Exploring Health Professions

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are respected members of the health care team. They work in conjunction with other health providers to meet the individual health needs of their patients. A physical therapist's duties may range from rehabilitation of accident victims, to educating in the schools and community on health issues, to sports-related assessment, conditioning and preventive medicine.

Many physical therapists work in hospital settings. Increasingly, however, they are found in private offices, corporate health centers, schools, community health clinics and nursing homes, as well as other settings. While many are employees, some start their own businesses.

Physical therapy is gradually moving to a strictly post-baccalaureate degree program. There are many entry-level master's programs for students who have graduated with a liberal arts degree. Emphasis is placed on a broad-based undergraduate curriculum with coursework in biology, chemistry, physics and psychology.

For further information contact the American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314, (800) 999-APTA, www.apta.org.