Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is a professional doctorate designed to educate highly competent and compassionate healthcare providers who are ready to meet the needs of those in our community, state, and around the globe. Physical Therapists are trained to use a variety of methods to help patients reduce pain or increase mobility, as well as develop life-long fitness and wellness habits. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is part of the College of Health Professions.

The Physical Therapy Degree at Marshall University is a 115 credit hour program that is a modified case-based model, designed in a "builds on, leads to" manner that is delivered in a full-time, in-house format using lecture, labs, small group discussion, case seminars, and clinical visits and internships, all occurring in state-of-the-art facilities.
Faculty with Marshall's DPT program are diverse with many holding clinical specialization in acute care, geriatrics, neurology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, and sport. Marshall University also boasts a medical school, pharmacy school, and nursing school leading to robust interdisciplinary opportunities for physical therapy students. The Huntington, West Virginia community is home to a 700-bed hospital system, a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and several rehabilitation hospitals, allowing physical therapy students many experiential options.

Outstanding student achievement is a cornerstone of the program - the Class of 2018 scored a 100% first-time board pass rate, surpassing the national average of 92.3.

Program Highlights

• Employment Flexibility: Students who graduate from the Marshall University SOPT and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination are eligible for Physical Therapy Licensure in all 50 states.
• Pass Rate: The Class of 2024 has a 100% first-time pass rate for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).
• Quality Faculty: One of the highest concentrations of faculty members who are board-certified specialists in their areas of teaching expertise.

Featured Courses

• PT 700 - Gross Anatomy for PT: Lecture and laboratory focusing on anatomical structure and function of the human body. Cadaveric dissection provides practical experiences allowing students to develop working images of the body and its function.
• PT 720 - Advanced Clinical Physiology: Reviews normal human cellular- and organ-level physiology, histology, and function and introduces related topics of pathophysiology including: clinical signs and symptoms, clinical laboratory science, medical management, and pharmacological issues.
• PT 713 - Human Movement III: Assessment of constraints to normal movement, application of standardized tools for assessment of movement dysfunction, examination of statistical data (population specific reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity, odds ratios) of said tools.

Career Opportunities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. DPT graduates are employed in roles such as:

• Practice Physical Therapy (Hospital, Outpatient Facility, Athletic Field, Rehabilitation Facility, Skilled Nursing, School System, Traveling Therapist).
• Marshall University School of Physical Therapy boasts an outstanding 100% employment rate and a 100% NPTE pass rate.
• Potential career paths include:
  • Physical therapist
  • Director of rehabilitation
  • Medical writer
  • Professor
  • Consultant
  • Program manager