Doctor of Physical Therapy - Professional

Website: https://twu.edu/physical-therapy/graduate-programs/doctor-of-physical-therapy-dpt/

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) The program prepares graduates to provide physical therapy care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, and nursing homes.  Graduates are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam required for licensure in every state.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, healthcare team members, and the community.
  2. ​Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in healthcare and make informed decisions considering patients, caregivers, healthcare systems, and society.
  3. Function effectively on a healthcare team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan interventions, and meet patient care objectives.
  4. ​Acquire, interpret, and apply new knowledge in support of evidence-based practice and life-long learning.

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours Required

98 semester credit hours (SCH).

Prerequisite Courses

  • Required Prerequisites completed with a grade of C or higher before the program begins (recommended that no more than three are outstanding at the time of application).
  • Prerequisite Math & Science GPA above 3.0 using the latest grades in: Chemistry I & II with labs, Physics I & II with labs, Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs, and Algebra (or higher, statistics not accepted)
Chemistry I & II with labs - For science majors8
Physics I & II with labs - Algebra or calculus-based8
Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs - Or 4 SCH Anatomy and 4 SCH of Physiology: each must have 1 SCH labs. (Recommend that courses be completed within the last 5 years)8
Algebra or higher or AP credit - Not Statistics3
Intro or general Psychology3
2nd Psychology: Lifespan Developmental, Abnormal, or Physiological3
Medical Terminology - Or universal class online: Med Term 2011-3
Exercise physiology, statistics, advanced physiology, and neuroanatomy/physiology are strongly recommended.
Total SCHs34-36

Program of Study

Semester 1
PT 6015Human Gross Anatomy5
PT 6061Basic Physical Therapy Skills1
PT 6041Introduction to Exercise Testing and Prescription in Physical Therapy1
PT 6014Clinical Management in Internal Medicine4
PT 6072Developmental Concepts: Adolescence to Geriatrics2
PT 6082Professional Practice in Physical Therapy2
Semester 2
PT 6024Clinical Neuroscience4
PT 6073Movement Science in Physical Therapy3
PT 6022Clinical Management of the Musculoskeletal System2
PT 6003Exam, Evaluation, and Outcomes in Physical Therapy3
PT 6731Preliminary Clinical Experience1
PT 6383Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy3
Semester 3
PT 6302Integumentary Physical Therapy2
PT 6033Research in Physical Therapy3
PT 6032Clinical Management of the Neuromuscular System2
PT 6173Therapeutic Exercise and Intervention I3
PT 6002Primary Care in Physical Therapy2
PT 6141Clinical Integration I1
Semester 4
PT 6323Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I3
PT 6363Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy: Lower Quadrant3
PT 6162Therapeutic Exercise and Intervention II : Lower Quadrant2
PT 6102Practice Management Issues I2
PT 6001Critical Inquiry in Physical Therapy I1
PT 6733Clinical Experience I (6 wks Nov – Dec)3
Semester 5
PT 6151Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation1
PT 6171Therapeutic Exercise and Intervention III: Upper Quadrant1
PT 6343Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II3
PT 6373Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy: Upper Quadrant3
PT 6122Prostheses, Orthoses, and Advanced Gait2
PT 6353Pediatric Physical Therapy3
PT 6111Practice Management Issues II1
PT 6011Critical Inquiry in Physical Therapy II1
Semester 6
PT 6804Clinical Experience II (7 wks Jun – Jul)4
PT 6142Health Promotion and Wellness I2
PT 6121Practice Management Issues III1
Semester 7
PT 6814Clinical Experience III (7 wks Aug – Oct)4
PT 6161Therapeutic Exercise and Intervention IV1
PT 6152Health Promotion and Wellness II2
PT 6131Practice Management Issues IV1
PT 6021Critical Inquiry in Physical Therapy III1
Semester 8
PT 6816Clinical Experience IV (12 wks Jan – Mar)6
PT 6802Clinical Integration II2
PT 6181Professional Development for the Physical Therapist1
Total SCHs98

Upon completing the D.P.T., a licensure exam is required to practice. Please note that entry to the profession in all states requires licensure. Many states have different provisions for licensure, so applicants must determine if they meet these requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicants to ensure that they meet the requirements for application for licensure in Texas.

Grade Requirements

  • Students must meet the academic requirements of the DPT Program and the Graduate School throughout their course of study in the DPT Program.
  • A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. 

  • In accordance with the Graduate School, the School of Physical Therapy limits the number of Cs earned by a student in the DPT program to no more than two (2). If a third C is earned, the student will be dismissed from the DPT program.

  • Students who earn a D or F in a DPT course will be dismissed from the DPT program.

Special Requirements

Health and liability insurance are required each semester the student is enrolled. Clinical internships are required which necessitate additional expenses for the student. Students must abide by additional policies involving clinical internships.  Students must successfully complete one semester’s coursework before taking coursework in the next semester. Courses may be repeated only with permission of the Graduate Faculty, Associate Director, and Director of the School of Physical Therapy.

Final Examination

The final examination in the program includes the defense of a critical inquiry project. This defense may be repeated only upon successful appeal to the Graduate Faculty of the School of Physical Therapy.

Policies

General matriculation guidelines including health insurance, immunizations requirements, drug testing and background checks, policies, procedures, and appeal processes are established by the School and distributed to students upon entry into the program.  See the Doctor of Physical Therapy Handbook.