Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), 3-Year

• Our CAPTE-accredited program has a proven track record of success, with 100% of our graduates finding employment in the field of physical therapy within six months of graduation.
• Studies show that teamwork across clinical specialties improves patient outcomes. D'Youville's unique interdisciplinary education lab offers the opportunity for you to practice treating patients (played by actors) alongside a team of students from 7 other healthcare majors at D'Youville — all under the supervision of a skilled instructor. 
• Learn from professionals who are vanguards in their fields. The vast majority (80%) of our clinical labs and lectures are taught by full-time clinical faculty - many hold advanced specialist certifications in their areas of practice.
• D'Youville has developed relationships with 300 clinical fieldwork sites in a wide array of settings, facilities, and treatment protocols. And as you conduct your fieldwork, you’ll be constantly supported by participating in the online discussion that runs concurrently with your clinical experiences.
• If you’re interested in how horses can be used as a treatment approach, D’Youville offers an elective course in hippotherapy and opportunities to volunteer through our Student Hippotherapy Club.

Applicants to D'Youville's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program must submit a graduate application and will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Evidence of completion of 60 or more hours of work with a vulnerable population (e.g. children, individuals who are socio/economically disadvantaged, clinical populations, individuals with disabilities)
• Two letters of recommendation addressing leadership potential and the ability to work with others
• Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score from GRE exam taken no greater than five years prior to application filing
• Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program, as shown by a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Evidence of completion of all prerequisite courses completed with a grade of B or better with a minimum prerequisite G.P.A. of 3.20
• A willingness to conform to published college and program policies 

Applicants to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program must complete the following prerequisite courses equivalent to the following D'Youville courses:

Math and Natural Sciences
Two 3 credit courses in human based science or applied science
One course in human anatomy with lab
One course in human physiology with lab (May be two courses in human anatomy and physiology with labs)
Two courses in chemistry with labs
Two courses in physics with labs
One course in statistics

Social and Behavioral Sciences
One course in Psychology

Use the Online Course Equivalency database to see whether the courses you've taken at other institutions can be counted towards a degree at D'Youville. 

International students whose primary language is not English:

Submission of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score (students must achieve a minimum score of 600 written or 250 computer based on the TOEFL) or completion of D'Youville's Intensive English Program.

Because of the number of essential psychomotor competencies and level of communication and clinical decision-making requirements of clinical fieldwork, the following technical standards are applied to all applicants and matriculants, including:

• Community-level mobility over a three city-block area with or without accommodation of ambulation or mobility aid;
• From a seated position, the ability to lift an object (equivalent to a 10lb sack of potatoes) a vertical height of 16 inches and replace it with precision to its initial resting position without accommodation;
• The ability to turn over five small disks equivalent to the size of five quarters with hand precision and efficiency without vision of the disks and without accommodation;
• The ability to orally communicate a grammatically correct and cogent interpretation of a common proverb with a time period of three minutes. Interpretation should describe the general meaning of the proverb rather than literal meaning;
• The ability to fluently and sequentially describe and efficiently demonstrate the motor planning required to perform a familiar task such as tying one's shoe or wrapping a package. 

The Physical Therapy Department at D'Youville is participating in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS.  Applicants to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must apply online through the PTCAS application. To apply to D'Youville's DPT program visit PTCAS at www.ptcas.org and select D'Youville College as one of your designations.

• Application Deadline: applications must be complete and verified by PTCAS prior to December 1st, for summer semester start to be considered for admission.

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: 

• Orthopedics: focusing on the treatment and correction of functional impairments or deformities of the musculoskeletal system
• Pediatrics: focusing on early intervention for babies and children who are functionally impaired from injuries or disease
• Sports medicine: focusing on athletic conditioning, preventing and treating athletic injuries, and increasing human athletic performance
• Geriatrics: focusing on healthcare issues of older adults
• Industrial settings: focusing on maintaining health and treating diseases and accidental injuries affecting people in the workplace
• Home care: focusing on using physical activity, exercise, and other treatments in order to assist with healing and relieving pain for those who are homebound with an injury or other physical disability

While many of our graduates go into clinical practice, others enter advanced academic programs in order to pursue careers in research and teaching in both private and public organizations. These students typically pursue post-professional degrees such as doctor of science (D.Sc.), doctor of education (EdD), or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.

If you choose to pursue this path you can rest assured that the rigorous academic, research, and clinical work you’ll complete in our entry-level professional DPT program will provide you with a solid foundation for advanced study and practice.

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. Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 34 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. For more information about the job outlook for physical therapists, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

• Benefit from the close relationships that D'Youville has developed over the years with over 300 clinical fieldwork sites in a wide array of settings, facilities, and treatment protocols.
• In select classes, our faculty practitioners bring patients to the classroom to maximize the development of the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed as a physical therapist.
• Through our unique interprofessional education labs, you’ll learn to better understand the roles of other members of the healthcare team and develop skills to work effectively to improve patient care.