Prosthetics and Orthotics

Overview

The Prosthetics and Orthotics program of Northwestern University is a competitive, 21-month postgraduate degree offering clinically focused education in a research-rich environment within the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Our curriculum prepares students to become proficient, compassionate P&O clinicians; serve persons with physical impairments; apply state-of-the-art research to clinical practice; and contribute significantly to the P&O profession.

Program highlights

The program consists of didactic and laboratory instruction in anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, behavioral sciences, research skills, normal and pathological gait, biomechanics, material science, evaluation, measurement, impression procedures, components, alignment, fitting, and fabrication.

The MPO is built on a Blended Learning format where students will complete their first two quarters (six months) online. After demonstrating proficiency in fundamental concepts, students attend class at NUPOC’s Chicago campus for four focused quarters (12 months) of hands-on, supervised clinical education. During the on campus practicum, where they benefit from a 1:8 instructor-student ratio and learn hands-on clinical skills with people who actually use prostheses or orthoses, MPO students apply their knowledge and develop skills in assessment, design, fitting, and evaluation of prostheses and orthoses for Educational Models who have physical impairments, including amputations. 

The final quarter (three months) is conducted via distance education and offers students the opportunity to focus on an area of special interest while honing their clinical skills prior to beginning their NCOPE accredited residency. Students do not need to live in Chicago during this final quarter of the NUPOC MPO program.