Curriculum

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum consists of 109 credits of coursework over eight consecutive semesters beginning in the fall of Year I and concluding in the spring of Year III, including intense study in the foundational, behavioral, and clinical sciences. Students learn to manage patients and clients with musculoskeletal, neuromotor, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary dysfunction. The curriculum also guides students' exploration of the legal/ethical aspects of patient care as well as issues of communication, health promotion, policy, and practice management. Through participation in research courses and integration of evidence-based practice throughout the management courses, graduates become critical consumers of research and evidence-based practitioners.

The curriculum also features extensive hands-on experience, including continuous work with “standardized patients” who help students practice integrating principles of professional practice with knowledge from the foundational behavioral and clinical sciences. The DPT program includes 34 weeks of full-time clinical education experience in local, national, and international locations.

Program of Study

Fall I Semester I

PT 8201 Functional Anatomy
PT 8311 Foundations of Examination
PT 8312 Foundations of Interventions
PT 8351 Professional Issues in Physical Therapy Health Care Management I 
PT 8361 Clinical Conference I

 

Spring I Semester II

PT 8202 Applied Physiology
PT 8313 Therapeutic Modalities
PT 8352 Teaching in Physical Therapy Practice
PT 8203 Neuroscience in Rehabilitation I
PT 8271 Research in Practice
PT 8362 Clinical Conference II
PT 8483 Integrated Clinical Experience I
PT 8204 Movement Science I

 

Summer I Semester III

PT 8205 Movement Science II
PT 8206 Neuroscience in Rehabilitation II
PT 8207 Clinical Medicine in Pharmacology
PT 8363 Clinical Conference III
PT 8481 Interprofessional Community Practicum 

 

Fall II Semester IV

PT 8315 Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I
PT 8208 Medical Imaging
PT 8318 Management of Neuromotor Dysfunction
PT 8323 Prosthetics and Orthotics
PT 8364 Clinical Conference IV
PT 8272 Research Seminar
PT 8484 Integrated Clinical Experience II

 

Spring II Semester V

PT 8316 Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II
PT 8320 Management of the Pediatric Client
PT 8322 Management of the Aging Adult
PT 8314 Management of Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction
PT 8317 Management of Integumentary Dysfunction
PT 8365 Clinical Conference V

 

Summer II Semester VI

PT 8491 Clinical Education Experience I
PT 8366 Clinical Conference VI
PT 8321 Pelvic Health

 

Fall III Semester VII

PT 8492 Clinical Education Experience II
PT 8355 Professional Issues in Physical Therapy Health Care Management II
PT 8357 Capstone Seminar
PT 8356 Health Promotion and Wellness
  Elective

 

Spring III Semester VIII

PT 8493 Clinical Education Experience III