School of Physical Therapy

About the School of Physical Therapy

Director: Alyssa Fiss, Professor
Associate Director Dallas: Mark Weber, Professor
Associate Director Houston: Katy Mitchell, Professor

Location for information: Dallas and Houston Information Sessions
Phone: 940-898-2460
Fax: 940-898-2730
E-mail: pt@twu.edu

To enter a career as a physical therapist, a Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate degree is required. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and the prerequisites to be eligible to apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Undergraduate students at Texas Woman’s University have the opportunity to complete the prerequisites for the program while also completing a bachelor’s degree. Pre-Physical Therapy degree plans that include physical therapy prerequisites are offered in biology, kinesiology, health studies, psychology, and child development.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) is a professional degree at the doctoral level accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. Upon completion of course requirements for the professional degree, a graduate is eligible to apply for licensure to practice physical therapy and for active membership in the American Physical Therapy Association. The D.P.T. program is a 33-month, 98 semester-credit-hour program. Students are in class full-time year-round. As part of the professional curriculum requirements, students participate in additional enrichment with patient-related activities. During the second and third years, students must be prepared to spend a total of 32 weeks at four different clinical sites which may necessitate additional expenses for housing and transportation.

The D.P.T. program is available in both Dallas and Houston. Applicants must indicate the center for which they are applying. Students at both locations are encouraged to have transportation available to visit clinical facilities at some distance from the centers.

Clinical Sites

Clinical education experiences are an exciting required part of the student’s educational program. Completion of coursework does not guarantee that a student will be provided an affiliation at a specific time or at a particular facility as this depends on the educational needs of the student and the availability of clinical facilities. However, every attempt will be made to plan a student’s affiliations in proper sequence.

D.P.T. to Ph.D. Program

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical therapy at Texas Woman’s University produces graduates who can become leaders in the field of physical therapy and who are well-prepared to pursue careers in education and research in physical therapy.  The Ph.D. program is offered via online and on-campus learning experiences in Dallas and Houston.

The D.P.T. to the Ph.D. program is designed for the entry-level D.P.T. student who wishes to begin the Ph.D. program while in the entry-level program.

• Students apply as usual and must be admitted to the entry-level program.
• Applications for this consecutive degree program are not accepted until the 2^nd or 5^th semester of the D.P.T. program.
• Minimum of 38 semester credit hours following the D.P.T. degree is expected for the Ph.D. degree

See the School of Physical Therapy website for more information.