Physical Therapy (DPT) + BS (3 Options), 6-Year

Overview

As a leader in healthcare education, D’Youville understands the importance of helping to create the next generation of physical therapists and ensuring they are prepared to take on new roles at the forefront of healthcare. 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.

At D’Youville, you’ll learn in small classes from professionals who are vanguards in their fields, know your name, and will work with you hands-on to ensure your success. You’ll learn in state-of-the-art labs, and when you’re ready for your clinical education, you’ll have opportunities across the U.S.

We take pride in how we educate our students and we see that reflected in their success — 100% of our students are employed within 6 months of graduation.

Bachelor of Science with Direct Entry to Doctor of Physical Therapy

Physical therapists work in a diverse and wide-ranging set of clinical settings and have the option to focus on areas for specialization. At D'Youville, you'll have the opportunity to explore your interests as an undergraduate through our three bachelor's degree options. And after you complete your undergraduate degree, you'll automatically be admitted to our Doctor of Physical Therapy program, as long as you’ve maintained the necessary academic standards.

Bachelor's Degree Paths

Already Earned a Bachelor's Degree?

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.

Admission Requirements

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville. While we don't require you to submit ACT or SAT test scores, if you have taken or intend to take a standardized test we encourage you to submit your scores if you'd like them to be evaluated as part of your application.

First Time in College Student Requirements:

• Submitted application for admission
• Applications are free of charge and can be found on our Apply: First Time in College webpage.
• Official high school transcripts
• An overall weighted GPA of 85 with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math, history, english, and science.
• Physics is recommended.

Not Required (utilized in a holistic review for admission if provided):

• Standardized SAT/ACT test scores
• Admissions essay
• Letters of recommendation

Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria:

• Submitted application for admission
• Applications are free of charge and can be found on our apply webpage.
• Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
• Cumulative GPA of 3

 Not Required (utilized in a holistic review for admission if provided):

• Coursework relevant to major of interest
• Admissions essay
• Letters of recommendation

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.

Curriculum

Find detailed course information for the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy Combined Program, tools to plan your education, and complete academic policies and procedures in the D'Youville academic catalog.

Sample Undergraduate P.T. prerequisite courses

Math & Natural Sciences

• Two 3-credit courses in human-based science or applied science courses
• One course in human anatomy with lab
• One course in human physiology with lab — may be two courses in human anatomy with physiology with labs
• Two courses in chemistry with labs
• Two courses in physics with labs
• One semester of statistics

Social & Behavioral Sciences

• One course in psychology

Careers

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.

Clinical Education

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:

• patient evaluation
• direct patient care
• problem-solving and critical thinking
• healthcare administration
• teaching and supervision of other healthcare professionals

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.

Interprofessional Education

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 take part in the center, including physical therapy.