
interprofessional
PT students at D'Youville learn to work as part of a collaborative healthcare team through Interprofessional Education Labs.
learn moreBecome a physical therapist in as few as 6 years with our sequential bachelor's degree plus doctor of physical therapy program.
As a physical therapist you'll help people regain function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities to improve movement and the human experience.
Physical therapists are in demand in nearly every healthcare setting and are poised to take on an even larger role as our population ages and awareness about the benefits of exercise and good health continues to increase. If you're interested in a career that's both fulfilling and has enormous opportunities for growth, becoming a physical therapist might be exactly what you've been looking for.
When you apply for admission at D’Youville, we’ll automatically consider you for our merit scholarships. Undergraduate scholarships can cover as much as 50% of your tuition, and there is no need to fill out a separate application!
Transfer students can qualify for scholarships, as well. Unlike other schools, maintaining your scholarship is easier at D'Youville, because we use realistic GPA requirements to determine your eligibility each year.
Scholarship | SAT (M & EBRW)* or ACT⁺ / GPA | Tuition Scholarship | Room & Board Waiver | GPA Required to Retain |
---|---|---|---|---|
President's | 88/1170 or 24 | $13,000 | $3,000 | 2.75 |
Founder's | 83/1080 or 21 | $10,000 | $2,000 | 2.5 |
Dean's | 80/980 or 19 Anyone with a 90 GPA can receive this award without test score consideration. |
$8,000 | 2.25 | |
Transfer | 3.5+ | $5,000 |
2.5 |
|
Transfer | 3.25 - 3.49 | $4,500 |
2.5 |
|
Transfer | 3.0 - 3.24 | $4,000 | 2.5 | |
Transfer | 2.75 - 2.99 | $3,500 | 2.5 | |
Dillon | 93/1360 or 29 | 100% off | $3,000 | 2.75 |
Buffalo Say Yes | 90/1080 or 21 | 100% off | 2.75 | |
Alumni Kinship | $300-$2,000 | Must reapply each year. Only open to relatives of D'Youville alumni. |
*Scores are based on the new SAT score format which went into effect in March 2016.
⁺D'Youville only requires that you submit the results from one test.
More information can be found on our scholarships page.
To become a physical therapist, you must earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree, a standard set by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as the entry-level credential necessary to enter the profession.
If you haven't earned your bachelor's degree yet, our sequential degree program allows you to enter as a freshman into one of three bachelor's degree programs. Each will prepare you for entry into the DPT program while allowing you to tailor your bachelor’s degree to meet your personal and professional interests and goals.
The BS in Biology option is ideal for students who love science or who are considering a career in research or teaching at the collegiate level. The comprehensive curriculum offered in the BS in Biology program allows you to establish a solid pre-medical education. The scientific and health-related knowledge and skills you'll learn will form a firm foundation for your physical therapy career.
If you envision yourself as a physical therapist working with athletes or other physically active people, the BS in Exercise in Sports Studies may be ideal for you. Not only can this pathway be completed in as few as 6 years with summer classes, but it also offers a wide range of exciting internship opportunities in a variety of clinical settings focused on athletics and physical fitness.
After you earn your Bachelor of Science degree, as long as you’ve maintained the necessary academic standards you’ll be automatically admitted to our Doctor of Physical Therapy program…no reapplying and no GREs required!
If you’ve already earned your bachelor’s degree, you may apply to enter our three-year professional program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This demanding program combines traditional coursework with clinical fieldwork, graduate-level research, and online learning over the course of nine consecutive semesters, allowing you to complete the program in as little as three years.
Students who wish to enroll in D'Youville's sequential BS+DPT program must be the
following admission criteria.
Freshman applicants accepted into any of the three sequential-degree BS + DPT programs must satisfy the following admission criteria:
Freshman Admission Criteria |
---|
1. Combined SAT scores of at least 1170 (Math and Verbal) or composite ACT score of 24, and |
2. High school average of at least 85 percent or 2.85 on a four-point scale, and |
3. Successful completion of two years of math and three years of science; physics is strongly recommended. |
Transfer student applicants accepted into any of the three sequential-degree BS + DPT programs must satisfy the following admission criteria:
Transfer Student Admission Criteria |
---|
1. Satisfaction of all freshman admission criteria (above), and |
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (after a minimum of 2 full-time semesters of study at college or university), and |
3. Minimum GPA for any DPT prerequisite courses of 3.20. |
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 107/107/L | Human Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab | 4 |
BIO 108/108/L | Human Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab | 4 |
CHE 111 | Chemistry for the Health Sciences I | 3 |
CHE 112 | Chemistry for the Health Sciences II | 2 |
CHE 113L | Chemistry for the Health Sciences Laboratory | 1 |
MAT 123 | Introduction to Applied Statistics | 4 |
PHY 111/111/L | Introduction to Physics/Lab | 4 |
PHY 112/112/L | Introduction to Physics/Lab | 4 |
PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSY 203 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
HSM 203 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
SOC 101 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 639 | Gross Anatomy/Lab | 6 |
PT 500 | Basic Skills I | 3 |
PT 500/L | Basic Skills I Lab | 1 |
PT 502 | Pathophysiology for Physical Therapists | 3 |
PT 503 | Clinical Orientation Seminar I | 0 |
PT 504 | Clinical Orientation Seminar II | 0 |
PT 505 | Introduction to PT and Healthcare Systems | 2 |
PT 506 | Exercise Physiology | 2 |
PT 506/L | Exercise Physiology Lab | 1 |
PT 510 | Basic Skills II | 2 |
PT 510/L | Basic Skills II Lab | 1 |
PT 512 | Functional Anatomy | 1 |
PT 512/L | Functional Anatomy Lab | 1 |
PT 513 | Patient/Client Management in Orthopedic Physical Therapy I | 2 |
PT 513/L | Patient/Client Management in Orthopedic Physical Therapy I Lab | 2 |
PT 514 | Integumentary Examination and Intervention for Physical Therapists | 2 |
PT 515 | Professional Development I | 1 |
PT 518 | Biomechanics and Functional Kinesiology for the Physical Therapist | 3 |
PT 518/L | Biomechanics and Functional Kinesiology for the Physical Therapist Lab | 1 |
PT 519 | Life Span Development I | 1 |
PT 519/L | Life Span Development I Lab | 1 |
PT 520 | Life Span Development II | 1 |
PT 520/L | Life Span Development II Lab | 1 |
PT 547 | Pharmacology for Rehabilitation Specialists | 1 |
PT 550/550/L | Clinical Neuroscience | 5 |
PT 552 | Patient/Client Management in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Lecture | 2 |
PT 552/L /PT 552S | Patient/Client Management in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Lab/Seminar | 1 |
PT 574 | Clinical Experience 1 | 3 |
PT 602 | Neurodevelopmental Physical Therapy in Pediatrics | 2 |
PT 602/L | Neurodevelopmental Physical Therapy in Pediatrics Lab | 1 |
PT 604 | Clinical Orientation Seminar III | 0 |
PT 606 | Neuromuscular Assessment and Intervention in the Adult Population | 2 |
PT 606/L | Neuromuscular Assessment and Intervention in the Adult Population Lab | 1 |
PT 614 | Health and Wellness Promotion in Physical Therapy | 3 |
PT 613 | Patient/Client Management in Orthopedic Physical Therapy II | 2 |
PT 613/L | Patient/Client Management in Orthopedic Physical Therapy II Lab | 2 |
PT 615 | Professional Development II | 1 |
PT 618 | Patient/Client Management in Rehabilitation Physical Therapy II | 3 |
PT 618/L | Patient/Client Management in Rehabilitation Physical Therapy II Lab | 2 |
PT 627/627/S | Application of Research Methods in PT | 4/0 |
PT 628 | Research Seminar | 3 |
PT 674 | Clinical Experience II | 4 |
PT 675 | Clinical Experience III | 4 |
PT 701 | Advanced Therapeutic Exercise | 2 |
PT 701/L | Advanced Therapeutic Exercise Lab | 1 |
PT 703 | Client Education, Advocacy and Consultation | 3 |
PT 706 | Business Management Strategies in PR | 3 |
PT 725 | Clinical Experience IV | 5 |
PT 748 | Differential Diagnosis | 3 |
PT 799 | NPTE Exam Preparation | 0 |
In other academic areas for this major
Course # | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
GRA 601 | Research Methodology & Design | 3 |
Our program prepares you for general physical therapy practice where you’ll work to improve movement with patients whose functionality is impaired by injuries or disease.
Your role as a practicing physical therapist will be to help your patients regain strength and function, improve mobility, relieve their pain, and prevent or limit the scope or impact of physical disabilities on their lives and their health.
In clinical settings you’ll work with patients to assess their physical functions in the context of their medical history and social support. You’ll also test and measure their strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function in order to establish baselines for therapy.
Finally, as a physical therapist you’ll also help your patients after they leave your care by prescribing therapeutic exercise in order to improve the quality of their lives.
The preparation you receive at D’Youville will qualify you to begin your professional career as a physical therapist in almost any healthcare setting. However, while many of our graduates enjoy fulfilling careers in general practice, many others choose to specialize in areas such as:
It's one thing to learn something in the classroom...it's quite another to put the knowledge and skills you've learned into practice in a clinical setting. At D'Youville you’ll get the experience, guidance, and support you need to become a confident, competent clinical professional.
As a physical therapy student, you'll gain experience with a total of 32 weeks of clinical fieldwork during the professional phase of the program. During your clinical fieldwork, you'll experience the fundamentals of evidence-based practice, including:
Your success is paramount to us, and we'll be with you every step of the way as you progress through your clinical experiences. As you conduct your fieldwork, you’ll be constantly supported by participating in the online discussion that runs concurrently with your clinical experiences.
The Interprofessional Clinical Advancement Center is a research and academic project that uses professional actors to create real-life patient care simulations for students. Students from eight healthcare disciplines at D'Youville College take part in the Center, including physical therapy.