2023 NSU Fact Book

88 NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY The 24-month entry-level Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography Program curriculum includes the ultrasound specialties of adult echocardiography and vascular sonography. All diagnostic medical sonography uses ultrasound to obtain images and is, therefore, considered noninvasive, having no known risks or side effects in comparison to other widely used medical imaging methods. Sonographers are important members of the diagnostic medical imaging or surgical team. They work closely with radiologists; cardiologists; obstetricians and other women’s health specialists; and thoracic, cardiac, and vascular or general surgeons, as well as other allied health professionals. DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY The Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) Program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, opened in 1994. Occupational therapists provide services to enhance and restore function and life satisfaction to people whose daily life performance has been interrupted or jeopardized by disease, injury, disability, life stress, or other factors. The 29-month M.O.T. program is among the nation’s most clinically intensive, with an integrated first-year curriculum, four clinical rotations in year two, and six months of required clinical internships. The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program (O.T.D.) is offered in a hybrid format from NSU’s Tampa Bay Regional Campus and is completed in three and a half years. The postprofessional programs in occupational therapy began in 1995 and offer two doctoral courses of study. The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.O.T.) Program prepares occupational therapy practitioners to become leaders in health policy and program development, while the Ph.D. program has more of a research focus. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Occupational Therapy Program strives to develop scholarly practitioners who will serve as leaders in advancing the knowledge base of their discipline through research. Practitioners with earned postprofessional clinical doctoral degrees can also enter the Ph.D. program through a bridge program that allows for transfer of up to 12 credits. The Dr.O.T. and the Ph.D. are offered through distance-learning formats. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) Program at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus is a full-time, on-campus program that takes three years to complete. The entry-level D.P.T. program in Tampa Bay is a hybrid program combining online and face-to-face instruction and takes four years to complete. The entry- level D.P.T. programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physical Therapy Program is designed for physical therapists whose professional interests include the aspiration to be an educator, a commitment to research, or the acquisition of leadership skills so as to serve as consultants in the health care arena. The Ph.D. program requires 60 semester hours beyond the master’s degree or the entry-level doctoral degree. Doctoral courses are conducted in a distance, hybrid format with minimal time on campus. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) The PA programs, located on the Fort Lauderdale/ Davie Campus and on NSU’s campuses in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, and Orlando, Florida, are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The programs award a Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) in Physician Assistant degree. Physician assistants (PAs) are health care professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture wounds, and assist in surgery. They can also write prescriptions in every state. The primary care-oriented program combines 15 months of didactic studies with one year of comprehensive clinical training. After completion of clinical training, graduates must take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination for licensure. Colleges and Academic Centers

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