Program Overview

Overview of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Washington University in St. Louis is an intensive two-year, eight-month experience designed to develop scientific and clinical expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of movement-related conditions. By integrating biomedical and physical sciences and clinical education with behavioral and social sciences, the DPT curriculum provides students with the scientific expertise, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal communication abilities necessary for effective clinical practice, comprehensive treatment design, patient advocacy, patient education, and health promotion.

Clinical Education

Over the course of the program, students are provided with clinical education in class, part-time clinical experiences, and full-time clinical internships. The program exposes students to patient care in various settings and to the treatment of a number of conditions. Students are encouraged to travel for at least one clinical experience to obtain the broadest possible exposure. The program affiliates with hundreds of sites across the United States, with only one third of the clinical sites located within the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Research Opportunities

While students in the DPT degree program are not required to generate original research, they can take advantage of opportunities to participate in ongoing faculty research. Students may participate in a study or apply for an assistantship. Additionally, through an NIH-funded predoctoral research training grant awarded through the School of Medicine, a limited number of opportunities are available to students who wish to participate in a faculty-guided research project.

Application and Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the DPT degree program, applicants must have:

• A bachelor's degree (or be in the process of completing one) at an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics.
• A science, math/science, and core prerequisites with a grade point average of at least 3.0.
• A demonstrated commitment to a career in physical therapy.

DPT Curriculum

The DPT curriculum is structured as follows:

Year One, Fall

• Early Clinical Experience
• PT-M: Learning, Health and Equity (1 unit)
• PT-M: Professions and Movement (1 unit)
• PT-M: Movement and Population Health (2 units)
• PT-M: Movement and Precision Health (10 units)
• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 1 (0.5 units)

Year One, Spring

• Early Clinical Experience
• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Movement and Precision Health (15 units)

Year One, Summer

• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 1 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Clinical Experience 1 (4 units)

Year Two, Fall

• PT-M: Patient Client Care 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Movement Problems (12 units)

Year Two, Spring

• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Complex Movement Problems (6 units)
• PT-M: Clinical Experience II (4 units)

Year Two, Summer

• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 2 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Complex Movement Problems (6 units)

Year Three, Fall

• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Clinical Experience III (5 units)
• PT-M: Clinical Experience IV (6 units)

Year Three, Spring

• PT-M: Patient and Client Care 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Knowledge for Practice 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interpersonal & Communication Skills 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Professionalism 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Systems-Based Practice 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Interprofessional Collaboration 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Personal & Professional Development 3 (0.5 units)
• PT-M: Practice and Movement (10 units)
• PT-M: Practice, Health and Equity (1 unit)