This course is the first of two courses in the first year that will prepare students in professional practices that will be used throughout the curriculum and their professional careers. This seminar format course will prepare the student for full-time clinical internship experiences by highlighting both the professional and practical aspects of the physical therapy profession. We will emphasize concepts related to communication (verbal, nonverbal, and written), individual and cultural differences, professional behavior, ethics, legal issues including state practice acts, healthcare reimbursement, clinical documentation and responsibility for professional development. Students will develop an increased understanding of professionalism, physical therapy scope of practice and Code of Ethics in the context of contemporary interprofessional healthcare. Students will explore social issues such as forces that impact health care, the role of legislative and political bodies vis a vis health care, race and class as they impact health care and health seeking behavior, and the role of professional organizations as they impact the health professional. Students will formulate new structures from existing knowledge and skills with classroom discussion, debates, and presentations and will develop a deeper understanding of principles of teaching and learning that will be applied in the affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains and will aid in their own development as a professional.