by Physical Therapist Description: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Is Physical Therapy right for you? Take the free College Major Quiz – Start Now
What kind of students major in Physical Therapy?
The required and elective courses you would take for Physical Therapy Therapist majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.
Colleges offering a program in Physical Therapy:
There are 229 schools with instructional programs related to Physical Therapy Therapist.
Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree usually needed for this career to be successful.
What courses do most students take in college?
The required and elective courses you would take for Physical Therapy Therapist majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.
Related Majors to Physical Therapist?
- Animal-Assisted Therapy
- Art Therapy/Therapist
- Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
- Behavioral Aspects of Health
- Dance Therapy/Therapist
- Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist
- Music Therapy/Therapist
- Occupational Therapy/Therapist
- Orthotist/Prosthetist
- Physical Therapy/Therapist
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Rehabilitation Science
- Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
What are your future career options as a Physical Therapy Therapist Major?
- Occupational Therapists
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
- Radiation Therapists
- Recreational Therapists
- Art Therapists
- Music Therapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Exercise Physiologists
- Therapists, All Other
- Veterinarians
- Registered Nurses
- Acute Care Nurses
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Midwives
- Nurse Practitioners
- Audiologists
- Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners, All Other
- Acupuncturists
- Naturopathic Physicians
- Orthoptists
Remember your intended major does not always equal a clear career. Using your education in Physical Therapy Therapist can lead to a diverse listing of career fields.
What does a Physical Therapist Major do in their day to day career?
- Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Review physician’s referral and patient’s medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
- Test and measure patient’s strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
- Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
What work activities are required of most Physical Therapist Majors?
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Assisting and Caring for Others – Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems – Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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Documenting/Recording Information – Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
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Getting Information – Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships – Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
Required skills for most Physical Therapist Majors:
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Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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Speaking – Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
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Reading Comprehension – Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
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Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Social Perceptiveness – Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
Required knowledge for most Physical Therapist Majors:
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Medicine and Dentistry – Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
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Therapy and Counseling – Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
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Customer and Personal Service – Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
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Education and Training – Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
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English Language – Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
Work styles for Physical Therapist Majors:
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Concern for Others – Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
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Dependability – Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
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Integrity – Job requires being honest and ethical. |
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Cooperation – Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
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Self Control – Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
There are many professional associations to further your career based as a Physical Therapist Major:
American Physical Therapy Association
Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy Related Professional Organizations Directory
CLICK HERE for a great video to learn about what is Physical Therapy Therapist, and how important it is to our everyday lives
