Program Overview

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Types

Doctoral

Location

Hybrid

Credits

115

Cost

$700/credit hour

Overview

The Connie D. Hauser Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at University of the Cumberlands offers a dynamic and integrated case-based curriculum. The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program is designed to be completed in six consecutive semesters within 24 months (2 years). Throughout the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, you will engage in self-guided online coursework, live classes in a virtual classroom, and hands-on training on campus. The Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum includes immersive experiences, clinical education, and practical training in various practice settings. We offer clinical partnerships with over 200 organizations across the country to ensure our students find opportunity in the industry.

By the Numbers

$97,720

Average Salary

17%

Industry Growth

200+

Clinical Partnerships

100%

Student-Focused

Programs & Requirements

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Connie D. Hauser Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is a professional graduate program with a dynamic curriculum that includes courses in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and social psychology, among others. As a student in this physical therapy education program, you will engage in self-guided online coursework, live classes in a virtual classroom, and hands-on training on campus. The DPT program curriculum includes didactic (book-learning) coursework, immersive experiences, clinical education, and practical training in various practice settings. In just two years of full-time classes, you could learn everything you need to know to become a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Course Requirements

Semester One – 22 hours

• First Bi-Term
  • DPT 710 - Professional Formation 1
  • DPT 741 - Physical Therapy Fundamentals
  • DPT 713 - Evidence Informed Practice 1
  • Immersion 1 Weeks 7-8 (9 days)
• Second Bi-Term
  • DPT 712 - Communication for Healthcare Professionals
  • DPT 742 - Introduction to Patient Examination
  • DPT 718 - Integrated Case Studies 1
  • Immersion 2 Weeks 15-16 (12 days)
• Main Term
  • DPT 750 - Applied Human Anatomy
  • DPT 730 - Physiology for the Physical Therapist

Semester Two – 23 hours

• First Bi-Term
  • DPT 743 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Practice 1
  • DPT 734 - Principles of Health Promotion for Physical Therapists
  • DPT 735 - Clinical Biomechanics
  • Immersion 3 Weeks 7-8 (13 days)
• Second Bi-Term
  • DPT 744 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Practice 2
  • DPT 737 - Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
  • DPT 736 - Biophysical Agents
  • Immersion 4 Weeks 15-16 (13 days)
• Main Term
  • DPT 740 - Clinical Neuroscience
  • DPT 719 - Integrated Case Studies 2

Semester Three – 23 hours

• First Bi-Term
  • DPT 820 - Psychosocial Considerations in Health Care
  • DPT 843 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Practice 3
  • DPT 811 - Evidence Informed Practice 2
  • DPT 834 - Integrated Principles of Exercise Science in Physical Therapy Practice
  • Immersion 5 Weeks 7-8 (13 days)
• Second Bi-Term
  • DPT 823 - Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Assistive Technologies
  • DPT 818 - Integrated Case Studies 3
  • DPT 810 - Professional Formation 2
  • Immersion 6 Weeks 15-16 (13 days)
• Main Term
  • DPT 841 - Acute, Cardiovascular, and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Practice
  • DPT 851 - Neurologic Physical Therapy Practice

Semester Four – 19 hours

• First Bi-Term
  • DPT 813 - Clinical Imaging in Physical Therapy
  • DPT 832 - Physical Therapy Practice Across the Lifespan 2
  • DPT 842 - Physical Therapy Practice Across the Lifespan 1
  • DPT 844 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Practice 4
  • Immersion 7 Weeks 7-8 (14 days)
• Second Bi-Term
  • DPT 821 - Ethics in Health Care
  • DPT 880 - Full Time Clinical Education Experience 1
• Main Term
  • DPT 812 - Evidence Informed Practice 3

Semester Five – 16 hours

• First Bi-Term
  • DPT 950 - Management of Patients with Complex Conditions and Primary Care
  • DPT 930 - Integumentary Physical Therapy
  • DPT 931 - Management and Leadership in Physical Therapy
  • DPT 918 - Integrated Case Studies 4
  • Immersion 8 Weeks 7-8 (13 days)
• Second Bi-Term
  • DPT 980 - Full Time Clinical Experience 2

Semester Six – 12 hours

• Main Term
  • DPT 990 - Terminal Full Time Clinical Experience
  • DPT 932 - Professional Formation 3
  • DPT 914 - Evidence Informed Practice 4

Clinical Experience

Clinical Education is a critical component of the DPT curriculum, providing students opportunity to practically apply classroom instruction and to develop their clinical and patient care skills under the supervision of licensed physical therapist practitioners. Our DPT students participate in a clinical education curriculum that includes both integrated and full-time clinical experiences that offers both breadth and depth to their clinical learning.

Full-Time Clinical Experiences

In the second year of the DPT program, students complete three clinical experiences in clinical sites around the country. These clinical experiences include two 8-week experiences and a 15-week terminal experience. The 15-week terminal experience occurs after the completion of all didactic coursework, and students develop the skills and abilities needed to practice as an excellent, entry-level clinician. All students are required to complete experiences that provide experiences across patient populations.

Admission Information

Admission Requirements for DPT Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program considers for admission those students who possess the academic and professional promise necessary for development as competent, caring members of the healthcare community. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is open on a competitive basis to applicants having met admissions requirements. A competitive admissions framework, involving multiple criteria are used to select the most qualified candidates.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor's Degree
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Prerequisite Courses
  • Successfully complete the following prerequisite courses in biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, and statistics. A minimum cumulative GPA for prerequisites of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required. Grades of 'C' or better are required in all prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses taken on a 'pass
    o pass' basis will not be recognized, and AP credits will not be accepted in lieu of college-level courses.
    • General Biology 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
    • General Chemistry 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
    • General Physics 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
    • Statistics (3 semester hours or equivalent)
    • General Psychology (3 semester hours or equivalent)
    • A minimum of one 3 semester hour or equivalent writing intensive course in humanities or social sciences
    • Completion of a medical terminology course – this can be completed for credit at a college or university or proof of completion of an online certification course.
• Observation Hours
  • Complete twenty hours (20) of observation or employment in a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and verified by the physical therapist. The purpose of observation hours is to help the applicant develop a basic understanding/knowledge of the PT profession before committing to the rigorous process of obtaining a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Observation hours may be completed in outpatient and/or inpatient settings.
• Reference Letters
  • Submit three letters of reference from professionals who are familiar with your personal and professional characteristics and can best address your potential for success in the DPT program. One letter should come from a college/university faculty member or advisor: one from a licensed physical therapist, and one from an employer or an advisor for an organization.
• English Fluency
  • Demonstrate English Fluency. All applicants for whom English is not their first language, or those who completed a bachelor’s degree and prerequisites from a college or university in a foreign country, must achieve satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or complete an approved English as a Second Language (ESL) course with the past five years.

Technical Standards

A candidate must have abilities and skills in five areas: observation, communication, motor/psychomotor, cognitive (intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative), and behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.

Application & Interview Process

• PTCAS Application
  • All applicants to the Doctor Physical Therapy Program must submit their applications through the Centralized Application Service for Physical Therapy Schools (PTCAS).
• Completed Applications
  • The Office of Graduate Admissions will send correspondence verifying receipt of PTCAS applications with all required materials to all applicants who meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 2.75.
• Interview Process
  • When applicants are considered eligible for interviews after review of their completed admissions files, they are notified of available interview dates and invited by The Office of Graduate Admissions to schedule an online interview.

Mission & Goals

The mission of the program is to provide an innovative career-focused education that nurtures highly skilled Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Program Metrics

• Graduation Rate
  • DPT Cohort 1 (December 2024): 100%
• National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Pass Rate
  • The pass rate of program graduates on the NPTE will be posted annually on this website.
• Employment Data
  • The program graduate employment rate will be posted annually on this website.
• Career Outcomes
  • The program graduate career outcomes will be posted annually on this website.

Career Outcomes

All stats from the American Physical Therapy Association.

Physical Therapist: $97,720

Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

PT Assistant: $62,770

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

Occupational Therapist: $85,570

Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.

Fitness Trainer: $40,700

Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.

Exercise Physiologist: $47,940

Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help injured or sick patients recover.

Massage Therapist: $46,910

Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints.

FAQs

What degree and major is required for admission?

DPT program applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation. There is not a required major. Applicants may have majored in any subject as long as they meet the admission requirements including course prerequisites with a satisfactory GPA of 3.0 or higher and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Are community college courses accepted as fulfillment of prerequisites?

Community college courses may or may not fulfill prerequisites – the courses can be reviewed for acceptance and must meet the content, level, and lab requirements.

What are the specific entrance exam requirements?

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for consideration for admissions.

How often and how long are the on-campus lab immersions?

The curriculum includes eight on-campus immersions. The number and duration of immersions varies by semester. During these hands-on immersions, you will learn alongside a skilled and caring faculty and a cohort of thirty classmates, applying the knowledge you gained in online education to engage with real patients in supervised community-based service-learning experiences. As part of these immersions, you will participate in formative assessments and feedback on knowledge, skills, and clinical decision making.

Where will the clinical education experiences be located?

Clinical education experiences will be in Kentucky and across the U.S. Students may be expected to travel for clinical education experiences and are responsible for living arrangements and costs associated with clinical education experiences.

How many applicants are accepted each year into a cohort?

Thirty students are accepted to begin as a cohort each January.

When are applications due?

The application deadline for each admission cycle is November 1st. An application must be verified in PTCAS by this date to be considered. The program admits one cohort each year in January.

Accreditation

The Connie D. Hauser School of Physical Therapy at The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia ; telephone: ; email: ; website: .