Program Overview

Physical Therapy, Doctor of (D.P.T.)

The Department of Physical Therapy serves the people of the commonwealth of Virginia and the nation by providing educational programs related to physical therapy. The department provides an environment that encourages education through problem solving, free inquiry, professional behavior, and scholarship. The department's primary focus is to prepare individuals for general physical therapy practice.

Program Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Preparation of Physical Therapists

VCU's Department of Physical Therapy offers a three-year degree program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy. The program prepares students for entry into the profession by teaching them to evaluate and manage patients with physical therapy problems effectively and in accordance with ethical principles.

Expected Student Outcomes

Satisfactory performance in the experiences provided in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares the graduate to:

1. Demonstrate professional behavior in a manner consistent with APTA Code of Ethics and APTA Core Values
2. Adhere to legal practice standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management
3. Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, interprofessional team members, consumers, payers, and policymakers
4. Adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients' differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all professional activities
5. Integrate basic principles of critical inquiry to evaluate, interpret, and utilize professional literature in clinical practice, participate in clinical research activities, and critically analyze new concepts in the application of physical therapy practice
6. Apply current knowledge, theory, and professional judgment, while considering the patient/client perspective, the environment, and available resources
7. Determine, with each patient encounter, the patient's need for further examination or consultation by a physical therapist or referral to another health care professional
8. Perform a physical therapy patient examination using evidenced-based tests and measures that are appropriate to the patient's age, diagnosis, and health status
9. Evaluate data from the patient examination (history, systems review, and tests and measures) to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, client goals, and expected outcomes that guide future patient management
10. Establish and manage a safe and effective physical therapy plan of care that is consistent with professional obligations, interprofessional collaborations, and administrative policies and procedures of the practice environment
11. Perform physical therapy interventions in a competent manner to achieve patient/client goals and outcomes
12. Educate others (patients, caregivers, staff, students, other health care providers, business and industry representatives, school systems) using relevant and effective teaching methods
13. Produce accurate documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies
14. Collect and analyze data from selected outcome measures in a manner that supports accurate analysis of individual patient and group outcomes
15. Direct and supervise personnel to meet patient's goals and expected outcomes according to legal standards and ethical guidelines
16. Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and the physical therapy profession by serving as an advocate for the profession and the health care needs of society

Admission Requirements

• Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)
• Semester(s) of entry: Summer
• Deadline dates: The beginning of October of the year prior to intended enrollment
• Test requirements: GRE; for non-native English-speaking applicants, regardless of immigration status, a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (score of 250 on computerized exam)

Special Requirements

• A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (in a 4.0 system)
• A minimum total of 45 volunteer hours in at least two physical therapy practice settings
• Three recommendations, at least one of which is from a physical therapist
• Prerequisites for admission to the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program include a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university
• The program of study necessary to be considered for admission to the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program must include a minimum of the following subject areas and credits:
  • Biological sciences – 12 credit hours including laboratory experiences
  • Chemistry – eight credit hours including laboratory experiences
  • Mathematics – three credit hours (must be in pre-calculus or a more advanced mathematics course)
  • Physics – eight credit hours of general physics with laboratory
  • Psychology – six credit hours
  • Statistics – three credit hours

Degree Requirements

In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, every professional physical therapy program student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum includes the following courses:

• IPEC 501: Foundations of Interprofessional Practice
• PHTY 501: Gross Anatomy (Physical Therapy)
• PHTY 502: Kinesiology
• PHTY 503: Applied Exercise Physiology
• PHTY 505: Applied Microscopic Anatomy for Physical Therapy
• PHTY 506: Functional Neuroanatomy
• PHTY 508: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I
• PHTY 510: Foundational Skills in Physical Therapy
• PHTY 512: Health Care Systems
• PHTY 520: Clinical Education I
• PHTY 531: Evidence-based Practice Concepts
• PHTY 537: Acute Care Physical Therapy
• PHTY 540: Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy
• PHTY 609: Clinical Biomechanics
• PHTY 615: Pharmacology (Physical Therapy)
• PHTY 621: Biophysical Agents
• PHTY 623: Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy
• PHTY 624: Clinical Problem-solving I
• PHTY 626: Lifespan I
• PHTY 627: Lifespan II
• PHTY 640: Neurologic Physical Therapy II
• PHTY 644: Orthotics and Prosthetics
• PHTY 646: Clinical Medicine
• PHTY 648: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II
• PHTY 650: Clinical Education II
• PHTY 651: Professional Issues in Physical Therapy
• PHTY 654: Clinical Problem-solving II
• PHTY 660: Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy III
• PHTY 661: Administration and Management in Physical Therapy
• PHTY 670: Clinical Integration of Physical Therapy Concepts
• PHTY 674: Clinical Problem-solving III
• PHTY 676: Comprehensive Study of Physical Therapy Practice
• PHTY 680: Clinical Education III
• PHTY 695: Clinical Education IV

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan of study includes the following:

• Summer semester: PHTY 501 Gross Anatomy (Physical Therapy)
• Fall semester: IPEC 501 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice, PHTY 502 Kinesiology, PHTY 503 Applied Exercise Physiology, PHTY 505 Applied Microscopic Anatomy for Physical Therapy, PHTY 510 Foundational Skills in Physical Therapy, PHTY 531 Evidence-based Practice Concepts, PHTY 615 Pharmacology (Physical Therapy)
• Spring semester: PHTY 506 Functional Neuroanatomy, PHTY 508 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I, PHTY 520 Clinical Education I, PHTY 537 Acute Care Physical Therapy, PHTY 540 Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy, PHTY 623 Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy
• Summer semester: No courses required
• P2 year:
  • Fall semester: PHTY 512 Health Care Systems, PHTY 609 Clinical Biomechanics, PHTY 621 Biophysical Agents, PHTY 624 Clinical Problem-solving I, PHTY 648 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II, PHTY 661 Administration and Management in Physical Therapy
  • Spring semester: PHTY 626 Lifespan I, PHTY 627 Lifespan II, PHTY 640 Neurologic Physical Therapy II, PHTY 644 Orthotics and Prosthetics, PHTY 646 Clinical Medicine
  • Summer semester: PHTY 650 Clinical Education II
• P3 year:
  • Fall semester: PHTY 651 Professional Issues in Physical Therapy, PHTY 654 Clinical Problem-solving II, PHTY 660 Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy III, PHTY 670 Clinical Integration of Physical Therapy Concepts, PHTY 676 Comprehensive Study of Physical Therapy Practice, PHTY 680 Clinical Education III
  • Spring semester: PHTY 674 Clinical Problem-solving III, PHTY 695 Clinical Education IV

The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 122.