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Physical Therapy Doctorate (D.P.T.)

  • Physical Therapy leg treatment

The D.P.T. program provides opportunities for interactive learning in our problem-oriented curriculum focused on these primary body systems:

  • Cardiopulmonary
  • Integumentary
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Neurosensory

Our experienced professional faculty provides an exceptional blend of educational, research and clinical expertise to benefit students seeking a career in physical therapy.

Each year, 26 new students are admitted to our 36-month program. As a student in our program, you’ll get personal attention from our faculty, as well as opportunities to join our PT Lunch and Learn Series and our Physical Therapy Association student organization.

Degree

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Careers

Our students get the training and preparation they need to become licensed physical therapists.

Program Highlights

  • Fully accredited by CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education)

  • Carr D.P.T. Graduate Scholarships available to all students

  • Student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. Students also have the opportunity to present their work at ASU’s annual Graduate Research Showcase. We have a 99 percent licensure pass rate and 100 percent employment rate for licensed graduates seeking employment.

  • Our department houses state-of-the-science facilities. This includes six skills laboratories available for manual therapy, orthopedic and wound care instruction, electrotherapy, gait analysis and neuroscience:

    • Clinical Exercise Physiology, Prevention and Wellness Lab
    • Fine Motor Control/Motion Analysis Lab
    • Functional Mobility and Assessment Lab
    • Gross Motor Control/Motion Analysis Lab
    • Human Anatomy Lab
    • Motor Control Lab

Admission Requirements

Requirements are sent to PTCAS

  • GRE (ASU Code is 7163)
  • All college and university transcripts
  • Essay
  • Criminal background check - not until accepted/before matriculation

Physical Therapy applicants must pass through a two-stage admission process:

  • Stage 1 - Complete the PTCAS Application online
  • Stage 2 - Interview Process

Note: 

All application materials, transcripts should be sent to PTCAS.

You will be assigned a Campus ID (CID) after you have submitted your application. A College of Graduate Studies Fee of $40 for domestic students or $50 for international students will be required to process the application.

Prerequisites

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Requirements

  • Course Prerequisites

    Applicants may contact the program for a transcript review for determination as to whether a course meets the prerequisite requirement.

    A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must be earned on the prerequisites listed below. Last grade attained will be used for repeat prerequisite courses. Grades lower than “C” will not be accepted. Prerequisite courses older than 10 years will not be accepted. 

    Course Prerequisites
    Discipline Credit Hours General Course Description ASU Course Number
    Anatomy 4 Human Anatomy (or A&P I) BIO 2323/2123 (includes lab)
    Physiology 4 Human Physiology (or A&P II) BIO 2324/2124 (includes lab)
    Upper Division Science 4 General Physiology or Microbiology or Pathogenic Microbiology or Immunology or Histology or Developmental Biology BIO 4423 or BIO 3411 or BIO 3412 or BIO 3413 or BIO 3421 or BIO 4421 (includes lab)
    Chemistry 8 General Chemistry CHEM 1311/1111 and CHEM 1312/1112 (includes labs)
    Physics 8 General Physics PHYS 1301/1101 and PHYS 1302/1102 (includes labs)
    Psychology 6 General Psychology and Development Psychology or Abnormal or Behavioral Neuroscience

    PSY 2301 and PSY 2304 or PSY 4305 or PSY 4313

    Statistics 3-4 Statistical Techniques for Health Professionals or Statistics or Introduction to Biometry or Inter. Statistics and Research Methods NUR 4337 (preferred) or MATH 3321 or BIO 4480 or PSY 3321
    Math
    		 3-6 College Algebra or better MATH 1314 or MATH 2312 or better
    Technical Writing* 3 Technical Writing (General composition does not count) ENG 3351
    Medical Terminology 1-3 Medical terms, symbols and abbreviations BIO 2320, Online courses also accepted

    * Or evidence of intensive writing course (please contact department for evaluation on whether course is deemed “writing intensive” by college) or minimum 4.5 score on GRE Analytical Writing. Freshman and Sophomore-level composition courses not accepted.

    Additional Prerequisites

    • Bachelor’s degree (Biology major or minor recommended) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
    • Minimum of 50 volunteer/employment observation hours (at least two different settings, e.g. water therapy and pediatrics). A volunteer hours recording form is available on the D.P.T. website, but is not required. Any form turned in must have signature and license number of the supervising PT. 

Application Deadlines

September 15

Other Application Deadlines:

For more information about Application Deadlines, please visit the DPT Physical Therapy Admission page. 

Degree Plan

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum Schedule

    This entry-level graduate professional program in the clinical arts and sciences of physical therapy follows a bachelor’s degree (including prerequisites) and requires 36 months of full-time graduate study (including summers). The annual start date for the D.P.T. program is the first summer term. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.).

    Year 1

    • 1st Term Summer - 10 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7710 (4-9-0)  Clinical Anatomy
      • PT 7311 (2-2-0)  Clinical Exercise Physiology
    • 2nd Term Fall - 16 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7320 (3-0-0)  Foundation in Clinical Pathology
      • PT 7550 (4-3-0)  Fundamentals of Physical Therapist Examination
      • PT 7330 (3-1-0)  Functional Biomechanical Relationships
      • PT 7331 (3-1-0)  Motor Control and Clinical Application
      • PT 7240 (2-0-0)  Evidence Based Practice in PT
    • 3rd Term Spring - 15 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7651 (3-9-0)  Acute Care Management
      • PT 7221 (2-0-0)  Cardiopulmonary Pathology
      • PT 7232 (2-0-0)  Foundation for Systems Review
      • PT 7241 (2-0-0)  Clinical Research for Physical Therapy
      • PT 7322 (3-0-0)  Musculoskeletal Pathology

    Year 2

    • 4th Term Summer - 7 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7260 (2-0-0)  Introduction to Clinical Education and Professionalism       
      • PT 7234 (2-0-0) Education and Communication for Physical Therapy
      • PT 7152 (0-3-0) Introduction to Therapeutic Exercise
      • PT 7212 (1-3-0) Introduction to Neuroscience Concepts
    • 5th Term Fall - 9 Semester Credit Hours
      • 1st 8 weeks
        • PT 7261 (0-0-6)  Acute Care Practicum
      • Last 7 weeks
        • PT 7242 (2-0-0) Evidence Based Practice Seminar I
        • PT 7353 (1-6-0) Musculoskeletal Examination and Management I
        • PT 7224 (2-0-0) Neuropathology I
    • 6th Term Spring - 13 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7336 (3-0-0) Management of Physical Therapy
      • PT 7235 (2-0-0) Disability Studies
      • PT 7325 (3-0-0) Neuropathology II
      • PT 7556 (3-6-0) Musculoskeletal Examination and Management II

    Year 3

    • 7th Term Summer - 6 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7462 (0-0-12) Musculoskeletal Practicum
      • PT 7233 (2-0-0) Health Care Issues for PTs
      • PT 7220 (2-0-0) Advanced Topics in Physical Therapy (elective)
    • 8th Term Fall - 14 Semester Credit Hours
      • PT 7354 (2-3-0) Essentials of Rehabilitation Practice
      • PT 7655 (4-6-0) Neuromuscular Examination and Management
      • PT 7243 (2-0-0) Evidence Based Practice Seminar II
      • PT 7337 (3-0-0) Operational Management of Physical Therapy
    • 9th Term Spring - 9 Semester Credit Hours
      • 1st 12 weeks
        • PT 7663 (0-0-18) Neuromuscular Practicum
      • Last 4 weeks
        • PT 7344 (3-0-0) Evidence Based Practice Seminar III

    Total Credits 99

Assistantships

  • Graduate
  • Research

Read this assistantship information to learn more about the availability and the application process.

  • Carr Academic D.P.T. Scholarship

    After you have been accepted for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and ASU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, you will automatically be considered for a Carr Academic D.P.T. Scholarship. Awards are based on your undergraduate GPA. No deadlines apply.

Departmental Scholarships

For a complete list of available scholarships, see the Scholarship Programs website.

  • Aden Family Scholarship
    Donor Physical Therapy Faculty/Staff
    Eligibility Enrolled Physical Therapy Students
    Amount Variable
    Number Variable
  • Friends of the Porter Henderson Library Scholarship
    Donor Anonymous
    Eligibility Students enrolled in physical or occupational therapy
    Amount Variable
    Number Variable
  • Neurologic Physical Therapy Scholarship
    Donor Dr. Carolyn R. Mason
    Eligibility Preference to students in their final year of Physical Therapy program and interest in Neurological Physical Therapy.  Recipient to be selected by the Faculty in the Physical Therapy program.
    Amount Variable
    Number Variable
  • Olson-Buttery Memorial Scholarship
    Donor John C. Olson and Dorothy Buttery Olson
    Eligibility Deserving enrolled second year physical therapy students
    Amount Variable
    Number Variable
  • Outstanding Physical Therapy Faculty Scholarship
    Donor Dr. Carolyn R. Mason
    Eligibility Preference to students in their final year of Physical Therapy program.  Recipient to be selected by the Faculty in the Physical Therapy program.
    Amount Variable
    Number Variable
  •  Carolyn R. Mason PT Research Travel Scholarship
    Donor Heidi S. Moyer and Andrew C. Thomas
    Eligibility Students admitted to an seeking a doctoral degree in physical therapy with and accepted presentation at a national conference.  Preference will be given to a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) attending and presenting at the annual Combined Sections Meeting (CSM).
    Amount $500
    Number Varies

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