Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
(The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education)**
Today, the demands on Physical Therapists are greater than ever. The future will require PTs to know more –.jpg "Fact: Physical Therapists are projected to be in great demand through 2014, with employment opportunities growing by more than 27 percent.")
and do more. Looking ahead to meet the growing demands of the profession, the American Physical Therapy Association envisions the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) as the profession’s entry-level degree, replacing the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT).
The Department of Physical Therapy accepts that vision and has created a substantive Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum that is grounded both in today’s practice and in the profession’s expanding role in patient diagnosis and care.
The DPT coursework will provide you with the substantial base of knowledge you’ll need to enter the profession. We’ll take you through movement and neuroscience to diagnostic imaging and orthopedics. Our graduates will enter the profession with a thorough understanding of the human body, the nature of injury, and the therapies that lead to recovery and improved function.
Admission to the DPT program is competitive, and only a limited number of applicants will be admitted. Each applicant’s strengths are evaluated under a number of factors associated with successful completion of our program and passing the licensure examination.
The program takes approximately three years to complete; each admitted class will begin its coursework in the first Spring/Summer Trimester following admission.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Physical Therapists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm (visited May 24, 2007).
**Please note: the Governors State University 2007-2008 Catalog states that the program “will seek” accreditation for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). That statement is outdated. The program is accredited by its accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).