August 9, 2022

Wheeling University and West Liberty Sign Articulation Agreement for Doctorate of Physical Therapy

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 9, 2022 — West Liberty University (WLU) and Wheeling University  marked the establishment of a new articulation agreement for undergraduate students seeking advanced degrees in physical therapy today in a 10 a.m. signing agreement, held in WLU’s Shaw Hall.

“This new collaboration between both of our institutions offers a seamless transition for West Liberty University students and will benefit those most interested in the field of professional healthcare, specifically those seeking a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree,” said Dr. W. Franklin Evans, WLU’s president.

“We are pleased to partner with West Liberty University and look forward to welcoming qualified students into our well-established program. This agreement is sure to result in well-trained physical therapists serving the community and the larger medical field, something we can all appreciate,” said Ginny R. Favede, Wheeling’s president.

According to Dr. Alison Kreger, PT, DPT, Ed.D., director of Wheeling’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, “By partnering, Wheeling and West Liberty will help both institutions facilitate the training of physical therapy professionals who can provide high quality patient care.”

The collaborative agreement between West Liberty University and Wheeling University will be open to students in any WLU undergraduate major who meets specific qualifications and prerequisite courses, including (partial list):

• An overall cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or higher;
• A grade point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or higher in the required prerequisite courses, which include, but are not limited to: BIO 124/125, BIO 325/326, BIO 302/303, BIO 328/334, CHEM 110/111, CHEM 112/113, PHYS 101/110, PHYS 102/111, PSYC 101, MAT 160 Higher level courses may be substituted for lower-level courses in the same area.
• A minimum grade of B in each required prerequisite course

Wheeling University has agreed to accept up to two students per year into their DPT program.

Wheeling University’s DPT program emphasizes a whole person approach to the investigation of clinical issues using a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) format. PBL encourages teamwork, open discussion, and researching appropriate resources to acquire the essential didactic knowledge.

Through this unique learning format, Wheeling’s physical therapy graduates demonstrate exemplary professionalism, exceptional skills and problem solving, as well as the ability to access and utilize knowledge, reflective of a commitment to life-long learning, according to Kreger.