Physical Therapy, DPT
Improve Patients’ Mobility and Quality of Life
- Faculty-directed student research presented annually at national scientific meetings
- State-of-the-art labs in our $47.5 million program home, Leahy Hall
- Internship components across the country
- Focus on safety, ethics and evidence-based practice
At The University of Scranton, you’ll be prepared to meet any clinical challenge through the academic and professional behavior standards set forth in our Doctor of Physical Therapy program. We develop our students into knowledgeable, service-oriented, confident, adaptable, culturally competent, and reflective physical therapists.
What Makes Us Unique?
Outcomes
Scranton’s DPT program is structured to help you find success in any setting after graduation. Employment rates for new DPT graduates is typically 100% while the Class of 2022 recorded a 94.1% first-time pass rate on a national licensing exam with overall pass rates typically ranging from 98.7% to 100%.
Graduates of the program are employed in inpatient, outpatient, schools, and home health areas, while many are employed in specialty areas such as orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, pelvic health and sports medicine.
Recognized work
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association. Our experienced faculty advise and challenge students in the program. As a result, student research is presented annually at national scientific meetings, with 100% of systematic reviews accepted for presentation at annual national conferences in 2012 through 2024.
Learn More Today
- Duration 3 years
- Cost per Credit $965
- Credit Hours 111
Program Benefits
- Opportunities to join classroom-connected PT Club, where students can gain experience, volunteer and organize campus activities
- Students can participate in multiple professional activities at state, regional, and national levels
- Opportunities to engage in domestic or international service experiences with peers and faculty
An Advanced Degree with a Number of Options
Our DPT program uses a three-year course sequence to train students with the latest techniques and theories, ensuring that students are prepared for jobs in a variety of employers, including inpatient, outpatient, home health and other services.
With clinical and laboratory experiences built into the coursework, students are exposed to hands-on learning and showcase what they have learned in several different services. Graduates are able to sit for the physical therapy licensure examination within six months of graduating from the program. Many achieve a passing score on the physical therapy licensure examination on their first attempt and find jobs in the field within a year of graduation.
Career Outlook: An Expanding Field with Growing Needs
The medical field is growing, and physical therapists are in demand, with a projected employment growth of 15% by 2032.1 This growth in demand is coupled with an increase of salary, with a median annual salary for physical therapists of $97,720 in 2022.
Earning your doctorate in physical therapy will qualify you for a number of roles in the healthcare space, and after graduation, you’ll be able to succeed in a number of specialized positions, like orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, pelvic health and sports medicine. Physical therapy allows you to help others rehabilitate from injuries or other issues, instilling habits that help them recover successfully.
Whether you are looking to work in a hospital, home health provider or other entity, Scranton’s DPT program faculty bring a wealth of specialized knowledge and experience to help you achieve your dreams.
CAREER OUTLOOKCurriculum: A Hands-On Approach to Physical Therapy
A Doctor of Physical Therapy program combines lecture courses, labs, clinical experiences and more to create an applicable coursework for all students. Students earn 111 credits spread across three years of coursework. Many courses offer laboratory components to provide hands-on application to the theory and practice of lecture courses.
Courses teach students on the principles of patient management and therapeutic exercise while instructing them through a lens that takes all parts of the life span into account. All students complete laboratory, clinical and practice courses during their coursework to build professional experience.
CURRICULUMProgram Outcomes:
The Doctor of Physical Therapy provides the coursework and experience necessary to sit for a physical therapy licensure exam. Upon finishing the degree program, students will be fully equipped to handle a number of roles and responsibilities, including:
| How to demonstrate competence in all areas of patient/client management (i.e., screening, examination/evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, plan of care, intervention, and outcomes assessment) for individuals in varied health care delivery settings |
| How to embrace and exhibit the core values of the profession including: accountability, altruism, caring and compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility |
| How to effectively communicate using appropriate teaching methods that are culturally sensitive and commensurate with the needs of the learner |
| How to utilize evidence-based practice to make clinical decisions essential for design and implementation of best practice for various populations |
| How to demonstrate professional advocacy and social responsibility by participating in prevention, health education and wellness initiatives locally, nationally and/or globally |
Admission Requirements
To apply for a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, you’ll need:| Completed application |
| A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or the equivalent from an international college or university |
| An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.20 or higher, and a science GPA of 3.20 or higher (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) as calculated by the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) |
The following prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better:
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| Documentation and verification of 30 hours of physical therapy patient contact experience by the time the application to the DPT program is submitted |
| Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended |
| Two professional letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your ability to perform graduate work |
| Statement of intention |
Tuition Details
The Doctor of Physical Therapy consists of 111 credits and costs $895 per credit.
We strive to provide you with an affordable, high-quality education. That’s why we’re ranked a Best Value School among Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report for 2024.
SEE TUITIONFinancial Aid
Financial aid options are available to help you pay for your education. A personal financial aid counselor will assist you in identifying and taking full advantage of all opportunities.
FINANCIAL AIDFaculty: Engaged Faculty for an In-Depth Learning Experience
As a student of the Leahy College of Health Sciences, you have access to engaged and certified teaching professionals who want to provide success in the classroom and after graduation.
No matter your career intentions, our mentoring faculty and staff can help you reach your academic and professional goals. They’ll support you throughout your coursework and as you complete your clinical and lab experiences.
FACULTY AT SCRANTONSources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm (visited September 06, 2023)