.. Graduates are prepared to meet the intellectual, social, cultural, and economic challenges of our changing healthcare system. The currently accredited Prosthetics and Orthotics program is a five-year program that has been approved by the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education and accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in 2014.

Advising

The department participates in first-year dialogue groups to assist new students in adjusting to academic and campus life. Students meet in small groups regularly with faculty advisors to discuss educational goals, curricular and extracurricular options, and career opportunities. The relationship developed between advisors and advisees helps to ensure students’ academic success at the University.

On-Campus Facilities

The on-campus facilities of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences are located in Charles A. Dana Hall, which is part of the Integrated Science, Engineering, and Technology (ISET) complex. The program has three physical therapy clinical skills teaching laboratories and several dedicated research laboratories for conducting both faculty and faculty-mentored research activities. These research spaces include a human performance research lab for the study of all aspects of human movement as they relate to biomechanical principles; Human Balance Control Laboratory for the teaching and research of the principles of and understanding of balance control and balance responses; a Disabilities and Educational Laboratory to assess outcome measures and questionnaires/interviews and houses a variety of equipment that allow for the secure quantitative and qualitative data analysis, video capture, and video editing. Additionally, this also houses an interface pressure mapping system for pressure measurements in wheelchairs and beds; a Pediatric Balance Laboratory used to study development of upright control in typical infants and in children with moderate to severe motor impairment; a Prosthetic and Orthotic Neurotronic Laboratory for research on the integration of computerized electronics into orthoses (braces) and prosthetics (functional replacement) for clinical practice; the Clinical Simulation Resource Center utilizes life-sized high fidelity manikins to implement clinical practice scenarios in a safe, supportive, non-threatening learning environment.

Select Physical Therapy is an outpatient practice located in Health Services at the Sports Center. Select offers a wide range of physical therapy sports medicine and work health services and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of patient’s lives. The clinic takes pride in outstanding customer service, excellent patient care and strong outcomes. Complimentary injury assessment is offered. Students in the physical therapy program are linked to the clinic through their integrated or full-time clinical experiences.

Off-Campus Clinical Facilities

Clinical education settings for the physical therapy program are selected on the basis of their ability to provide supervision by professional staff, to offer services to diverse client populations, and compatibility with the University’s and the program’s mission and philosophy. The department currently has contracts with approximately 300 facilities in the Greater Hartford area and selected sites throughout the United States. Practice settings include healthcare, educational, and community (public and private) agencies.

The Hanger Clinic facility in Cromwell, CT., consists of state-of-the-art educational lecture facilities as well as a full-service fabrication facility for comprehensive custom fabrication of all prosthetic and orthotic designs. These facilities are used by University of Hartford students in the program for all master’s-level specialty courses.

Integrated internships for the Prosthetics and Orthotics program are selected on the basis of each facility’s ability to provide supervision by certified professional staff, to offer services to diverse client populations, and compatibility with the University’s and program’s mission and philosophy. The program currently has numerous local facilities in the Greater Hartford area. Practice settings include hospital-based inpatient, emergency orthotic management, educational, and outpatient community facilities.

Several private-practice facilities are located in the vicinity, with providers that include adjunct University faculty and faculty from the prosthetic and orthotic community. Students in the Prosthetics and Orthotics program are linked to the clinic through various professional opportunities for clinical experiences. In addition, these clinics serve as a site for integrated student internships.

Programs