Physical Therapy (Non-Thesis) (M.Sc.A.PT.) (61-62 credits)
Offered by: Phys and Occ Therapy (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)
Degree: Master of Sci Appl, Phys Ther
Program credit weight: 61-62
Program Description
The M.Sc.(Applied) in Physical Therapy; Non-Thesis is to be completed in 1.5 graduate years over five semesters, and includes four clinical practica of 1,050 hours in total, leading to professional licensure to practice. The educational approach is consistent with adult learning, self-directed learning, reflective clinical practice, and inter- professionalism. Strong links between academic and clinical fieldwork education are emphasized. Emphasis is on client-centred and evidence-based practice across the lifespan and health care continuum, including health promotion from prevention of disability to rehabilitation. In addition to fieldwork, the program includes advanced clinical practice, research methodology, and educational methodology. The program may be completed in 61 or 62 credits.
Required Courses (55 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IPEA 502 | Partnership in Interprofessional Teams | 0 |
Partnership in Interprofessional Teams Terms offered: Fall 2026, Winter 2027 Introduction to the principles of interprofessional collaboration through case-based learning experience. Observation and analysis of simulated interprofessional interactions involving a person receiving care and their care partners. Team dynamics, communication strategies, and collaborative decision-making processes to identify best practices and challenges in interprofessional teamwork, emphasizing reflection on professional roles, mutual respect, and person-centered care in complex clinical contexts. | ||
| IPEA 503 | Navigating Disagreement in Interprofessional Teams | 0 |
Navigating Disagreement in Interprofessional Teams Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to navigating team differences and disagreements in interprofessional health care settings through case-based learning experiences. Psychological safety, mutual respect, and shared decision-making contributing to effective team functioning. Proactive approaches to address sources of disagreement, prevent escalation, foster cooperative dialogue, and leverage conflict to strengthen team cohesion, support problem-solving, and enhance collaboration. | ||
| PHTH 571 | PT Clinical Practicum 1. | 6 |
PT Clinical Practicum 1. Terms offered: Summer 2026 A first clinical practicum course. | ||
| PHTH 572 | PT Clinical Practicum 2. | 6 |
PT Clinical Practicum 2. Terms offered: Summer 2026, Winter 2027 A second clinical practicum including advanced skills in assessment and treatment management in a core area of practice. | ||
| PHTH 573 | PT Clinical Practicum 3. | 7 |
PT Clinical Practicum 3. Terms offered: Fall 2026, Winter 2027 Advanced assessment and treatment management in an area of practice. | ||
| PHTH 606 | Introduction to Pediatric Physical Therapy. | 3 |
Introduction to Pediatric Physical Therapy. Terms offered: Fall 2026 This course introduces the principles of pediatric habilitation and rehabilitation pertinent to the practice of physical therapy. | ||
| PHTH 620 | PT Clinical Practicum 4. | 7 |
PT Clinical Practicum 4. Terms offered: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027 Final clinical practicum in an area of practice. | ||
| PHTH 622 | Integrated Pain Management. | 3 |
Integrated Pain Management. Terms offered: Fall 2026, Winter 2027 This M1 entry-level physiotherapy course focuses on understanding and managing complex and chronic pain conditions. Through lectures, personal reflection, interactive class activities, case study analyses, quizzes, assignments and practical lab activities, students will develop a conceptual framework for approaching the clinical assessment and management of pain and pain-related disability. By the end of the course, students will be ready to apply this framework within clinical settings. | ||
| PHTH 623 | Differential Diagnosis and Management. | 4 |
Differential Diagnosis and Management. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Building on previously learned orthopaedic knowledge, screening for medical conditions and establishing functional differential diagnosis. | ||
| PHTH 652 | Integrated Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Integrated Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation. Terms offered: Fall 2026 This case-based course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of exercise rehabilitation as a preventative and therapeutic tool in patients with selective chronic diseases and disabilities across the lifespan. This course aims to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills through interactive lectures, clinical reasoning workshops and assignments. | ||
| POTH 602 | Advanced Educational and Management Strategies. | 3 |
Advanced Educational and Management Strategies. Terms offered: Fall 2026, Winter 2027 Process of learning, methods of communication and teaching strategies for classrooms and clinical settings. Principles in human resources, practice and business management. | ||
| POTH 612 | Applied Clinical Research Methods. | 4 |
Applied Clinical Research Methods. Terms offered: Fall 2026 An intermediate-level research methods course to promote scholarly clinical practice, and to assist students in the design and implementation of their entry-level professional master’s project. | ||
| POTH 624 | Master's Project. | 7 |
Master's Project. Terms offered: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027 Project is related to rehabilitation. | ||
| POTH 682 | Promoting Healthy Activity. | 2 |
Promoting Healthy Activity. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Individual and situational determinants of health behaviours will be examined across the lifespan and in clinical populations. Application of behaviour change theories for the design, implementation and evaluation of health behaviour interventions will be discussed. Strategies to facilitate behaviour change and adherence across the lifespan will be emphasized. | ||
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHTH 645 | Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. Terms offered: Fall 2026 This course explores the physiotherapy approach to pelvic floor disorders, with an in-depth focus on urinary incontinence. Students will understand the role of the pelvic floor in relation to urinary, sexual and ano-rectal function, and acquire the ability to evaluate and treat patients suffering urinary incontinence. | ||
| PHTH 661 | Sport Physiotherapy. | 3 |
Sport Physiotherapy. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Injury prevention for recreational and elite athletes and rehabilitation of injured athletes. | ||
| PHTH 662 | Advanced Manual Therapy. | 3 |
Advanced Manual Therapy. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Use of manual therapy in the assessment and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. | ||
| POTH 508 | Plasticity in Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Plasticity in Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A seminar course designed to provide students with a review of current research on plasticity in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanisms involved in the recovery of function after injury. | ||
| POTH 604 | Current Topics in Pediatrics. | 3 |
Current Topics in Pediatrics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will provide an overview of current research in pediatrics. | ||
| POTH 625D1 | Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles. 1 | 1.5 |
Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This is an interdisciplinary, project-based course in which small teams of students work with an individual with a disability in the Montreal area to design an assistive technology (e.g. a device, a piece of equipment, an app) that enhances their level of activity and their participation in society. Teams will apply principles of assistive technology (AT) design to create solutions, iterate through multiple prototypes, and learn about the challenges and realities of successfully integrating AT into the lives of individuals with disabilities. | ||
| POTH 625D2 | Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles. 1 | 1.5 |
Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This is an interdisciplinary, project-based course in which small teams of students work with an individual with a disability in the Montreal area to design an assistive technology (e.g. a device, a piece of equipment, an app) that enhances their level of activity and their participation in society. Teams will apply principles of assistive technology (AT) design to create solutions, iterate through multiple prototypes, and learn about the challenges and realities of successfully integrating AT into the lives of individuals with disabilities. | ||
| POTH 636 | Physical Therapy in Pediatrics. | 3 |
Physical Therapy in Pediatrics. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Application of the frameworks of neurological, orthopedic and cardio-respiratory rehabilitation to the assessment and treatment of various pediatric conditions. | ||
| POTH 637 | Cancer Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Cancer Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Cancer pathology, risk stratification, the treatment process and rehabilitation needs throughout the disease trajectory. | ||
| POTH 639 | Motor Control. | 3 |
Motor Control. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Overview of how movement is controlled by the nervous system and how motor skills are learned. | ||
| POTH 685 | Perception and Action. | 3 |
Perception and Action. Terms offered: Fall 2026 New research concepts related to perception and action, with a special emphasis on the understanding of motor behaviour in patient populations and the exploration of potential applications in rehabilitation. | ||
- 1
If chosen, students must complete both POTH 625D1 Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles. and POTH 625D2 Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles.
Elective Course (0-1 credit)
0 or 1 credit may be taken at the 500 level or higher upon consultation with the Physical Therapy Program Director.