Web-based
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program
for
Licensed Physical Therapists

College Policies & Procedures for professional graduates
 

The USA Department of Physical Therapy is very pleased to announce a web-based DPT program for licensed physical therapists!  The American Physical Therapy Association refers to this type of program as a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) program.

Effective April 2008, only MPT graduates from the USA PT Program are eligible for this degree.

Licensed Physical Therapists with a Master's Degree in physical therapy from the University of South Alabama can now advance their degree to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in a completely web-based curriculum at the University of South Alabama under the guidance of the experienced and encouraging PT faculty. This web-based DPT program for licensed physical therapists represent an alternate means of attaining the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.  Credits from the individual's entry-level Master's physical therapy degree and portfolio credits will count towards the degree. The program can be completed with a minimum of 20 semester hours of online DPT coursework. Application to this web-based program is reserved only for individuals who already possess a license to practice physical therapy in the US and want to advance their entry-level physical therapy degree to the Doctor of Physical Therapy.  This is a process that will update knowledge in the field and advance their clinical decision-making abilities. The web-based program consists of the required online courses in addition to the documentation of required previous entry-level physical therapy degree credit from the University of South Alabama and portfolio analysis to grant credit for professional life-experience and clinical expertise.  This program and its application process are separate from the regular onsite, full-time eight-semester DPT program though both culminate in the same DPT degree.

While the campus-based entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy degree consists of 118 semester credit hours, the “web-based DPT program for licensed Physical Therapists” will consist of 118 hours from:

1. credit from previous physical therapy professional course work taken in our Masters degree physical therapy program;

2. credit for graduate level PT-related courses taken since receiving the entry level Master's degree;

3. credit for professional experience awarded through portfolio review;

4. credit for online physical therapy courses offered through our web-based program. For example, a 2001 MPT graduate from our program with 93 semester credits from the entry-level MPT degree who gained 5 semester credits from portfolio analysis would only need to take 20 semester credits of the web-based curriculum.

The Web-based DPT program is a distance education clinical doctorate program designed for licensed physical therapists to work toward the DPT degree. All courses are delivered via the Internet for convenient, interactive, and independently paced learning that includes significant peer/faculty interaction. Each course web site will contain all course information including all assignments, quizzes and exams.  Course information may also be delivered online in a variety of formats including bulletin boards, posted PowerPoint presentations, online discussions, and e-mail.