Earn Your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at Clarkson
Clarkson is ideal for highly qualified and motivated students who want a career in physical therapy.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Clarkson University is a 101 credit, full-time, post baccalaureate curriculum that takes 2 and ⅔ years to complete. The Department of Physical Therapy has state-of-the-art technologies for clinical practice and research. Faculty in the department bring decades of clinical experience and scholarly vision to the classroom. Because classes are small and problem-based, you will work closely with faculty members, which promotes professional growth and success.
As a physical therapist, you are a movement scientist who evaluates, diagnoses and treats mobility and pain-related disorders, mitigates disease and disability. Hands-on clinical care is supported by prescriptive exercises and purposeful changes that promote health across the lifespan optimizing physical function and return to the community.
Physical therapy is a deeply rewarding healthcare profession that improves the lives of people. As a physical therapist you’ll diagnose and treat individuals of all ages with a variety of different health conditions that limit their ability to move and perform tasks. The therapist’s job is to restore pain free movement and the ability to do everyday activities. With physical therapy consistently rated among the top 10 growing professions, physical therapists serve a dynamic and comprehensive role in healthcare, engaging in treatment, consultation, education and research.
Why Earn a DPT From Clarkson?
Clarkson’s physical therapy faculty bring decades of clinical experience and scholarly vision to the classroom. Faculty members use the master adaptive learning approach to address the various learning styles of the students. Through this approach, students are focused to be patient-centered, flexible and responsive to demographic or geographic differences of patients and colleagues and gain the confidence to synthesize and apply the evidence, and make competent evidence-based decisions. Because classes are small and offer case-based experiential learning, you’ll work closely with faculty members, which promotes your professional growth and success.
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Our program involves more than 38 weeks of full-time clinical experience and internships, as well as numerous integrated clinical experiences throughout the curriculum.
Our Smart Simulation Lab and Assistive Technology Lab offer simulated experiences and cutting-edge technology. The Simulation Lab allows you to apply strategies learned in lectures to hands-on activities in a realistic environment. Mock hospital rooms allow you to practice patient evaluations and interventions in acute-care settings.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at Clarkson University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
What You'll Learn
Clarkson’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a 101-credit-hour, full-time, post-baccalaureate degree that takes two and two-third years to complete.
Our program uses an experiential learning model, which uniquely prepares you to become a lifelong learner and expert clinician using an integrated case based approach to learning. You will participate in 4 full time clinical experiences in addition to hands on integrated clinical experiences (ICE) which are interwoven throughout the didactic portion of the curriculum.
Global Reach
Our students come from all across the country, coast to coast as well as from international backgrounds. While many of our clinical rotation sites are local, students frequently choose sites across the country. Our DPT program also provides annual opportunities for students to undertake international service work.
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) National Physical Therapy Licensure Ultimate Exam Pass Rate: 98% (two year average from 2019, 2020)
- FSBPT National Physical Therapy Licensure First Time Pass Rate: 95% (two year average from 2019, 2020)
- Graduation Rate: 90% of admitted students to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program graduated (two year average from 2020, 2021)
- Employment: Of those program graduates responding to surveys, 100% who sought jobs as physical therapists were employed as physical therapists within 12 months.
The program and institution are accredited by:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (July 1, 2008), and to grant a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (March 28, 2006)
- The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program (May 18, 2005)
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:
CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Scholarships and Tuition Information
Cost
Tuition 2023/2024
The Physical Therapy program tuition is based on a flat rate per semester.
| Category | Semester | Tuition/Fee |
| Flat Fee Basis | Fall, Spring | $12,349 |
| Year 1 | Per semester | |
| Year 2 | Summer, Fall, Spring | $12,349 |
| Per semester | ||
| Year 3 | Summer, Fall, Spring | $12,349 |
| Per semester | ||
| Additional Fees and Costs | ||
| Resource Fee | Per semester | $380 |
| CUGSA Activity Fee | Per Semester | $25 |
| APTA Student Membership | Per year | $85 |
| CU Mandatory Health Insurance * | Per year | $3,868 |
| DPT Digital Book Fee | Each Fall Term | $130 |
Scholarships
Clarkson University is excited to announce that we are able to offer a limited number of Presidential Scholarships.
The University offers two Graduate Assistantships. Students who apply to the program are automatically eligible for consideration for these scholarships (there is no extra application process). Graduate assistantships provide recipients 15% off tuition for which students work for the department. Students cannot receive a Graduate Assistantship during the final semester in the program. Recipients of the scholarships will be notified prior to January 15.
Miscellaneous Information
- Costs related to clinical education will be variable and on a student-to-student basis. Planning of clinical experiences typically occurs 9 months to 1 year in advance of placements; you will have ample time to consider and plan for any related expenses.
- For information regarding Graduate Financial Aid please see: Graduate Financial Aid
- For information regarding student loans, including a comparison of Federal Graduate PLUS loans to Private Student Loans, see: Student Administrative Services.
- The Financial Aid year begins with summer term, when applicable. Learn more about the application process for Federal Student Loans.
- Visit the American Physical Therapy Association for information on scholarships.
- Each student is responsible for the purchase of personal textbooks/e-books, course readers, surgical scrubs and incidental supplies.
* Health Insurance coverage is required during the academic and clinical portions of the curriculum. This insurance is mandatory, but CU health insurance may be waived with proof of other current coverage.
DPT Curriculum
The Doctorate in Physical Therapy program at Clarkson University is a 101-credit, full-time, post-baccalaureate curriculum that takes two and two-third years to complete.
| Semester | Course No. | Course Title | Credits |
| Fall Semester 1 | PT 505 | Foundational Sciences for Physical Therapy | 9 |
| PT 506 | Professional Foundation for Physical Therapy | 2 | |
| PT 508 | Literature Critique and Review | 1 | |
| Spring Semester 2 | PT 515 | Cardiopulmonary/Exercise Science | 9 |
| PT 517 | Professional Practice I | 2 | |
| PT 518 | Principles of Measurement and Testing | 1 | |
| Summer Semester 3 | PT 525 | Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy | 9 |
| PT 527 | Professional Practice Preparation | 2 | |
| PT 528 | Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice | 1 | |
| Fall Semester 4 | PT 537 | Professional Practice II | 6 |
| PT 604 | Physical Therapy for Multiple Systems Disorders I | 5 | |
| PT 608 | Research Methods | 1 | |
| Spring Semester 5 | PT 614 | Neuromuscular Physical Therapy | 8 |
| PT 613 | Professional Practice III | 2 | |
| PT 617A | Professional Practice IVA | 1 | |
| PT 618 | Research Practicum | 1 | |
| Summer Semester 6 | PT 616 | Physical Therapy for Multiple System Disorders II | 6 |
| PT 617B | Professional Practice IVB | 1 | |
| PT 627A | Professional Practice VA | 5 | |
| Fall Semester 7 | PT 627B | Professional Practice VB | 2 |
| PT 645 | Practice Management in the Autonomous Environment | 8 | |
| PT 648 | Writing & Presenting Research | 1 | |
| PT 657 | Advanced Clinical Skills | 2 | |
| Spring Semester 8 | PT 667 | Professional Practice VI | 8 |
| PT 677 | Professional Practice VII | 8 |
Clinical Education
The Department of Physical Therapy offers exceptional clinical experiences that are broad in scope and rich in content. Your clinical experience is tailored to your needs, geographic preferences and the type of practice setting that interests you. We have collaborative relationships coast to coast and internationally, with clinical placements throughout the United States, Peru and Italy. Learn more about clinical education at Clarkson.
Admission, Applying and Prerequisites
General Admissions Requirements
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Clarkson University is a full-time graduate program. In order to be considered for admission, students must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete a baccalaureate degree with an overall grade point average (GPA) greater than or equal to 3.2.
- Take all the necessary prerequisite courses (see below) with a GPA greater than or equal to 3.2 in all prerequisite courses and no grade lower than a C in these courses.
- Submit documentation of a minimum of 50 hours of observation, volunteer or work experience in physical therapy and/or another healthcare setting, of which a minimum of 30 hours must be completed under the supervision of a physical therapist.
- Submit three letters of recommendation. At least one must be from a physical therapist and one must be from a faculty member. None can be from family, friends or clergy.
- Meet the technical standards of the Doctorate in Physical Therapy program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
All applications must be submitted through the Physical Therapy Common Application Service. The deadline for submission of applications is March 1st. The department uses a rolling admissions process; applications are reviewed and students offered admission on an on-going basis.
The department follows all applicable laws and guidelines to ensure that all prospective students’ rights are protected.
Transferring from Another DPT Program
The Clarkson University Department of Physical Therapy will review the application of any individual who wishes to transfer from other physical therapy programs. However, we do not accept transfer credits. All students who would like to apply for our physical therapy program, including those who have already taken graduate level physical therapy coursework, must apply through the Physical Therapy Central Application System (PTCAS). Everyone who is accepted into our program, including those who have already taken and successfully passed graduate level physical therapy coursework, must begin at the start of the Clarkson Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum and successfully pass all coursework in order to graduate.
Prerequisite Courses
The following pre-requisite courses must be successfully completed within 10 years in order to be considered for admissions to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program:
- Biology courses:
- Cellular and Molecular Biology/Lab (Clarkson course: BY160/BY162), 5 credits
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab (Clarkson course: BY 471/BY 473), 5 credits and Human Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab (Clarkson course: BY 472/BY 474) 5 credits
- Chemistry courses:
- General Chemistry I with lab (Clarkson course: CM 131 or CM 103/105: Structure and Bonding with lab) 4 or 5 credits
- General Chemistry II with lab (Clarkson course: CM 132 or CM 104/106: Chemical Equilibrium and Dynamics with lab) 4 or 5 credits
- Medical Terminology
- Physics courses:
- Physics I with lab (Clarkson course: PH 131 or PH 141) 4 credits
- Physics II with lab (Clarkson course: PH 132 or PH 142) 4 credits
- Statistics course:
- Statistics (Clarkson courses: STAT 282, STAT 284, STAT 318, STAT 383) 3 credits
- Psychology Courses
- General Psychology (Clarkson course: PY 151) 3 credits
- Another 3 credit Psychology course, we recommend Developmental Psychology, life span (Clarkson course: PY 370) 3 credits
Career Possibilities
Physical therapists are in high demand. The need for physical therapists is expected to remain strong as the U.S. population ages and the demand for physical therapy services grows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of physical therapists will grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031. During that period, an estimated 40,400 jobs are predicted to open up.
Although many physical therapists practice in hospitals, more than 80 percent practice in other settings, such as:
Job titles include:
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Recent Employers
After they have obtained licensure, our DPT graduates have found employment through the following leading organizations:
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Have a Question About Our Health Sciences Programs? Contact Us!
Lynn Pauly
Graduate Recruiter
Clarkson University
lpauly@clarkson.edu
518-631-9836