Program Overview
DPT Program
Curriculum
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Texas State University is designed to educate competent entry-level generalist physical therapists. Upon acceptance into the program, the Graduate College will develop a degree plan in consultation with the Physical Therapy Graduate Advisor. The degree program includes all courses required for successful completion of the program, totaling 99 credit hours. The Texas State University DPT Curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional licensure in all states.
The program's curriculum is divided into three years, with the following courses:
- Summer I (10 credits)
- PT 7114 Professional Issues
- PT 7116 Health Promotion & Wellness I
- PT 7211 Anatomy I
- PT 7312 Patient Care Skills I
- PT 7313 Body Systems I
- Fall I (14 credits)
- PT 7125 Clinical Decision Making I
- PT 7326 Neuroscience I
- PT 7327 Research in Physical Therapy I
- PT 7328 Exam Techniques
- PT 7428 Therapeutic Interventions
- Spring I (15 credits)
- PT 7130 Clinical Ed Orientation
- PT 7135 Clinical Decision Making II
- PT 7231 Anatomy II - Spine
- PT 7333 Body Systems II
- PT 7336 Neuroscience II
- PT 7539 Musculoskeletal I
- Summer II (13 credits)
- PT 7241 Anatomy III
- PT 7346 Neuroscience III
- PT 7347 Research in PT II
- PT 7549 Musculoskeletal II
- Fall II (12-13 credits)
- PT 7150 Directed Clinical
- PT 7155 Clinical Decision Making III
- PT 7157 Research in PT III
- PT 7251 Anatomy IV
- PT 7356 Neuroscience IV
- PT 7559 Musculoskeletal III
- Spring II (15-16 credits)
- PT 7165 Clinical Decision Making IV
- PT 7176 Health Promotion & Wellness II
- PT 7268 Advanced Therapeutic Interventions
- PT 7297 Research in PT IV
- PT 7364 Management Issues
- PT 7462 Patient Care Skills II
- Summer III (5 credits)
- PT 7274 Current Issues in Physical Therapy
- PT 7370 Clinical Education I
- Fall III (8 credits)
- PT 7480 Clinical Education II
- PT 7481 Clinical Education III
- Spring III (6 credits)
- PT 7690 Clinical Education IV
Student Outcomes
The program's student outcomes are as follows:
- Graduation Year 2022:
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- First Time NPTE Pass Rate: 97.30%
- Ultimate NPTE Pass Rate: 100%
- Employment Rate (within 6-months of licensure): 100%
- Graduation Year 2023:
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- First Time NPTE Pass Rate: 81.40%
- Ultimate NPTE Pass Rate: 95.40%
- Employment Rate (within 6-months of licensure): 100%
- Graduation Year 2024:
- Graduation Rate: 97.6%
- First Time NPTE Pass Rate: 100%
- Ultimate NPTE Pass Rate: 100%
- Employment Rate (within 6-months of licensure): 100%
- Two-year average:
- Graduation Rate: 98.8%
- First Time NPTE Pass Rate: 90.70%
- Ultimate NPTE Pass Rate: 97.70%
- Employment Rate (within 6-months of licensure): 100%
Technical Standards
The Department of Physical Therapy's intent is to educate competent entry-level generalist physical therapists who can examine, evaluate, manage, and treat the general population of acute and rehabilitation patients in contemporary healthcare settings. To successfully complete both the didactic and clinical components of the program, entering students must possess specific intellectual and physical abilities, referred to as "Technical Standards". These standards represent the minimum expected and essential abilities stipulated by the faculty for graduation from the program and performance of entry-level practice.
The Department's Technical Standards are divided into five sections:
Section 1 - Behavioral and Social Abilities
- Candidates should demonstrate awareness of and management strategies for physical and mental health required for utilization of intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgement, and completion of all responsibilities.
- Candidates should demonstrate effective strategies to manage workloads.
- Candidates should demonstrate mature, sensitive, reflective, and effective relationships with individuals and colleagues.
- Candidates should demonstrate strategies to assist with flexibility and adaptability in uncertain environments inherent in graduate education.
- Candidates should demonstrate compassion, integrity, motivation, commitment, and concern for others in the education and healthcare settings.
- Candidates should demonstrate open-mindedness and respect for different values, opinions, cultures, and situations.
Section 2 Cognitive and Intellectual Abilities
- Candidates should demonstrate the ability to measure, test, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and apply information.
- Candidates should demonstrate the ability to acquire, integrate, apply, and retain learned information.
- Candidates should demonstrate appropriate planning, time management, and use of resources.
- Candidates should demonstrate self-reflection and self-assessment, as well as the ability to assess others.
- Candidates should demonstrate the ability to accept and process constructive criticism in a professional manner.
Section 3 Communication
- Candidates should demonstrate the capacity to collect information from patients.
- Candidates should demonstrate sensitive and compassionate communication with individuals and groups, including patients, clients, and caregivers.
- Candidates should demonstrate the potential for accurate communication and documentation with members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, payors, vendors, etc.
- Candidates should demonstrate the capacity to give instructions and feedback to others.
Section 4 Sensory/Observation
- Candidates should demonstrate the ability to collect and accurately interpret information from classroom and clinical environments.
- Candidates should demonstrate the potential to examine and evaluate patients, requiring the use, or functional equivalent, of the senses: hearing, vision, and/or touch.
Section 5 Psychomotor Skills
- Candidates should demonstrate strategies necessary to participate in didactic and clinical education.
Prospective students are expected to review these standards prior to applying for admission into the program. Admission determinations are made on the assumption that each applicant meets these standards with or without reasonable accommodation. The Department acknowledges the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and encourages prospective students to contact the Department and/or the Texas State Office of Disability Services with any questions regarding whether they meet the Technical Standards.