Courtney Morse, a first year student in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Wichita State University, recently organized a field trip to Wichita’s Exploration Place for himself and his classmates. However, it wasn’t for the usual hands-on educational experience that the museum offers. Morse wanted to see the nationally touring exhibit "Our Bodies: The Universe Within."

“I have a complete and utter fascination with the human body,” he said. “It can do such amazing things.”

The exhibit shows human cadavers and skeletons in various still-life forms of motion, including riding a bicycle and kicking a ball.

“I think it gives people insight into how complex the human body really is, and just how many systems and processes it requires for the most basic tasks,” Morse said.

Camilla Wilson, associate professor and chair of physical therapy at WSU, went with the class to see the exhibit as well. She hoped the students who went along took away an increased appreciation of the body and its complexity.

This fall, students are taking associate professor John Carter’s anatomy lab, where they will study and dissect human cadavers. Morse sees the Our Bodies exhibit as a “great introduction to that class.”

Of the two Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in Kansas, Morse chose to study at WSU, finding it closer to home and more affordable.

“The faculty here made you feel like they wanted you to come to this school,” he said.

Morse has only attended WSU for two months, but he feels like he has learned “a ton” of information just over the summer semester.

“When you’re in a program like this, you’re given so much to learn,” he said. “But it’s information that is interesting to you so it’s more tolerable.”

The goal of the DPT program is to prepare students to function effectively in the complex role of a physical therapist. According to Wilson, acceptance into the program is competitive.

“We only accept 32 students,” she said. “The students must have a bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work and a number of prerequisite courses.”

Morse, who wants to make school his full-time job, is very driven to succeed in the program.

“I chose to go back to school because I had a job that was unrelated to my undergraduate degree,” he said. “I worked 75 hours a week, and it wasn’t my passion.”

Physical therapy is perfect for Morse, he said, because he gets to work with people and provide them with a fun environment while they’re in rehabilitation.

“I like helping and motivating people, and seeing them progress,” he said.

In the future, Morse is thinking about working in an outpatient facility or being a physical therapist in one of the armed services.

“Graduation seems so far away right now,” he said. “I’ll worry about it when it gets closer and probably have a whole new set of plans.”

However, his future plans depend on his wife, Rebekah, who he says has supported him through this entire process.

“I absolutely couldn’t have done it without her,” he said.

The Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at WSU was created in 2005. For more information, contact Camilla Wilson, associate professor and chair of physical therapy at WSU, at (316) 978-5780 or camilla.wilson@wichita.edu.