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Looks like WMU is adding a school of P.T. I just saw an ad for an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy tenure track position. Heard rumors they were thinking about this degree but had no idea it is a done deal. Good for WMU. Another status boosting degree for the University. They will now offer a full compliment of medically related degrees in addition to the
MD degree.

Let's make sure our degrees our with a quality education with it. We don't want to just churn out degrees. Shouldn't that money be used to boost existing programs? I want our existing programs to be the best, not programs just to have programs.

[quote='Bronco'14' pid='15449125' dateline='1535153836']
Let's make sure our degrees our with a quality education with it. We don't want to just churn out degrees. Shouldn't that money be used to boost existing programs? I want our existing programs to be the best, not programs just to have programs.
[/quote

The demand for Physical Therapy is expected to grow steadily over the next 10 years and as a profession and it is in the top five for employment opportunities. WMU PT students will have jobs waiting for them when they graduate. Its a very smart move for WMU to add this program since it already has a lot of medical resources at its disposal with its MD program,OT program,nursing program and physician assistant program. I hardly think the University is adding this program to simply "churn out degrees" as you describe. The degree offering makes complete sense for WMU and keeps it competitive with other schools already offering this degree.They did it right when adding the medical school and i have every reason to believe WMU will offer a quality PT degree.

It's very difficult (as a state public) to just create degrees for the sake of having one. There is a process that can take years, involving the department, college, University, then the State to approve.

This is a great move for WMU.

(08-25-2018 04:19 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  It's very difficult (as a state public) to just create degrees for the sake of having one. There is a process that can take years, involving the department, college, University, then the State to approve.

This is a great move for WMU.

Agreed this has probably been in the works for several years before it even takes place .Not to mention the whole accreditation process to assure that there is a legitimate degree being offered that meets all standards of practice. That fact that they are advertising for faculty hires seems to indicate they have cleared a lot of these hurdles.

(08-25-2018 05:11 PM)goldsworth Wrote:  

(08-25-2018 04:19 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  It's very difficult (as a state public) to just create degrees for the sake of having one. There is a process that can take years, involving the department, college, University, then the State to approve.

This is a great move for WMU.

Agreed this has probably been in the works for several years before it even takes place .Not to mention the whole accreditation process to assure that there is a legitimate degree being offered that meets all standards of practice. That fact that they are advertising for faculty hires seems to indicate they have cleared a lot of these hurdles.

True. Wish it the best!