COMMUNIQUé - College of Medicine - University of Saskatchewan

SPT
from history to Mastery
SCHOOl OF PhySICAl tHERAPy
In the fall of 1965, the University began
training students in a two and half year
diploma program in Physiotherapy. Classes
were first held in a wartime ex-RCAF building
at the airport. A campus facility was found
in 1972 at St. Andrew’s College where
the school still remains today. In 1973 the
diploma program was extended to three
years with an optional four-year degree
program. The next major change occurred
in 1976 with the establishment of the School
of Physical Therapy within the College
of Medicine.
In 1965, the number of students admitted
to the program was 20 per year and this
figure remained consistent until 1987 when
the enrolment was increased to 30 students
a year. When the new Master of Physical
Therapy (MPT) program was established
in 2007 the enrolment was increased to
40 students. “Our faculty and staff
complement has increased over the
years to ensure that we have the academic
capacity to meet the academic mission
of the School” reports Dr. Liz Harrison,
Associate Dean. “Our program is nationally
accredited and our students, faculty
and clinicians are recognized nationally
and internationally for outstanding
contributions to practice, leadership
and innovation”.
“The School of Physical Therapy has gone
through many changes since it first started
training students in 1965” states Dr. William
Albritton, Dean of the College of Medicine.
“The graduates have provided an essential
service to the province of Saskatchewan and
its health care system.”
Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Program
The national educational requirement
to practice physiotherapy in Canada is a
professional Master’s degree. The MPT
program at the University of Saskatchewan
is a two year and six weeks program
consisting of 10 modules of varying lengths.
The MPT program provides opportunities
for each student to participate in a major
research project, clinical education,
discovery time, case integration courses
and integrated evaluation.
Two classes of graduates will have completed
their MPT requirements as of fall 2010. If you
are wondering what students in the MPT
learn these days check out the School web
site as we have an innovative tool called the
“MPT Curriculum Online”. Through this link
you can search the entire MPT program to
find out content for all courses.
“Although the program has significantly
evolved over the years, the consistent factor
throughout is the high quality students that
enter the School” states Dr. Angela Busch,
Director of the School. n
School of Physical Therapy 2010 class
24 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan