Graduate Programs

A patient receives physical therapy for a torn ACL from a student in the Physical Therapy Clinic on UD's STAR Campus.

Physical Therapy: DPT

 

UD's Physical Therapy Department provides academic and clinical training commensurate with the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This entry-level degree program qualifies the graduate to sit for the national physical therapy examination to become licensed in the United States as a physical therapist. The UD DPT Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This full-time, two-and-one-half-year program encompasses the regular fall and spring semesters as well as UD's summer and winter sessions. Part-time matriculation is not permitted.

Students enrolled in the program may also earn a master of science (MS) in clinical health science after successful completion of 31 credits of academic DPT degree-required coursework, including 3 credits of an advanced anatomy course and a cumulative GPA of 3.0. The MS in clinical health science is offered only to students admitted into the UD DPT program. Students may not apply directly into the MS degree program, nor will students be permitted to transfer into this program from another major.

The Physical Therapy Department is housed in the Health Sciences Complex at the STAR (Science, Technology and Advanced Research) Campus. The Department has modern, well-equipped laboratories for research, teaching and clinical practice. In addition, there are two on-site, full-service physical therapy clinics, which provide clinical practice opportunities and training for DPT students and residents. Also located on the STAR Campus are the human anatomy and simulation laboratories wherein experiential learning opportunities are provided to complement classroom instruction.

download program flyer

 

Application Deadlines


  • August 15
  • September 11
  • October 9
  • December 15 - Final Deadline

Decisions about applicants will be made on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure space availability in the incoming class. Offers will be extended to qualified applicants beginning with the first deadline and continuing until the program is fully enrolled. Anticipated interview dates may be canceled should the incoming class be at full capacity.

UD Tuition


The 2023-2024 UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1,352.

Tuition Credit


Due to a College of Health Sciences Dean’s Scholarship, the student tuition rate is lower than the published UD graduate tuition rate. The final student tuition rate for this program is $1,051. Please contact the department for more information. You may refer to the curriculum to plan costs per semester noting that the number of credits per semester may vary depending on student registration to optional courses, assignment to an Integrated Clinical Experience (ICE), or modification to the curriculum schedule.