Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program Details

Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy

The Ohio State University offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. We have over 60 years of experience in preparing students for successful careers in physical therapy, a well-trained faculty, excellent health-care facilities, and a network of supportive alumni. Most of the information you need is here, but if you have specific questions, please contact our Student Service Office for further information.


If you are already a physical therapist, Ohio State University has many great post-professional educational opportunities. The Division of Physical Therapy now offers five Clinical Residency programs in cooperation with other programs throughout the university and Columbus including:

If you are a college student ready to apply for PT school and you are highly motivated to pursue both your DPT and a PhD for a future career in academics and research, please read about our combined DPT/PhD program.


For more information regarding the Physical Therapy Profession, consult the American Physical Therapy Association or the Ohio Physical Therapy Association.


If you are interested in joining the Pre-PT/OT Club at OSU, please contact the current president by following this link or emailing Dr. DeWitt, the faculty advisor.

 

Facts about our Program

Facts About Our Program

Curriculum
  • The DPT degree requires 9 semesters and includes two intermediate clinical internships, two terminal clinical internships, and a final specialized clinical practicum.
  • The program starts with anatomy and foundations in the first summer. Orthopedics is the focus of the first year, pediatrics is covered the second summer, and neurology and geriatrics are the focus of the second year.
  • Students will have completed three full time clinical experiences for a total of at least 26 weeks before the final semester of didactic coursework.  The final semester includes elective courses to develop specific practice skills and management and leadership courses to support autonomous practice.
  • The final semester includes a terminal clinical experience and a final clinical practicum experience.  The practicum allows for a creative blend of advanced clinical practice with unique higher-level experience such as management, program development, advocacy, or community service. The practicum programs are designed by students in conjunction with the director of clinical education and experts in the community.
  • Each student participates in research, professional service and community service at a level sufficient to gain an appreciation for their importance to the profession. Students with a passion for one of these areas can earn specializations through extended involvement.
  • Each student completes a case report for a patient seen during a clinical internship to produce a publication-quality manuscript, and presents their case to faculty and peers as a culmination of the curriculum.
Faculty
  • The faculty include a careful balanced blend of research faculty, clinical faculty, and practicing clinicians to bring the best level of expertise to each aspect of the student’s education.
  • The student-faculty ratio in laboratory skills courses ranges from 4 to 1 to 8 to 1.
  • The faculty have a large extramural funding portfolio and are nationally and internally recognized for their leadership in research and discovery.

Service

  • PT students and faculty provide thousands of hours of volunteer and pro bono service each year to community health centers serving people who have no other means of obtaining health care.
  • PT students work with faculty on several community service projects each year, representing more than 1,500 hours of service.
Alumni
  • More than 2,500 alumni have graduated from the Physical Therapy Program since 1955.
  • PT graduates work in all 50 states and in many foreign countries. 1,600 of them practice in Ohio.