As the economy continues to improve, more industries are seeing an increase in job availability, especially the healthcare sector. In an effort to provide the education needed to pursue a career in a medical field, such as physical therapy, schools nationwide are expanding their degree programs, allowing for an increase in student enrollment.
In order to meet the demand of a growing student interest in physical therapy, West Virginia University has announced that by 2013, it will accept an additional 10 students into its physical therapy degree program. The school also plans to hire additional faculty, construct new facilities and purchase equipment needed for hands-on training, according to WBOY.com.
James Brick, interim dean of WVU's School of Medicine, stated that "almost half of our students every year that finish this program continue to practice in West Virginia." He added that "this is one of the finest examples that I can think of, of us fulfilling the land grant mission of the university and Governor Patteson's dream for West Virginia."
By 2018, the employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent, and the demand will create approximately 56,200 new jobs nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
