Physical Therapy (B.Sc.) (Rehabilitation Science) (90 credits)
Offered by: Phys and Occ Therapy (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)
Degree: BSCRS
Program credit weight: 90
Program Description
The B.Sc.(Rehabilitation Science); Major in Physical Therapy emphasizes basic health sciences foundation specific to the practice of Physical Therapy. The program focuses on clinical reasoning, diagnostics, evidence-based practice, community rehabilitation, teamwork and professionalism as essential components for the development of a humanistic, ethical, knowledgeable, competent critical thinking and problem-solving physical therapist.
Degree Requirements — B.Sc.
This program is offered as part of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree.
To graduate, students must satisfy both their program requirements and their degree requirements.
- The program requirements (i.e., the specific courses that make up this program) are listed under the Course Tab (above).
- The degree requirements—including the mandatory Foundation program, appropriate degree structure, and any additional components—are outlined on the Degree Requirements page.
Students are responsible for ensuring that this program fits within the overall structure of their degree and that all degree requirements are met. Consult the Degree Planning Guide on the SOUSA website for additional guidance.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (81 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 315 | Clinical Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy. | 3 |
Clinical Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The regional human gross anatomy of the skeleton, joints, muscles and neurovascular structures of the body as it relates to physical and occupational therapists. Laboratories include the study of prepared cadaveric specimens and the completion of a cadaveric-dissection. | ||
| ANAT 316 | Clinical Human Visceral Anatomy . | 3 |
Clinical Human Visceral Anatomy . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The gross anatomy of the various organ systems of the human body, with emphasis on those aspects of greatest relevance to physical and occupational therapists. Laboratories include the study of prepared specimens. | ||
| ANAT 321 | Circuitry of the Human Brain. 1 | 3 |
Circuitry of the Human Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the functional organization of the human brain and spinal cord. The course focuses on how neuronal systems are designed to subserve specific motor, sensory, and cognitive operations. | ||
| ANAT 323 | Clinical Neuroanatomy. 1 | 3 |
Clinical Neuroanatomy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will focus on the structural and functional relationships of the central nervous system. The human neuroanatomy will be introduced via pathological cases and will be illustrated by use of new medical imaging techniques. | ||
| IPEA 500 | Roles in Interprofessional Teams. | 0 |
Roles in Interprofessional Teams. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A half day workshop, including preparatory work, that introduces interprofessional education, interprofessional practice, and the roles of the different healthcare professionals that make up an interprofessional team. | ||
| IPEA 501 | Communication in Interprofessional Teams. | 0 |
Communication in Interprofessional Teams. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A half day workshop, including preparatory work, introducing effective communication and interactions in interprofessional teams. | ||
| PHGY 209 | Mammalian Physiology 1. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems. | ||
| PHGY 210 | Mammalian Physiology 2. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems. | ||
| PHTH 245 | Introduction to Professional Practice 1. | 3 |
Introduction to Professional Practice 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physical therapy and its domains through promoting health and well-being of individuals across the life span. | ||
| PHTH 440 | Clinical Exercise Physiology. | 3 |
Clinical Exercise Physiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Safe and effective prescription of exercise as a preventive and therapeutic tool in patients suffering from clinical conditions. | ||
| PHTH 450 | Introduction to PT Clinical Practice. | 3 |
Introduction to PT Clinical Practice. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In this course, students will be introduced to clinical skills applicable to various physiotherapy domains of practice. Through clinical skills laboratories, self-directed learning, and interactive learning sessions, students will be developing observation skills, as well as analyzing normal and common deviant movements. They will also be introduced to the development of hypotheses to explain movement impairment. Throughout the course, emphasis will be put on palpation and patient handling skills. | ||
| PHTH 460 | Introduction to Functional Movement. | 3 |
Introduction to Functional Movement. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the assessment and instruction of human functional movement patterns, including anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Principles of progressive functional resistance training. | ||
| PHTH 482 | Introduction to Health, Fitness and Lifestyle. | 3 |
Introduction to Health, Fitness and Lifestyle. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to lifestyle concepts and practices, complementary to the scope of physiotherapy practice, which influence individual health and fitness. Topics include: physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, sleep, and psychological and mental wellbeing. Certain external factors that influence these concepts and practices, and approaches to promoting behavioural change. | ||
| PHTH 550 | Physical Therapy Orthopedic Management. | 7 |
Physical Therapy Orthopedic Management. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Evaluation and treatment in a neuromuscular framework. | ||
| PHTH 551 | Physical Therapy Neurological Rehabilitation. | 4 |
Physical Therapy Neurological Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of neurorehabilitation motor learning and neuroplasticity including assessment and treatment. | ||
| PHTH 554 | PT Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation. | 2 |
PT Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the principles of cardiorespiratory physical therapy. Students will gain the necessary theoretical knowledge pertaining to the pathophysiology of various medical and surgical respiratory conditions as well as the practical skills needed for evaluating and treating such acute and chronic conditions. This course introduces students to the clinical decision making process involved in the planning, implementation and progression of a cardiorespiratory physiotherapy treatment program. | ||
| PHTH 560 | Integrated Orthopedic Management. | 6 |
Integrated Orthopedic Management. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Assessment and treatment of patients with multiple comorbidities or multiple injuries that require a multidisciplinary approach, integrated intervention strategies, life-style changes, integration into the work force and/or reintegration into the community. | ||
| PHTH 561 | Integrated Neurological Rehabilitation. | 5 |
Integrated Neurological Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. PT assessment and treatment of clients with complex problems and/or multiple handicaps. | ||
| PHTH 564 | Integrated Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Integrated Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Building on previously learned knowledge of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, students will gain conceptual and procedural knowledge and skills for the physiotherapy assessment and management of patients with various cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, patients undergoing lung/heart-lung transplantation, and critically ill patients managed in the intensive care unit (ICU). This course aims to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the area of cardiovascular and respiratory physiotherapy through interactive lectures as well as case-based labs run at the McGill Simulation center. | ||
| POTH 204 | Introduction to Statistics for OT/PT. | 3 |
Introduction to Statistics for OT/PT. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Methods for describing data and testing theories for research and everyday use. | ||
| POTH 225 | Introduction to Biomechanics in Rehabilitation Sciences. | 3 |
Introduction to Biomechanics in Rehabilitation Sciences. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The study of fundamentals of biomechanical analysis applied to the extremities and lumbar spine. The application of biomechanical principles to clinical and research situations. | ||
| POTH 250 | Introduction to Professional Practice 2. | 3 |
Introduction to Professional Practice 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course addresses the fundamentals of professionalism and professional behavior, the principles of massage, professional touch, and basic profession-specific interviewing skills. Interviewing skills will be practiced with client-visits in the community. Cultural competence and its application to clinical practice, patient /therapist relationship, and web searching will be addressed. | ||
| POTH 305 | Statistics for Experimental Design OT/PT | 3 |
Statistics for Experimental Design OT/PT Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The statistical analysis of research data obtained from experimental designs, including introduction and review of basic statistical concepts, different types of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and simple and multiple linear regression. | ||
| POTH 401 | Research Methods. | 3 |
Research Methods. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A lecture and seminar course on the principles of and methods used in clinical and rehabilitation science research. | ||
| POTH 434 | Musculoskeletal Biomechanics. | 3 |
Musculoskeletal Biomechanics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Lecture-based course, discussing biomechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues, mechanical factors involved in injury, and potential for adaptation and recovery. By reviewing fundamental principles of motion, biomechanics of motion is integrated with properties of biological tissues. Students learn how fundamental principles relate to injury, and to scientifically-based clinical evaluations and treatments. | ||
| POTH 455 | Neurophysiology. | 3 |
Neurophysiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the neurophysiological principles of sensori-motor interaction as they relate to posture, motor control and cognition. | ||
| POTH 563 | Foundations of Professional Practice. | 3 |
Foundations of Professional Practice. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Study and analysis of foundations for professional practice and systems which impact the role of the occupational and physical therapy professional in health service delivery settings. This course includes sections on 1) healthcare environments and systems; 2) management, safety and quality assurance; and 3) professionalism and ethics. | ||
- 1
Students may choose ANAT 321 Circuitry of the Human Brain. or ANAT 323 Clinical Neuroanatomy. but not both.
Complementary Courses (6-9 credits)
These courses are to be completed prior to entering third year (U3). The complementary credits are chosen from the following subject areas:
- Psychology
- Management (in the area of personnel and private practice management)
- Academic Writing
- Sociology/Anthropology courses
- French or English second language course if not proficient in French or English (maximum of 6 credits)
- Students may take PHTH 301 Sports Medicine Practicum. (3 credits) as a U2 complementary course.
Elective Course (0-3 credits)
- Maximum of one 3-credit elective (personal interest) course.