The degree offered by the department is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), designed as a first-professional degree for students who want to enter the physical therapy profession.

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program consists of eight consecutive semesters of full-time professional graduate study.  The curriculum plan, by semester, of courses required once admitted to the DPT program can be found on the department website: http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/alliedhealth/pt/courses.html. The DPT is a clinical doctorate degree, not a research degree, and is awarded after successful completion of the prescribed sequence of 121 semester hours (listed below) including classroom and clinical laboratory coursework and 34 weeks of full-time physical therapy internships. As an entry-level program, the DPT is designed as a first PT degree and is not appropriate for students who already hold a PT degree. The goals and objectives of the program are guided by the criteria and guidelines set forth by the Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapists (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam for licensure.

The program begins each year in the Fall semester. The application deadline for Fall semester is November 1st of the previous year. All applicants must apply through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) http://www.ptcas.org/ptcas/public/Listing.aspx?seqn=405&navid=10737426783 and submit a supplemental application and supplemental application fee directly to the PT department. International Students should carefully review earlier deadlines and additional requirements listed after Minimal requirements for all applicants (see below).

DPT Early Acceptance Program (DPTEAP)

The DPT Early Acceptance Program (DPTEAP) allows for some highly qualified high school seniors who meet the qualifications to gain early provisional acceptance to the graduate program prior to starting college. Details are described in the Early Acceptance Program section of the Office of Admissions website at http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/admissions/earlyacceptance/index.html

In addition, a link to the application for this program is also found on this webpage and the "Special Programs" section of the Office of Admissions Website. The application deadline for this program is February 1 of the senior year in high school.

Regular Graduate Applicants

It is required that applicants complete a bachelor's degree prior to starting the PT program. These applicants must hold a bachelor's degree (or be able to complete the degree prior to starting the PT program) in any field from a regionally accredited college or university and complete all prerequisites for regular graduate admission as listed below with a GPA > 3.00. These applicants may apply by December 1st if they will complete their bachelor's degrees before the upcoming Fall semester.

1. The applicant must meet all applicable requirements including prerequisites.
2. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores must be officially reported to the University of South Alabama Office of Admissions by October 4th (use institution code 7799). The GRE must have been taken within the last 5 years. Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections will be utilized.  Preferred GRE verbal and quantitative combined minimum score of 290.
3. Regular Graduate applicants must have a minimum 3.0 (A=4.0) overall grade point average (GPA).
4. All applicants must have a minimum grade of "C" in each of the prerequisite courses.
5. Observation or work experience in Physical Therapy (50 hours minimum) under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist must be documented and submitted to PTCAS.
6. Applicants may only have a maximum of 2 science course prerequisites remaining by the application deadline. The remaining prerequisites must be completed in the spring and summer prior to the start of the program.

International applicants must have a TOEFL score = 600 (250 on computer based or 100 on Internet based tests), TSE = 60 and TWE = 4.5 and must submit the following to the Department of Physical Therapy by October 15 of the year prior to admission: TOEFL score, official transcripts with certified translations of transcripts, supplemental application and non-refundable supplemental application processing fee of $75.00. In addition, international students must submit PTCAS application and official GRE scores by September 15th.  Materials being sent by mail carrier must be postmarked NO later than September 15th.. This DPT program is not ideal for students who already have a physiotherapy degree.

NOTE: If selected for interview, the applicant must achieve a satisfactory interview score, and if accepted into the program, must submit a health form and physical examination which includes required immunizations.

Prerequisites Required For All Applicants:

• English Composition (2 courses)
• Social Sciences (3 courses--at least two of which must be Psychology)
• Precalculus Algebra/Trigonometry or Higher Mathematics (1 course)
• Statistics (1 course)
• College Physics - with labs (2 semester or 3 quarter sequence)
• General Chemistry for science majors - with labs (2 semester or 3 quarter sequence)
• General or Cell Biology for science majors - with labs^b (2 semester or 3 quarter sequence)
• Human Physiology, OR a course sequence in Anatomy and Physiology (minimum 6 credits). Human Physiology is preferred.

^aFor all prerequisite courses, credit older than ten years from the application deadline must be repeated or validated by examination or other appropriate mechanism.
^bBotany may not be used to satisfy this prerequisite.
Electives should be concentrated in a back-up major of the student's choice.

Core Performance Standards, which are fundamental tasks that must be performed to successfully complete the program, have been outlined and are available upon request from the program and on the department website.

Students admitted in the Physical Therapy program will be charged a matriculation deposit of $300 required to secure a seat in the entering class. This amount is not refundable but will be applied towards tuition expenses after registration.

Students should be prepared for extra expenses (estimates available on the website) associated with professional studies including books, local travel to and from clinical facilities and for out-of-town travel and living expenses during the 34 weeks of clinical internship in the first year and the final year. It is highly recommended that students have a laptop computer. Special lab fees are assessed for the following courses:

Abbr	Course Description	Fee
PT 600	Human Anatomy	$75.00
PT 601	Human Anatomy II	$200.00
PT 603	Neuroscience	$15.00
PT 612	Research Project	$50.00
PT 621	Introductory PT Skills	$20.00
PT 625	Therapeutic Intervention	$20.00
PT 675	Comprehensive Capstone	$81.00
PT 682	PT Internship I	$83.00
PT 683	PT Internship II	$83.00
PT 684	PT Internship III	$83.00
PT 686	PT Internship IV	$83.00
A Resource Fee of $133/semester is charged to all health professions students. A $25.00 professional liability fee is assessed annually ($12.00 each in fall and spring and $1.00 in summer).

The Department of Physical Therapy currently has eight scholarships that are awarded to students after admission to the program, in year-1, year-2 and year-3. These scholarships are listed on the department webpage.

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of South Alabama is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; Telephone: (703) 706-3245; Web site:  http://www.capteonline.org E-mail: accreditation@apta.org; 

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to gain licensure. Applicants are hereby informed that a history of felony conviction, use of drugs or intoxicating liquors, which affects professional competence, or narcotic law conviction will prevent physical therapy licensure.

See Alabama Board of Physical Therapy site: http://www.pt.alabama.gov/

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

After admission, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree requires the following course sequence to complete the professional degree:   

First Year	Course Description			Cr Hrs
Fall Semester				17
PT 600	Human Anatomy I*		3 hrs
PT 601	Human Anatomy II		3 hrs
PT 610	Principles of Research		2 hrs
PT 620	Clinical Kinesiology*		3 hrs
PT 621	Introductory PT Skills*		4 hrs
PT 680	Professional PT Practice		2 hrs
Spring Semester				19
PT 604	Pathophysiology I		2 hrs
PT 622	Exercise Physiology		4 hrs
PT 625	Therapeutic Intervention		4 hrs
PT 631	PT in Musculoskeletal Disorders I*		4 hrs
PT 632	PT in Musculoskeletal Disorders II*		3 hrs
PT 681	Clinical Practice Issues		2 hrs
Summer Semester				12
PT 607	Pathophysiology II		2 hrs
PT 633	PT in Musculoskeletal Disorders III*		4 hrs
PT 682	PT Internship I		6 hrs

Second Year	Course Description			Cr Hrs
Fall Semester				17
PT 602	Life Span Human Development		2 hrs
PT 603	Neuroscience*		3 hrs
PT 606	Pharmacology		2 hrs
PT 611	Research Proposal		2 hrs
PT 634	PT in Musculoskeletal Disorders IV*		3 hrs
PT 650	PT in Integumentary Disorders*		4 hrs
PT 671	Clinical Case Studies I		1 hr
Spring Semester				16
PT 612	Research Project		2 hrs
PT 628	Mobility, Orthotics, and Prosthetics*		2 hrs
PT 640	Neuromuscular PT Exam/Eval		4 hrs
PT 641	Pediatric Neuromuscular PT Exam/Eval		2 hrs
PT 660	PT in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders*		4 hrs
PT 672	Clinical Case Studies II		1 hr
PT 687	Professional Behaviors in PT		1 hr
Summer Semester				9 or 10
PT 627	Medical Screening		2 hrs
PT 635	PT in Musculoskeletal Disorders V*		2 hrs
PT 642	Neuromuscular PT Intervention*		4 hrs
PT 673	Clinical Case Studies III		1 hr

Third Year	Course Description			Cr Hrs
Fall Semester				15 or 16
PT 605	Human Learning		1 hr
PT 626	Health Promotion and Prevention in PT		2 hr
PT 674	Clinical Synthesis and Patient Management		1 hr
PT 683	PT Internship II		8 hrs
PT 685	Management of PT Practice		3 hrs
Spring Semester				15
PT 613	Clinical Case Report		2 hrs
PT 675	Comprehensive Capstone		1 hr
PT 684	PT Internship III		6 hrs
PT 686	PT Internship IV		6 hrs
Curriculum Total				121