Program: Physical Therapy (D.P.T., t-DPT) - University of South Dakota

Apr 04, 2025

2018-2019 Graduate Catalog

The graduation requirements are subject to change. Please contact the department to verify the current required course work. The total number of hours for graduation is 136 semester credit hours. The program begins in the fall and will take 3 years to complete.

Doctorate in Physical Therapy (D.P.T.): Total 136 credit hours

Year Two - Fall Semester: Total 21 credit hours

Year Two – Spring Semester: Total 19 credit hours

Year Three - Summer: Total 7 credit hours

PHTH 738 - HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 4 cr
PHTH 752 - CLINICAL APPLICATION OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING 1-2 cr (1 credit hour required)
PHTH 754 - INTEGUMENTARY PHYSICAL THERAPY II 1 cr
PHTH 756 - CLINICAL COMPETENCE IN PATIENT MANAGEMENT 1 cr

Year Three - Fall Semester: Total 17 credit hours

PHTH 762 - CLINICAL EDUCATION II 1 to 16 cr (8 credit hours required)
PHTH 764 - CLINICAL EDUCATION III 1 to 16 cr (8 credit hours required)
PHTH 787 - RESEARCH PROJECT IN HEALTH SCIENCES 1 cr

Year Three – Spring Semester: Total 16 credit hours

PHTH 772 - CLINICAL EDUCATION IV 1 to 16 cr (8 credit hours required)
PHTH 774 - CLINICAL EDUCATION V 1 to 16 cr (8 credit hours required)

Total 136 degree credit hours

Transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy (t-D.P.T.): Total 25 credit hours

Students are admitted in even years. For more information on the transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy see: Physical Therapy Department

Year One – Fall Semester

PHTH 707 - HEALTH PROMOTION IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 2 cr
PHTH 718 - PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF MUSCULOSKELETAL CONDITIONS 2-4 cr (2 credit hours required)
PHTH 782 - CRITICAL EVALUATION OF LITERATURE 1 cr

Year One – Spring Semester

PHAR 720 - MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY 1 to 5 cr (2 credit hours required)
PHTH 720 - PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF CARDIOVASCULAR, PULMONARY, AND OTHER SYSTEMS CONDITIONS 2-3 cr (2 credit hours required)
PHTH 784 - EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 1 cr

Year Two - Summer Semester

Year Two– Fall Semester

PHTH 708 - TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 2 cr
PHTH 752 - CLINICAL APPLICATION OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING 1-2 cr (2 credit hours required)
PHTH 785 - INDEPENDENT CLINICAL PROJECT IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 2 cr

Physical Therapy (D.P.T., t-DPT)