Study guide
Study guide
Study guide
Autumn 2016
Due to the timing of optional and elective courses, credit accumulation per semester / academic year may vary.
PROGRAMME
Physiotherapist
DEGREE
Physiotherapist (Bachelor), EQF and NQF level 6
EXTENT OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
210 credits, 3,5 years
STUDY OBJECTIVES
A physiotherapist degree entitles a person to work as a physiotherapist expert in health, social, sports and rehabilitation systems, either as an employee or as an entrepreneur. The goal of a physiotherapists work is to maintain and promote human movement, activity, participation and wellbeing; taking into consideration the prevailing environmental conditions and social situations at any given time.
The physiotherapy education studies teach skills that meet the expectation and need for expertise in working life. Amongst other things national (The principals council of the Universities of Applied Sciences (Arene), Ministry of Education (OKM)) and international (European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (Enphe), The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT)) competence descriptions have been utilised in their design. As a physiotherapist works both in multi-professional teams and independently in customer situations, both workplace skills, as well as physiotherapeutic examination and clinical reasoning skills, teaching and counselling skills and therapeutic skills are emphasised. The physiotherapist's role and expertise changes with society; therefore a physiotherapist is also required internationalisation, development and technology skills.
A physiotherapist who has graduated from a University of Applied Sciences will have command over the essential knowledge base of physiotherapy, be capable of creative problem solving and will be able to work in multi-professional teams. He uses approved and evidence-based physiotherapy procedures and policies in his decision making process as well as during the examination of the customers capacity for maintaining and promoting their general performance. He possesses the ability to act ethically, in a customer oriented manner, creatively and in a specific manner according to the situation, he will also be able to develop physiotherapy. In addition, he is able to take both national and international challenges into consideration and can also develop the innovation competence of his individual, communal and networking skills.
STRUCTURE OF STUDIES AND STUDY CONTENTS
Physiotherapy (Bachelor) studies are based on the legislation for Universities of Applied Sciences and the legislation for practicing the profession, the framework for European skills and degrees (European Qualifications Framework = EQF), the framework for national degrees (National Qualifications Framework NQF =, www.minedu.fi/OPM) and the degree regulations and strategies for Turku University of Applied Sciences, where the pedagogical approach is based on innovation pedagogy.
The physiotherapist studies consist of 210 credits, which requires about 3 years of full time studying. The premise for the studies is professional growth as well as general and professional learning outcomes; and based on these the studies form four year themes: (1) An evaluator and instructor of human movement and functioning capabilities, (2) An expert in the basics of physiotherapy for people with limited movement and functioning capabilities, (3) An applier of the basics of physiotherapy for people with limited movement and functioning capabilities and (4) An expert in developing physiotherapy. Each year theme is comprised of modules (10-15 credits) and courses (5 credits) and they have been divided into basic studies (15 credits), professional studies (73 credits), internships (75 credits), elective studies (15 credits) and the thesis (15 credits).
In the first year theme: ”An evaluator and instructor of human movement and functioning capabilities” the student becomes familiar with the social, healthcare and rehabilitation service systems. He evaluates and explores human movement and performance ability and influences them by means of physiotherapy, when the risks to the customer’s health are minimal. In addition he acquires the set requirements for language proficiency (352/2003 Section 8).
In the second year theme: “An expert in the basics of physiotherapy for people with limited movement and functioning capabilities” the student broadens his professional research and therapy skills. He explores, evaluates, instructs and exercises customers whose health, and especially movement and functioning capabilities, cause problems and health risks.
In the third year theme “An applier of the basics of physiotherapy for people with limited movement and functioning capabilities” the student becomes familiar with the methods of physiotherapy for customers with limited movement and functioning capabilities while applying previously learnt basics of physiotherapy in a varied way as well as supplementing his skills by working in multi-professional work teams. The student views people extensively, taking into consideration their resources, problems and the diversity of their operating environment. In addition, the student uses the skills he has mastered in evidence-based practices, in workplace-oriented research and development tasks.
In the fourth year “An expert in developing physiotherapy” the student proves that he can act as a physiotherapist in different operating environments and master the basics of physiotherapy development.
In each year theme the research, counselling and therapy capabilities learnt by the student will be evidence-based. The student will combine practice with theory in different learning situations, and especially in practical training.
Each year theme will include studying theory as well as training practical skills. As the student’s skills improve he will apply the theoretical knowledge to increasingly harder customer situations and the theory will act as the base for physical therapy planning and implementation. The studying takes place in class or placements or by conversing and practicing individually or in groups; which allows the student to learn skills in interaction and teamwork.
The strategic innovation pedagogy at Turku University of Applied Sciences means an approach to learning that emphasizes work-oriented, research, development and innovation (RDI) expertise. Theoretical studies are supported by a strong connection to practical working life, for example in development tasks connected to internships, theses and workplace-oriented courses as well as services and workplace-oriented RDI projects of Universities of Applied Sciences. The innovative teaching and learning methods are also used during the lessons. The student will take part in different joint research and development projects as well as the services of the Universities of Applied Sciences and working life. Innovative learning and teaching methods, flexible study paths, internationalisation and entrepreneurial activity are some of the ways that the innovative pedagogy methods can be seen in physiotherapy education.
CHOOSING A MAIN SUBJECT OR FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION, QUALIFICATIONS
Only a licensed professional or a person who has completed a physiotherapy degree can work as a physiotherapist. The social and healthcare licensing and supervisory agency (Valvira) grants professionals the right to practise the work based on their applications.
THESIS
In the thesis the student will demonstrate his readiness to work independently and use research-based information critically. The theses are implemented as workplace-oriented and partly multi-disciplinary commissions. Workplace and RDI project representatives recruit students for their own development tasks. Writing the thesis takes place during the final stages of the studies.
EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
In the physiotherapy education program the most important goal of the evaluation is to guide and support the student’s learning process as well as promote his professional growth. The premises for the evaluation are the competence descriptions and goals of physiotherapy work, which have been registered in the competence map of the curriculum. The achieved skills are assessed during the modules and courses.
During the evaluation the student receives feedback on his skills and his progress in correlation to his goals. The achievements that are evaluated include oral and written exams, presentations, reports and learning diaries. The evaluation is rejected or approved (on a scale from 1-5). The student will receive either oral or written feedback. In addition to the teacher’s evaluation the student’s self-assessment and the review carried out by the peers is also an important part of the final evaluation. The aim of the evaluation is to steer the student towards embracing methods of working and learning that he can make use of later on while working in a specific field of expertise.
The evaluation criteria for the courses have been registered into the courses implementation plan (the SoleOPS system) and general evaluation guidelines of the Universities of Applied Sciences
have been used in their preparation. The evaluation criteria separately describes the student’s professional knowledge, ability to obtain information, professional skills and responsibility and entrepreneurial and leadership skills; and these different learning stages have been taken into consideration in their levels of description.
In physiotherapy education the functioning is developed by collecting feedback on the courses implementation from the students during a feedback day at the end of the studies and semester. The students can influence its outcome at the start of a course, during the demonstration of the implementation plan. A student satisfaction survey (student barometer) takes place annually at the Turku University of Applied Sciences. At the end of the studies the students answer an OPALA questionnaire complied by the Ministry of Education and give feedback on the entire study period.
INTERNATIONALIZATION
Students carry out studies that support internationalisation (15 credits) in different ways during their physiotherapy degree: for example by applying for an exchange student position, taking part in intensive courses or through an international semester.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
It is hard to replace an employee with technology in the social and healthcare field, so the field will continue to employ well in the future. A physiotherapist works independently or as a member of a multidisciplinary team, as an expert in the areas of health, social, sports and rehabilitation either as an employee or an entrepreneur. The curriculum provides graduates with the skills function in the sectors developmental tasks.
Depending on the individual some find it important to develop physiotherapy at their workplace after graduation. Some will want to further their studies progressing for example into the service of a ministry or working as a professor abroad.
POSSIBLE JOBTITLES AFTER GRADUATION
The most common physiotherapy titles are physiotherapist, physiotherapist (UAS) and specialized physiotherapist. As a physiotherapist it is possible to apply for a specialist title according to the guidelines of Finland’s Physiotherapists. A physical therapy specialist is required to have a high level of knowledge, strong specialty experience, evidence of work development and extensive professional performance. The titles that can be applied for are children’s physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, adult neurological physiotherapy, primary health care physiotherapy and occupational Physiotherapy. (Finland’s Physiotherapists 2014.)
People acting in management, supervisory and development tasks have a variety of titles. A physiotherapist can also act under an instructor title.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
The bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences provides the opportunity for postgraduate studies in a Master’s degree or university degree.
Turku University of Applied Sciences also offers these opportunities.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information on the education, contact the student advisors.