Program Overview

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program

The University of North Dakota's Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a competitive and highly successful program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program aims to equip students with the clinical, professional, and critical inquiry skills necessary for a career as a physical therapist.

Program Overview

• The program is a doctoral degree offered on campus.
• The estimated time to complete the program is 6.5 years, consisting of 3 years of pre-physical therapy and 3.5 years of professional program.
• The program requires 90 credit hours for pre-physical therapy and 125 credit hours for the professional program.

Program Objectives

• Gain hands-on clinical experiences crucial to development as a physical therapist.
• Demonstrate the skills necessary for the entry-level practice of physical therapy.
• Provide service to the community and/or to the profession.
• Develop skills for life-long learning and critical inquiry related to clinical and basic science research.

Admission and Curriculum

• The program accepts 52 students per year.
• The first three years of the curriculum are considered pre-physical therapy.
• The professional education component of the DPT requires three years and two summer sessions beyond meeting pre-physical therapy requirements.

Clinical Experiences

• Participate in direct delivery of physical therapy services in a variety of settings.
• Choose from over 250 clinical sites across North Dakota and the U.S.
• Take classes in the state-of-the-art School of Medicine & Health Sciences building.
• Gain advanced knowledge and skills in the Sports Physical Therapy Residency program.

Career Opportunities

• Physical therapists assist patients in restoring health, alleviating pain, examining, evaluating, and diagnosing changes in physical function and health status.
• They are involved with intervention, prevention, and the promotion of health, wellness, and fitness.
• Employment opportunities are available in:
  • Athletic facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Private practices
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • School systems
  • Skilled nursing facilities

Notable Employers of Graduates

• Achieve Therapy and Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D.
• Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minn.
• Physical Therapy Center of Wyoming
• RehabAuthority in Fargo, N.D.
• Spooner Physical Therapy in Phoenix
• St. Luke's Health Systems in Boise, Idaho

Sample Courses

• Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics I
• Pathophysiology for Physical Therapists I
• Neuroscience for Clinical Practice I
• Movement System Examination and Evaluation I
• Movement System Intervention I

Accreditation

The Physical Therapy program at the University of North Dakota is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).