Department of Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree is a post baccalaureate degree and may be awarded as an entry-level professional degree or a post professional degree.

The Board of Trustees at the University of Scranton has approved the conversion from the present Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). In 2003, The Pennsylvania Department of Education authorized The University of Scranton to confer the DPT degree.

The DPT will be offered to students who successfully complete a baccalaureate degree with the appropriate prerequisites and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Students who complete their baccalaureate degree at The University of Scranton and declare their intention to pursue the DPT career track at the time of admittance to the university will be given guaranteed assurance of their acceptance in the DPT as long as they complete all of the prerequisites with a grade of C or better and carry an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Students at The University of Scranton who don't declare their intention to pursue the DPT at the time of admission may apply to the DPT, but will not be guaranteed admission into the DPT. Students who earn a baccalaureate degree from an other institution must complete the equivalent prerequisites with a grade of C or better and have a minimal overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. In both of the latter cases, admission of qualified candidates into the DPT will not be guaranteed and will be on a space available basis.

Admission to the DPT is limited to 45 qualified applicants each fall. Students who are given guaranteed assurance to the DPT program and who have fulfilled the requirements, including successful completion of the prerequisites and a minimal GPA of 3.0 will be guaranteed admission. Admission of other candidates will be competitive.

Students may select from a variety of undergraduate majors as long as they successfully complete the prerequisites and meet the minimum grading and GPA standards. Some majors such as exercise science and biology are already "good fits" in terms of meeting the prerequisites. However, regardless of major, students with the help of their academic advisors, will need to carefully plan the selection of general education core requirements and electives to meet the prerequisites in a way that does not significantly add to their credit load. Majors that are not as good a fit are still acceptable as long as the student completes the requirements and meets the other criteria, but students choosing these majors should be prepared to take a number of extra credits not required by a specific major or the general education core requirements applicable for that major.

See Prerequisites for the DPT.

See the DPT curriculum.

Clinical Internships.

The Transition DPT (for persons who are already physical therapists).

For the most up-to-date answers to frequently asked questions about the DPT, go to the following web site of the American Physical Therapy Association.