Department Chairperson: Lana Svien, PT, Ph.D.

Department of Physical Therapy
Sanford Coyote Sports Center, A375A
Phone: 605-658-5999
Fax: 605-658-5637
pt@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/pt

Click on any of the following programs for information:

• Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Transitional Physical Therapy (t-DPT)

FACULTY

Professor Emeritus:

Richard Ekstrom, PT, D.Sc., Rocky Mountain University.
Roy Osborn, PT, D.P.T., M.S., OCS, University of North Dakota.

Professors:

Patti Berg-Poppe, PT, Ph.D., NCS, University of South Dakota. Specialization: Pediatric Neurologic Physical Therapy, Motor Control and Motor Learning. 
Joy Karges, PT, Ed.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Clinical Education, Lymphedema Issues.
Lana Svien, Department Chairperson, PT, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center. Specialization: Pediatric Physical Therapy.

Associate Professor: 

 Becca Jordre, PT, D.P.T., GCS, Duke University. Specialization: Rural/General Practice, Spine, Women’s Health, Geriatrics.

Assistant Professors:

Amanda Adamson, PT, D.P.T., OCS, University of South Dakota. Specialization: Orthopedics and Women’s Health.
Angela MacCabe, PT, D.P.T, University of South Dakota. Specialization:  Acute Care, Telehealth.
Brandon Ness, PT, D.P.T, Mayo School of Health Sciences. Specialization: Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy. 
Hanz Tao, PT, D.P.T, CSCS, University of Colorado. Specialization: Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy.
Kory Zimney, PT, D.P.T, CSMT, Des Moines University. Specialization: Chronic Pain.

Instructor:

Nicolle Samuels, PT, MSPT, CLT-LANA, CWS, CKTP, University of South Dakota. Specialization: Integumentary Physical Therapy.

DEGREE

Doctor of Physical Therapy  
Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy   

Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Program Description

The University of South Dakota Physical Therapy Department offers a graduate level program for individuals seeking entry-level professional education. Physical Therapy is concerned with the prevention of disability and the restoration of function following disease, injury, or loss of function. The goal of physical therapy is to help patients reach their maximum performance potentials while learning to live within the limits of their capabilities. Physical therapy, the science of healing and art of caring, involves evaluation, treatment planning, performance of tests and measures, client education, consultative services, and supervision of support personnel.

The American Physical Therapy Association Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredits the University of South Dakota Physical Therapy Department. The mission of the University of South Dakota Physical Therapy Department is to develop scholars, practitioners, and life-long learners who provide evidence based physical therapist services throughout the patient lifespan and demonstrate leadership within rural and medically underserved practice environments.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Specific prerequisite courses are required. The prerequisite course work needed is (this sample is based upon the University of South Dakota curriculum):

*Or a combined Human Anatomy/Physiology course with a minimum of 6 credit hours with lab taken over 2 semesters.

• Overall Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better (as calculated by PTCAS), based on a 4.0 scale
• Prerequisite GPA of 3.2 or better (includes only prerequisite coursework - as calculated by PTCAS), based on a 4.0 scale
• GRE General test
• Completion of personal statements
• Physical Therapy Observation and/or experience (minimum of 50 hours verified through PTCAS)
• Personal interview with the USD Physical Therapy Department by invitation
• Applicants must successfully complete a criminal background check upon acceptance
• Additional requirements exist for international students and applicants with degrees from other countries.

Application Deadline

Applications for admission are available through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) a service of the American Physical Therapy Association. PTCAS will allow applicants to use a single Web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple physical therapist education programs. Please visit http://www.ptcas.org for application instructions. Early Admission deadline is in September and General Admission deadline is in December in the year prior to the fall entrance. Please contact the Department of Physical Therapy for verification of current requirements.

Completion of the Graduate School application found at: https://apps.usd.edu/academic/gradapp/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.

Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-D.P.T.)

Department Chairperson: Lana Svien, PT, Ph.D.
t-D.P.T. Program Director: Patti Berg-Poppe, PT, Ph.D.

Department of Physical Therapy
Sanford Coyote Sports Center, A375
Phone: 605-658-5999
pt@usd.edu  
www.usd.edu/pt 

Program Description

The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (t-D.P.T.) at the University of South Dakota is the first online doctoral program in the South Dakota Regental System. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree is conferred upon completion of a structured 5 semester, 25 credit hour, online post-professional program. The program was designed to parallel the American Physical Therapy Association’s “Preferred Curricular Model for the Transitional Clinical Doctoral Program and Learner”, as well as their “Transitional Clinical Doctorate Competencies Document”. Students are admitted in even years. 

Program Eligibility

To be eligible for the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-D.P.T.), applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Possess a current license to practice physical therapy
• Graduate from a Physical Therapy program accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education (CAPTE) or foreign trained with current PT licensure in the United States (in good standing) or graduate from a Physical Therapy program accredited by the Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAT) with current PT licensure in Canada
• Possess a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7
• Meet one of the following:

  • Hold a certificate in Physical Therapy plus a bachelor’s degree in select field plus 20 years of experience in the field of PT

  • -OR-

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy plus 10 years of experience in the field of PT

  • -OR-

  • Possess a master’s degree in Physical Therapy plus two years of experience in the field of PT

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://apps.usd.edu/academic/gradapp/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.

1. Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
2. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree in a biological, chemistry, or health science may be qualified for admission into the graduate program. Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
3. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. Applicants from or who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from English-speaking countries  are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score if their academic records after review indicate that English was the classroom language for their schoolwork. Applicants who have passed the National Physical Therapy examination developed and administered by the Federal State Board of Physical Therapy are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score.
4. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

1. Copy of current Physical Therapy License.
2. Resume/CV demonstrating the previously listed admission requirements and any relevant information in the following categories: continuing education since graduation, professional memberships, service activities, awards granted, leadership positions, publications/presentations, and physical therapy work history.
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. Successful completion of criminal background check upon acceptance.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Programs

• Physical Therapy (D.P.T., t-DPT)