Doctor of Physical Therapy

The University’s Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy (DPT) prepares students for professional practice as general practitioners who demonstrate self-directed, ongoing learning, competency in clinical practice, a commitment to the application of professional skills, and knowledge in service to others. The program’s curriculum is a problem-based learning (PBL) design. PBL places emphasis on the development of a reflective practitioner by teaching students to learn from and solve clinical problems. Curriculum content is organized around carefully designed clinical patient problems that students study, discuss, and research in small tutorial groups. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple disciplines as it is relevant to the clinical problem. Tutorial group work develops interdependence among students and supports the use of peers in learning and problem-solving. Clinical education includes part-time, integrated experiences in each of the academic semesters, and full-time clinical education in the summer following the first year and during the fall and spring of the third year. Clinical education totals thirty-eight (38) weeks of full-time work and approximately twelve (12) to sixteen (16) hours per semester of direct patient care.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes

The Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy established Student Learning Outcomes that align with the College of Health Professions Student Learning Outcomes and the University’s Strategic Plan. 
Students who graduate from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Sacred Heart University will… 
Practice in a manner consistent with established legal and professional standards and ethical guidelines. 

• Apply clinical-decision making skills to effectively develop and implement a clinical examination, physical therapy diagnosis, plan of care and prognosis. 
• Apply self-directed, life-long learning principles from the underpinnings of problem-based learning to anticipate, adapt and respond to changes in the health care delivery system. 
• Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate evidence to facilitate best patient outcomes by effective use of the professional literature and current information technologies. 
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, caregivers, other disciplines and the community in ways that are congruent with situational needs. 
• Adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs. 
• Participate in inter-professional activities for the benefit of patients, families, and community.

Admission Requirements

Students entering the program must have completed an undergraduate degree in the discipline of their choice. Students also must have completed the necessary course prerequisites prior to the start of the doctoral program and have no more than two courses outstanding at the time of application. Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis. External applicants must submit all materials for admission consideration by the date published by the Graduate Admissions Office and apply through PTCAS. Internal applicants must submit all materials for admission consideration by the date published by the Graduate Admissions Office and apply through SHU PT Graduate Application. 

Admission Requirements Include:  Completion of an UG degree and all pre-requisite courses from a regionally accredited College or University Undergraduate and pre-requisite GPA of 3.2 or higher

• No grade lower than a “C” in any pre-requisite courses. Grades from one repeated course will be permitted for use in pre-requisite GPA calculation. All science prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited 4-year institution.
• Two letters of recommendation: one from a past employer, one from an academic source
• Observation of PT practice in two clinical practice settings for a minimum of 50 hours total 
• GRE required (no minimum score) Successful completion of the Admission Interview

Degree Requirements

The program is a three-year, 108 credit course of study offered on a full-time basis only, to allow for the professional socialization of the student and the integration of coursework. This program leads to preparation for licensure as a physical therapist.

Prerequisite Requirements: 
Undergraduate prerequisite required coursework includes (see course descriptions below):

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-8 credits with lab) 
• Biology (6-8 credits with lab) 
• Chemistry (Inorganic, 6-8 credits with lab) 
• Physics (Non-calculus, 6-8 credits with lab) 
• Statistics (Descriptive and inferential, 3-4 credits) 
• Mathematics (Pre-calculus or higher, 3-4 credits) 
• Psychology (Introduction and upper level, 6-8 credits) 
  
  

Please note the following: 

• Catalog descriptions must match SHU catalog descriptions listed below, especially lab component
• Science prerequisite courses (A&P, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) must be taken at a regionally accredited four-year institution 
• Science prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited 4year institution. Science prerequisite courses taken at a 2 year community college will not be accepted 
• No more than 2 prerequisites can be outstanding at the time of application 
• AP course credit from high school, accepted by the undergraduate institution, satisfies the prerequisite requirements regardless of where the course was taken. However, AP course grades do not factor into the prerequisite GPA calculation
  
  

For SHU Undergraduate Students: 

• Up to two 2-course science sequences can be taken away from SHU, such as Anatomy I & II (BI 206/208 & BI 207/209) and Chemistry I & II (CH151/153 and CH 152/154). No more than four courses total may be taken away from SHU. 
• Courses taken during Study Abroad semesters count as being taken at SHU. 
• It is strongly recommended (but not mandatory) that Physics be taken at SHU. 
• Must  take the last 30 credits at SHU. 
  
  

Timing of course completion: 

• Must complete all requirements for UG graduation prior to matriculation into the DPT Program 
• Includes all course requirements for the Major and Core Curriculum 
• Includes all PT pre-requisite courses 
• Human Anatomy and Physiology and Statistics must be taken in the last 10 years

Prerequisite Courses (45 credits)

BI 111	Concepts in Biology I: Molecules to Cells	3
BI 112	Concepts in Biology II: Cells to Organisms	3
BI 113	Concepts in Biology I Laboratory	1
BI 114	Concepts in Biology II Laboratory	1
BI 206	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	3
BI 207	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	3
BI 208	Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory	1
BI 209	Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory	1
CH 151	General Chemistry I	3
CH 152	General Chemistry II	3
CH 153	General Chemistry Laboratory I	1
CH 154	General Chemistry Laboratory II	1
MA 131	Elementary Statistics	3
MA 140	Precalculus	4
PY 111	General Physics I	3
PY 112	General Physics II	3
PY 113	General Physics Laboratory I	1
PY 114	General Physics Laboratory II	1
	Two psychology electives	6

MA 140: or above

Required Courses

Course Sequence Professional Year 1
Fall		Spring
PT-611 - Structure & Function I	6	PT-612 - Structure & Function II	6
PT-621 - Examination & Documentation I	4	PT-622 - Examination & Documentation I	5
PT-631 - Evaluation & Intervention I	5	PT-632 - Evaluation & Intervention I	6
		PT-642 - Foundations of Evidence Based Practice	2
Total Credits	15	Total Credits	19
Summer
PT-740 - Professional Practice I	1
PT-651 - Clinical Experience I (8 weeks)	4
Total Credits	5
Total Credits Year 1 = 39
Course Sequence Professional Year 2
Fall		Spring
PT-713 - Structure & Function III	6	PT-714 - Structure & Function IV	5
PT-723 - Examination & Documentation III	4	PT-724 - Examination & Documentation IV	4
PT-733 - Evaluation & Intervention III	4	PT-734 - Evaluation & Intervention IV	5
PT-741 - Professional Practice II	1	PT-760 - Special Project I	3
PT-743 - Grand Rounds	3
Total Credits	18	Total Credits	17
Total Credits Year 2 = 35
Course Sequence Professional Year 3
Late Spring/Summer		Fall/Spring
PT-825 - Contemporary Practice in PT	8	PT-852 - Clinical Experience II (10 weeks)	5
PT-845 - Professional Practice III	5	PT-853 - Clinical Experience III (10 weeks)	6
PT-861 - Special Project II	4	PT-854 - Clinical Experience IV (10 weeks)	6
Total Credits	17	Total Credits	17
Total Credits Year 3 = 34

Program Total: 108 credits

Clinical Education

The curriculum includes 21 credits of full-time clinical education at affiliating clinical sites across the United States. These activities occur in the summer following the first year and during the fall and spring of the third year. Student placement for these clinical education experiences provides each student with a variety of learning experiences within different types of practice settings. The DPT program is affiliated with more than 700 clinical facilities representing a wide range of practice settings, located predominately in the northeastern United States, but include sites across the country. Each site must have a formal contractual relationship with the University that includes a description of the responsibilities associated with clinical education. The University supervises the student’s clinical education experience through communication with the clinical instructor on site, written student performance evaluations, and on-site visits as necessary. Students should anticipate the additional costs of clinical education in the curriculum, including travel, housing, meals, and living expenses. In some cases, clinical sites may provide some assistance for expenses such as housing. Planning for clinical education is done through the DPT program by the directors of clinical education (DCEs). Students will receive individual advisement regarding clinical education planning. Students will be asked to make clinical education placement requests; however, final placement decisions are the responsibility of the DCEs.

Program Accreditation

The Physical Therapy program was initially accredited by both the Connecticut Department of Higher Education (CTDHE) in 1998 and the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in 1999, in 2004, and reaffirmed again in 2014. In 2003, both agencies approved transition of the program to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The program was recognized in these accreditation proceedings for several strengths, including the high quality of its curriculum, the exceptional qualifications of its faculty, and the level of University support provided to the program. CAPTE accreditation is an ongoing process for all PT programs. The PT program at Sacred Heart University received continuing accreditation in 2014 with the next CAPTE accreditation review occurring in 2023.