Course Descriptions

Students will explore physical therapy professionalism and the basic theory and clinical application of assessment, analysis, treatment methods, and clinical reasoning, and decision-making including basic models and biopsychosocial foundations (e.g. biomechanics, exercise physiology, sensitive practice, and education) informing physical therapy practice.

Weekly hours: 4 Lecture hours and 8.5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course builds confidence as an evidence-based practitioner, focusing on literature search strategies, measurement, and critical appraisal in health research. It will also address concepts of general pathology and pathophysiology relevant to Physical Therapy including the role of pathology and laboratory medicine underlying diagnosis, pathogenesis and management of disease.

Weekly hours: 2.5 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Students will further develop foundational physical therapy assessment and treatment skills, considering and responding to unique client/patient characteristics including systemic racism, discrimination, cultural humility, and cultural safety in the context of Indigenous health. Focus is on integration of foundational knowledge, critical thinking and practice skills congruent with holistic, responsive care.

Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course includes the epidemiology, pathology, assessment and clinical findings of common musculoskeletal conditions, introduces the theory and skills related to the manual therapy examination, treatment and select manipulation techniques. Topics include evaluation of acuity of signs and symptoms, regional examination, differential diagnosis, safety screening, pre-treatment decisions, and treatment planning.

Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

The course contains an introduction to the physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, and management of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in a variety of physical therapy settings. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, problem solving, and clinical skills for the management of disorders that impact the oxygen transport system. Using an evidence-based practice approach this course will provide knowledge, skills and attitudes related to the physical therapy management of people who have acute medical, surgical, critical, and cardiorespiratory conditions.

Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course introduces students to a framework for neurological practice based on best evidence, motor control and learning theories, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuroplasticity. Physiotherapy assessment and treatment of common neurological conditions is covered, including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. A task-oriented approach is emphasized.

Weekly hours: 6.5 Lecture hours and 7.5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Introduces the student to content and issues that are important to consider when developing and implementing a physical therapy management plan for individuals across the lifespan. Topics include physical, cognitive, social, emotional and communication development, principles of pharmacology and specific drug classes, nutrition, normal and pathological changes that occur with aging, and end-of-life care.

Weekly hours: 2.5 Lecture hours and .5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course covers essential knowledge related to human anatomy and its connection to physical therapy practice. The course involves systematic study of the body emphasizing the skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT program.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 870 or PTH 811.

This course covers foundational concepts and skills related to physical therapy practice. Learners gain an introductory level competency in professionalism, communication, and physiotherapy expertise. Emphasis is on frameworks and theories that inform physiotherapy practice, clinical decision making, problem solving and an introduction to holistic and responsive care.

Prerequisite(s): PTH 811.6.
Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT program.

This integrated course builds on competencies developed in PTH 812. Learners are further exposed to foundational concepts and skills. Competencies in professionalism, communication, physiotherapy expertise, cultural humility and holistic care practices are further developed by learners. Emphasis is on the development of screening, assessment and physiotherapy management skills. Common indicator conditions are used to facilitate problem solving and critical thinking.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 812.17.

This course is a primarily independent learning module with guided learning activities meant to solidify previous concepts and prepare students for evidence-based physiotherapy practice.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 881.11.

This course will introduce students to the structure and function of the different subdivisions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, and will provide them with an anatomical basis for understanding the functional alterations that accompany neurological disorders.

Weekly hours: 3.5 Lecture hours and .5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction(s):Restricted to students enrolled in the MPT program.

This course will examine components of physical therapy practice across the lifespan, focusing on paediatrics, obstetrics, and incontinence. Topics include the pathophysiology and physical therapy management of common, multi-system conditions in children; normal pregnancy and fetal development, common musculoskeletal complaints and complications during pregnancy and the physical therapy management of each, and entry to practice-level physical therapy management of incontinence.

Weekly hours: 2.5 Lecture hours and .5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Will prepare students to appropriately design, administer, and critique comprehensive exercise testing and training programs for healthy individuals and various clinical populations. Emphasis will be placed on developing and evidence-based approach to the proper periodization of endurance, strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular training for multiple system adaptations.

Weekly hours: 6 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

A full-time course of clinical education in health care facilities in Saskatchewan. This course is designed to provide the opportunity to apply theory from Professional Practice I to practical experience in health care facilities with limited case load management.

Weekly hours: 37.5 Clinical Service hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 850 or PTH 991.

A full-time clinical education course in facilities anywhere in Canada. With special permission, a student may request an international practicum. A complex clinical caseload and enhanced workload assignment, will be provided for each student consistent with advancing clinical skills from previous clinical practice courses and incorporating theory in Module Nine.

Weekly hours: 37.5 Clinical Service hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 858 or PTH 906.

Focuses on theory and skills of research needed to gain competence in evidence-based practice. Two main components are emphasized: use and interpretation of statistical analyses used in health care research and integration of evidence-based practice concepts into clinical practice.

Weekly hours: 1.5 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This third evidence-based practice (EBP) course serves to integrate students' clinical practice experience with concepts gained and skills acquired in previous EBP courses. Through reflection and inquiry, students are challenged to identify learning needs in order to refine their practice, and to critically evaluate and apply best available evidence to clinical decision-making.

Weekly hours: 3 Tutorial hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Emphasizes the application of physical therapy scope of practice, cultural competence, legal aspects of professional practice, funding of health care, sensitive practice, inter-professional practice, client-centered care and the application of an ethical decision-making framework in professional practice. It is specific preparation for Clinical Practice III and IV.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course encompasses the professional, ethical, legal, regulatory, social economic, financial, business, and management aspects of autonomous public and private PT practice in a multidimensional Canadian health care environment. Topics include quality improvement; risk management; business management; information management systems; human resources; marketing; program planning/evaluation; health care policy/delivery; advocacy.

Weekly hours: 6 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This regional approach to the study of human gross anatomy is especially designed for students of Physical Therapy. Although the entire body is studied, information pertaining to skeletal muscles is emphasized. The curriculum is supplemented with some systemic anatomy, as well as an introduction to cell biology and histology.

Weekly hours: 4 Lecture hours and 3 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 870 or PTH 811.

Focuses on the progression of manual therapy assessment and treatment including spinal and lower extremity examination, clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning for common musculoskeletal conditions. Skills including mobilization and manipulation of lower extremity joints and mobilization of spinal joints will be developed.

Weekly hours: 3.5 Lecture hours and 7 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Examines the role of physical therapists in promoting health across the lifespan at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care. Elements of effective interdisciplinary, community-based, and rehabilitation programs are explored particularly for people living with chronic indicator conditions affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems. Students will build upon, integrate, and apply previously acquired knowledge, problem-solving and clinical reasoning skills.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 2 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course addresses sport physical therapy, ergonomics, and physical therapy management of burns and frostbite. The sports physical therapy component includes field assessment, acute and return to activity, and the rehabilitation of common sport injuries. Student will develop skills in manual therapy including manipulation for lumbo-sacral spine joints. The course will include the principles and practices of prevention, perioperative and prosthetic management of lower extremity amputations. Management of acute pain, chronic nonmalignant pain and chronic malignant pain with musculoskeletal disorders will be addressed.

Weekly hours: 5 Lecture hours and 4 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

This course focuses on the decision-making and application for adjunctive treatment methods, including modalities such as electrical stimulation, biofeedback, iontophoresis and high voltage.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 2.5 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

Prepares physiotherapy students to assess and treat individuals with neurological conditions including Guillain Barre syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and spina bifida. Unique considerations in physiotherapy service provision for people with cognitive, emotional, and psychological impairments are explored, and advanced topics, quality of life, end of life, and ethical issues are investigated.

Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 1 Practicum/Lab hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan health care facilities. With special permission, the clinical experience may be arranged in another Canadian province. Is designed to advance clinical skills application as a progression from Clinical Practice I and to specifically apply theory from Modules One and Two.

Weekly hours: 37.5 Clinical Service hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 876 or PTH 902.

Foundational and theoretical knowledge, professional and lifespan issues, and evidence-based practice are further explored and integrated through case analyses. Critical thinking, clinical decision-making and problem solving related to various physical therapy practice areas are emphasized.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. Some students may elect to complete this clinical practicum in another Canadian province. This course is designed to provide diversity of experience and advance clinical skills with a more complex caseload relevant to the content in Modules four and five.

Weekly hours: 37.5 Clinical Service hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 878 or PTH 903.

The last course of a three-course series, this course emphasizes critical thinking, clinical decision-making and problem solving related to a variety of areas of physical therapy practice. This week-long capstone course synthesizes Modules I to VIII content in a case-based format.

Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.

A full-time clinical education course, normally two clinical placements of six weeks duration each, anywhere in Canada. With special permission students may participate in a structured inter-professional international clinical practicum. A clinical caseload of advancing complexity and amount is assigned, incorporating the theory from the previous modules.

Weekly hours: 37.5 Clinical Service hours
Restriction: Must be accepted into the M.P.T. program to register.
Note: Students with credit for PTH 904 and 905 cannot take this course for credit.

This course integrates and builds on foundations skills from PTH 812 and PTH 813. Learners practice and demonstrate evidence-based, client-centered assessment and management for different clinical populations. Emphasis is on the further development of screening, assessment, physiotherapy management skills and safe application of treatments.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.

This course integrates and builds on foundational skills and develops the learners’ competencies in evidence-based, client-centered assessment and management of cardiorespiratory conditions. Learners will also gain an understanding of the leadership, management and advocacy roles of physiotherapists within diverse contexts of practice.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 881.11.

This course integrates and builds on foundational skills and develops the learners’ competencies in evidence-based, client-centered assessment and management of neurological conditions. Learners will also gain an understanding of the leadership, management and advocacy roles of physiotherapists within diverse contexts of practice.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 882.10.

This course integrates and builds on foundational skills and develops the learners’ competencies in evidence-based, client-centered assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions. Learners will also gain an understanding of the leadership, management and advocacy roles of physiotherapists within diverse contexts of practice.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 883.10.

This course focuses on assessment and management of complex conditions at an advanced level. Students will systematically assess and use evidence-based practice in the context of complex care settings, as well as explore, at an advanced level, the concepts of systemic racism, discrimination, cultural humility and cultural safety. Competencies in collaboration, management and leadership are further refined.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 884.10.

Offered occasionally in special situations. Students interested in these courses should contact the department for more information.

This special topics course has been individually tailored to provide the MPT student with the opportunity to remediate theoretical, practical, and/or clinical learning contract consisting of specific objectives, a detailed learning plan outlining learning strategies and resources and evaluation plan will be developed by faculty in consultation with the student.

A full-time course that introduces students to clinical education in physical therapy. This course is designed to provide the opportunity to apply professional practice theory to prepare students for clinical learning in health facilities.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 850 or PTH 901.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. This course is designed to advance clinical skills application as a progression from previous clinical course(s) and to specifically apply theory from academic courses. Students are expected to progress from Beginner to Advanced Beginner in clinical skills.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): 901.1.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 876 or PTH 902.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. There may be opportunity to complete this course in another Canadian province. This course is designed to provide diversity of experience and advance clinical skills with a more complex caseload relevant to the content from previous clinical and academic courses. Students are expected to progress from Advanced Beginner to Intermediate.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 902.5.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 878 or PTH 903.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. There may be opportunity to complete this course in another Canadian province. This course is designed to provide diversity of experience and advance clinical skills with a more complex caseload relevant to the content from previous clinical and academic courses. Students are expected to progress from Advanced Beginner to Intermediate in a different practice setting than Clinical Practicum 3.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 903.6.
Note: Students with credit for PTH 880 cannot have credit for this course.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. There may be opportunity to complete this course in another Canadian province. This course is designed to provide diversity of experience and advance clinical skills with a more complex caseload relevant to the content from previous clinical and academic courses. Students are expected to progress from Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 904.6.
Note: Students with credit for PTH 880 cannot have credit for this course.

A full-time course of clinical education in Saskatchewan facilities. There may be opportunity to complete this course in another Canadian province. This course is designed to provide diversity of experience and advance clinical skills with a more complex caseload relevant to the content from previous clinical and academic courses. Students are expected to progress from Advanced Intermediate to Entry Level.

Restriction(s): Restricted to students in the MPT Program.
Prerequisite(s): PTH 905.6.
Note: Students can have credit for only one of PTH 858 or PTH 906.

This course supports independent and guided learning experiences to support professional development and growth, based on the competency profile for entry to practice physical therapy national guidelines.

Note: Must be accepted in MPT program to register.