University of Michigan at Flint
University of Michigan at Flint appears in the ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Physical Therapy Online.
The University of Michigan at Flint is a branch of UM located in the city of Flint. It goes by the names of both UM-Flint and U of M Flint. Though locals called for the foundation of a new college in the city in the middle of the 19th century, it took nearly a century before the school opened. Originally called Flint Senior College of the University of Michigan, it operated out of the campus of the Flint Community Junior College. This college allowed students to take junior and senior classes without moving to the main UM campus. Though the college opened in 1956, it did not become a full university until 1964. This led to the college becoming Flint College of the University of Michigan.
In the 1970s, the college became the University of Michigan at Flint and added its first two schools. The university also acquired a large plot of land and quickly began construction on a new campus. This campus is now home to a number of residence halls and other facilities that both students and faculty use every day. The Princeton Review ranks UM-Flint as one of the best colleges in the Midwest, and U.S. News and World Report ranks its graduate school as one of the best in the Midwest. Though the university still serves as a satellite or regional branch of the University of Michigan, it now has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students, which makes it one of the largest colleges in eastern Michigan.
University of Michigan at Flint Accreditation Details
U of M Flint has regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). Doctoral candidates who earned degrees from other schools with regional accreditation can transfer in some of their credits. Regional accreditation of this type also allows those students to apply for financial aid. One of the more important types of accreditation that the university has is the special accreditation that comes from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This accreditation covers all the classes and the work that doctoral students do in the university's physical therapy programs.
University of Michigan at Flint Application Requirements
Students applying to the online transitional physical therapy program must meet three admissions requirements. Those students must have a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree from schools with regional accreditation and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The university will look at the grades that students received in any of the physical therapy classes they took and any other classes they completed. Incoming students must have a physical therapy license that is valid and in good standing. Those who do not have a license must meet all the requirements for registering and obtaining a license.
Incoming students can visit the physical therapy website and select the application that best describes them. They will complete the application and pay the $55 fee. Any student who attends one of the information sessions offered by the university can skip this requirement. The university will provide them with a code that acts as a fee waiver. U of M Flint asks for official transcripts from all the schools a student attended and letters of recommendation. It will accept academic letters of recommendation but prefers that students submit letters written by professional references and contacts. The university may ask some students for a resume also.
Tuition and Financial Aid
All physical therapy doctoral candidates will pay $677.50 per credit hour as a Michigan resident or $1,013 per credit hour as a nonresident. This brings the cost up to $5,420 per term for residents and $8,104 per term for nonresidents. The university expects students to take eight credits each term to qualify for full-time enrollment. Students who take more than eight credits will pay the same per credit hour rate for those credits.
Physical therapy candidates can qualify for a wide range of financial aid options. Many of these students use the tuition reimbursement plans that their employers offer. They can also use the FAFSA to borrow student loans from the federal government. U of M Flint has some financial aid options of its own too such as scholarships and fellowships. Many of these programs require that students submit full application packages that show the experience they have in the physical therapy field. Students can also apply for assistantships, but those positions are only available to traditional students who can work on the campus every week. The university recommends that students apply for scholarships by the middle of February. It will keep accepting applications until June if there are any funds remaining.
Online Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy
U of M Flint offers an online transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy for students who currently work as physical therapists and want to enhance or further their studies. Though students can enroll on a full-time basis, many students take classes part-time to make time for their careers. The university allows students to create their own individualized learning plans and take classes whenever they want. All incoming students will work with advisors to make sure that they take all required classes and that they complete all the program requirements in a timely fashion.
As one of the only online DPT programs in the nation, the UM-Flint program appeals to Michigan residents and students living in other states. All students have full access to the resources of the university. They can visit any of the three UM campuses and use the libraries and other facilities. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the program. They cannot receive a grade lower than a C either.
UM-Flint asks students to take two core courses that make use of their professional experiences. The other classes they take will depend on whether they have just a bachelor's degree or both a bachelor's and a graduate degree. U of M Flint will use the transcripts that students submit to determine what classes they need to take. Those courses can include Advanced Medical Imaging for Diverse Populations, Systems Review and Screening in Clinical Decision Making, Pediatric Examination and Intervention in Practice and Teaching, Learning and Health Education. This University of Michigan at Flint program can help students better understand the needs of their patients and become better physical therapists.