DPT in Physical Therapy

Degree Requirements

All students admitted must maintain a 3.0 grade point average with no grade below a C- in courses required for the degree. Failure to achieve a semester or professional cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in required courses will result in probation or dismissal from the program. Students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment in the curriculum and complete the degree requirements as outlined in the course of study. Any exception must be approved by departmental faculty. Students must demonstrate the personal behaviors and characteristics associated with optimal patient welfare and professional trust.

PH_THR 5100	Introduction to Interprofessional Practice	1
PH_THR 5110	Fundamentals of Physical Therapy	1
PH_THR 5200	Problems in Physical Therapy	1
PH_THR 5210	Applied Neurophysiology for Allied Health Students	3
PH_THR 5220	Biophysical Agents	3
PH_THR 5230	Clinical Evaluation and Procedures	4
PH_THR 5240	Foundations of Therapeutic Exercise	3
PH_THR 5250	Human Kinesiology	3
PH_THR 5260	Introduction to Clinical Education and PhysZOU I	1
PH_THR 5310	Applied Therapeutic Exercise	3
PH_THR 5320	Clinical Kinesiology	3
PH_THR 5330	Clinical Pathophysiology	3
PH_THR 5340	Introduction to Clinical Education and PhysZOU II	1
PH_THR 5350	Introduction to Orthopedic Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 5360	Pharmacology in Rehabilitation	2
PH_THR 6410	Clinical Education I	5
PH_THR 6510	Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 6520	Evidence-Based Practice	3
PH_THR 6530	Orthopedic Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 6540	Pediatric Physical Therapy	4
PH_THR 6550	PhysZOU III	0.5
PH_THR 6560	Rehabilitation of the Neurologically Impaired Adult	4
PH_THR 6620	Case Management: Acute and Chronic Medical and Surgical Conditions	5
PH_THR 6630	Clinical Education II	6
PH_THR 6640	Diagnostic Imaging in Rehabilitation	3
PH_THR 6650	PHYSZOU IV	0.5
PH_THR 6660	Psychosocial Issues for Health Promotion	2
PH_THR 6610	Assessment and Neuropsychology of Pain	1
PH_THR 6710	Case Management: Neurological Impairments Across the Lifespan	5
PH_THR 6810	Case Management: Geriatrics and Orthopedics	5
PH_THR 6820	Clinical Education III	6
PH_THR 6830	Health Policy and Leadership in Physical Therapy	2
PH_THR 6840	PhysZOU V	0.5
PH_THR 6850	Professional Issues	3
PH_THR 6910	Clinical Education IV	6
PH_THR 6920	PhysZOU VI And Professional Development Plan	0.5
PH_THR 6930	Seminar in Physical Therapy	4
PH_THR 6940	Special Skills in Physical Therapy	1
PTH_AS 7222	Gross Human Anatomy (The Health Professions)	7

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Plan of Study

The professional program is offered in sequential blocks and requires full-time enrollment for three academic years (including summer sessions), beginning in the summer session following acceptance. The curriculum contains foundational and clinical sciences combining traditional lectures and course work, laboratory sessions, problem-based learning classes and clinical education. More than 200 clinical sites in Missouri and beyond are available for supervised clinical education.

A graduate must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to receive a license to practice in the United States. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Graduates are eligible for licensure anywhere in the United States.

*DPT Sample Curriculum

Summer First year
PTH_AS 7222	Gross Human Anatomy (The Health Professions)	7
PH_THR 5110	Fundamentals of Physical Therapy	1
Fall First year
PH_THR 5210	Applied Neurophysiology for Allied Health Students	3
PH_THR 5220	Biophysical Agents	3
PH_THR 5230	Clinical Evaluation and Procedures	4
PH_THR 5240	Foundations of Therapeutic Exercise	3
PH_THR 5250	Human Kinesiology	3
PH_THR 5260	Introduction to Clinical Education and PhysZOU I	1
Spring First year
PH_THR 5100	Introduction to Interprofessional Practice	1
PH_THR 5310	Applied Therapeutic Exercise	3
PH_THR 5320	Clinical Kinesiology	3
PH_THR 5330	Clinical Pathophysiology	3
PH_THR 5340	Introduction to Clinical Education and PhysZOU II	1
PH_THR 5350	Introduction to Orthopedic Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 5360	Pharmacology in Rehabilitation	2
Summer Second Year
PH_THR 6410	Clinical Education I	5
Fall Second Year
PH_THR 6510	Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 6520	Evidence-Based Practice	3
PH_THR 6530	Orthopedic Physical Therapy	3
PH_THR 6540	Pediatric Physical Therapy	4
PH_THR 6550	PhysZOU III	0.5
PH_THR 6560	Rehabilitation of the Neurologically Impaired Adult	4
Spring Second Year
PH_THR 6620	Case Management: Acute and Chronic Medical and Surgical Conditions	5
PH_THR 6630	Clinical Education II	6
PH_THR 6640	Diagnostic Imaging in Rehabilitation	3
PH_THR 6650	PHYSZOU IV	0.5
PH_THR 6660	Psychosocial Issues for Health Promotion	2
Summer Third Year
PH_THR 6610	Assessment and Neuropsychology of Pain	1
PH_THR 6710	Case Management: Neurological Impairments Across the Lifespan	5
Fall Third Year
PH_THR 6810	Case Management: Geriatrics and Orthopedics	5
PH_THR 6820	Clinical Education III	6
PH_THR 6830	Health Policy and Leadership in Physical Therapy	2
PH_THR 6840	PhysZOU V	0.5
PH_THR 6850	Professional Issues	3
Spring Third Year
PH_THR 6910	Clinical Education IV	6
PH_THR 6920	PhysZOU VI And Professional Development Plan	0.5
PH_THR 6930	Seminar in Physical Therapy	4
PH_THR 6940	Special Skills in Physical Therapy	1
Total Credits		114

*

Subject to change.

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Application and Admission Information

All applicants will apply to the Graduate School online admission process. Graduate School applications must be submitted and complete by September 30th.

The departmental application will be completed during the on-line admission process.

Students who are admitted without a degree will receive a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the first year of the program.

Admission Criteria

• Minimum TOEFL scores:

Minimum TOEFL Scores double column

Internet-based test (iBT) Area	iBT Score	Paper-based test (PBT) Area	PBT Score
Reading	17	Reading	52
Listening	17	Listening	52
Speaking	17	Speaking	N/A
Writing	17	Writing	17
TOTAL	80	TOTAL	550

• Minimum IELTS scores:

Minimum IELTS Scores

Item	Score
Reading	6
Listening	6
Speaking	6
Writing	6
Total Score	6.5

• Minimum GPA: 3.0

Required Application Materials

To Graduate School:

• All required Graduate School documents/application fee
• Departmental application/application fee
• 2 letters of recommendation as specified by the application instructions
• Activities and Awards Questionnaire as specified by the application instructions
• Distinct Experiences and Attributes Essay (see application instructions)
• Unofficial transcripts (year of application, summer grades must be recorded on transcript)

Admission Contact Information

Beverly Denbigh
College of Health Sciences
801 Clark Hall
573-882-7103 or 7250
573-884-8369 (Fax)

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Prerequisites for the Doctoral Degree

Note: The DPT program accepts students to begin the professional program only for summer terms, which begin in June.

Admission to the DPT program is available through regular admission (applicants will have a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the professional program) or through an early admission option that allows students to enter the professional program with 90 credit hours.

Regular admission applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in the core required courses and the cumulative GPA in the last 60+ credit hours.

Students who enter without a bachelor’s degree must have satisfied general education and graduation requirements, including two Writing Intensive courses. These applicants must have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application.

On-campus interviews are required for admission to the professional program.

Applicants are notified of the selection committee’s decision by December.

All students are strongly encouraged to contact the College of Health Sciences, Office of Student Services, for advisement and planning well in advance of application.

Admission to the program is selective.

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