In January 1995, the Robert Gordon University, located in Aberdeen, Scotland, will begin offering a four-year Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in P.T. to U.S. students in an accelerated program. Students can earn their degree in only two and a third years.

The program is being offered in cooperation with Shifrin Healthcare, Inc., a New Jersey-based company that is committed to providing opportunities for high quality physical and occupational therapy education.

There are presently 24 openings for the 1995 class. The class size will be increased to 30 in 1996 and 36 students thereafter. The deadline for applications is October 15, 1994. After that date, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis.

The program combines general education and physical therapy course with 1,120 hours of clinical internships to enable students to integrate scientific and theoretical knowledge with physical therapy skills.

Requirements for admission to the program are the following:

• A minimum of 60 credits, completed with a grade C or better at an accredited college or university, including biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and general humanities courses. Minimum GPA of 2.75,
• Fifty to 100 work or volunteer hours at a physical therapy facility.
• Two letters of recommendation and an interview, which will be conducted by representatives from Shifrin and Valerie A. Maehle, MEd, PhD, MCSP, Head of Robert Gordon University's School of Health Science.

Steven Shifrin, President of Shifrin Healthcare Corp., said they are trying to recruit diverse students and are open to the idea of accepting PTAs.

"We are looking for people who know about the profession, we look at the whole person, not just grades," he said.

The Robert Gordon University is fully recognized by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in London, the accrediting body for the United Kingdom, and is presently applying for APTA accreditation.

"The goal is to have accreditation before the first group of students graduate," said Mr. Shifrin.

He said the company decided to explore education opportunities abroad since U.S. physical therapy programs are becoming much more competitive and many qualified students are being overlooked.

"It is not that easy for schools to begin or expand programs and to secure clinical sites," he said. "A lot of students are being forced to put their lives on hold since they have to apply several years in a row and are distraught when they cannot get into physical therapy schools because the competition is so fierce."

Mr. Shifrin said representatives from the company looked into schools throughout the world, before deciding to affiliate with Robert Gordon University.

"We decided to go to Scotland because of the quality of education and the fact that there wasn't any language barrier. Our goal was to find a school that met, and even went above and beyond, what we considered to be equivalent to U.S. education," he said. "Since the PT program at Robert Gordon has been in existence for over 30 years...and there are licensed and working graduates in the U.S., the quality is proven."

The cost of the program, according to Mr. Shifrin, is equivalent to the tuition of a private U.S. physical therapy program and some financial aid is available.

After graduation from the program, students are required to work as a traveling PT with Shifrin Healthcare, Inc., for one year.

"We are just starting to get the word out, but there has been very positive feedback. the people who hear about it, love it. Students from 22 to 45-years-old have expressed interest," he said.

For more information about the Robert Gordon University or to obtain an application for the program, please contact Shifrin Healthcare, Inc., 111 Columbia turnpike, Florham Park, N.J., 07932, or call (212) 504-3005