Program Overview

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in Temple's Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health is a rigorous professional program that prepares students for entry-level generalist physical therapy practice in a variety of clinical and community settings. This DPT program emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, a collaborative learning environment, strong faculty mentorship, and state-of-the-art facilities and resources.

Program Description

Physical therapists examine, evaluate, and treat patients who have movement-related disorders or conditions that affect their ability to move freely and without pain. DPT students engage in both classroom education and real-world practice through extensive clinical experiences. The cohort model gives students opportunities to form lasting relationships with faculty and classmates in the physical therapy program and to build their future professional network. Students learn from physical therapy faculty at Temple, many of whom maintain active clinical practices or engage in innovative research.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of this program are prepared to provide professional clinical service in a variety of settings, including:

• Community agencies
• Home health agencies
• Hospitals
• Independent, outpatient orthopedic clinics
• Pediatric and geriatric settings
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools
• Sports medicine clinics Some graduates also teach in physical therapy programs or conduct research.

Program Distinctions

The following features set apart Temple's Doctor of Physical Therapy program:

• Advanced student training spaces: The DPT program is housed in a new building on Temple's Main Campus featuring smart classrooms and specialized clinical training spaces. The program uses standardized patients and simulated experiences to better prepare students for the challenges of patient care. Graduate students also gain extensive experience at clinical practice sites across the nation.
• Interprofessional education opportunities: Students prepare to practice as part of an interprofessional healthcare team by taking physical therapy courses with students from Temple's professional programs in athletic training, dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and recreation therapy.
• Opportunities to gain research experience: Most DPT program faculty have active research agendas, and students are invited to participate as analysts, assistants, and observers.
• Local and international service learning: The North Broad Physical Therapy Center is a student-led, pro bono physical therapy center dedicated to assisting underserved residents of North Philadelphia. The program also offers an annual global health service learning trip to Guatemala.

3+3 Accelerated Degree Option

Exceptional first-year undergraduate students can maximize their academic investment and shorten the path to a DPT from Temple through this accelerated degree option, which allows them to earn both an undergraduate and a DPT degree in six years instead of seven.

Program Format

Temple's 117-credit DPT program is a full-time, year-round program beginning in the summer that takes three years to complete. Graduate students develop a strong background in the foundational sciences (anatomy and physiology, movement analysis, neuroscience, pharmacology, and psychology) with an emphasis on the human movement system. The clinical education (internship) portion of the curriculum begins the first year and continues across multiple clinical placements over the course of the program.

Faculty and Advising

All DPT students are matched with a faculty advisor based on their professional interests. The faculty advisor serves as the primary support for navigating the curriculum and charting a personalized path that fits the student's academic and professional interests.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related graduate degrees offered by Temple include:

• Doctor of Athletic Training
• PhD in Neuromotor Science
• PhD in Kinesiology Concentration in Integrative Exercise Physiology
• PhD in Kinesiology Concentration in Athletic Training

Student Organizations

Students can engage with peers and find leadership opportunities in student-led clubs and organizations in the Barnett College of Public Health.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level, course load, in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the tuition costs are:

• Pennsylvania resident: $1,204.00 per credit
• Out-of-state: $1,649.00 per credit

The full cost of attendance breakdown is available on the Student Financial Services website. A student financial fact sheet for the DPT program is also available.