The LSU Health Science Center has developed a new physical therapy doctorate program to make state physical therapy graduates more nationally competitive.
The House Education Committee supported a bill Wednesday that established a tuition for the program.
The proposed legislation, House Bill 883, would allow the Health Science Centers in New Orleans and Shreveport to charge enrolled students $4,000 a semester.
J.M. Cairo, dean of the School of Allied Health Professions, said the proposed bill does not increase tuition for any students but allows the possibility for the Health Science Centers to charge tuition for a new program.
Rep. Joe Salter, D-Florien, who proposed the legislation, said the school in New Orleans would accept 40 students into the program, and the school in Shreveport would admit 30.
The bill only establishes tuition for in-state students.
Salter said the schools hope to service Louisiana residents before accepting out-of-state students; however, if it were necessary to accept out-of-state students, a tuition could be established.
Cairo said the program will take three years to complete and will accept students who have completed a masters in physical therapy.
The program will begin in the fall.
Cairo said the funding will be used to recruit additional faculty.
He said the program is necessary because the field is becoming more competitive.
“When they graduate, they will be able to practice nationally,” Cairo said.
Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, said the program is important because it will train professors for the master’s program.
“The one teaching should have more schooling than the one being taught,” Downs said.
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]
LSU adds physical therapy Ph.D.
April 5, 2006