Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

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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.

Program Overview

The doctoral program’s curriculum provides skills in leadership, ethics, service and patient-centered care serving medically underserved and rural clinic environments. It focuses on evaluation, treatment planning, performance of tests, client education, consultative services, and supervision of support personnel. This program has been accredited by CAPTE since 1993. Learn more at usd.edu/pt.

DELIVERY: On campus

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

Year One - Fall Semester: Total 22 credit hours

ANAT 711 - Human Gross Anatomy 1 to 8 cr (6 credit hours required.)
PHGY 730 - Human Physiology 6-8 cr
PHTH 701 - Introduction to Patient/ Client Management 2 cr
PHTH 704 - Physical Therapy Examination 3 cr
PHTH 712 - Professional Conduct and Ethics 3 cr
PHTH 780 - Basic Research Design and Statistics 1-2 cr (1 credit hour required)
PHTH 781 - Evidence-Based Practice 1 cr

Year One - Spring Semester: Total 23 credit hours

PHAR 720 - Medical Pharmacology 1 to 5 cr (2 credit hour required)*
PHTH 706 - Client and Community Health Education in Physical Therapy 2 cr
PHTH 710 - Movement Science 5 cr
PHTH 718 - Pathophysiology and Differential Diagnosis I 3 cr
PHTH 731 - Rehabilitation Neuroscience 3 cr
PHTH 734 - Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I 4 cr
PHTH 745 - Human Development and Clinical Implications 2 cr
PHTH 783 - Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis 1 cr
PHTH 786 - Research Proposal Course in Health Sciences 1 cr

Year Two- Summer: Total 12 credit hours

Year Two - Fall Semester: Total 20 credit hours

PHTH 714 - Integumentary Physical Therapy I 1 cr
PHTH 730 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I 4-5 cr (5 credit hours required)
PHTH 732 - Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II 4 cr
PHTH 736 - Cardiovascular/ Pulmonary Physical Therapy 4-5 cr (4 credit hours required)
PHTH 744 - Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II 3-4 cr (3 credit hours required)
PHTH 744L - Lab: Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II 0 cr
PHTH 748 - Pediatric Physical Therapy I 2-4 cr (2 credit hours required)
PHTH 787 - Research Project in Health Sciences 1 cr

Year Two - Spring Semester: Total 18 credit hours

Year Three - Summer: Total 8 credit hours

PHTH 738 - Health Care Management and Systems in Physical Therapy 4 cr
PHTH 752 - Clinical Application of Diagnostic Imaging 1 cr
PHTH 756 - Clinical Competence in Patient Management 1 cr
PHTH 792 - Special Topics: Advanced Practice 1 cr (1 x 2 cr required)

Year Three - Fall Semester: Total 16 credit hours

PHTH 762 - Clinical Education II 1-16 cr (8 credit hours required)
PHTH 764 - Clinical Education III 1 to 16 cr (8 credit hours required)

Year Three – Spring Semester: Total 16 credit hours

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

Any Program Semester: Total 1 credit hour

PHTH 791 - Independent Study (C) 1-6 cr in Professional Service Learning 1 cr required

Total 136 degree credit hours

General Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

Accelerated DPT Program: Biology, B.S.-Human Dynamics Specialization with DPT standard program

Admissions Information

The accelerated 3+3 program partnering Biology and Physical Therapy allows students pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a specialization in Human Dynamics to count 29 credit hours of the first year of the doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) toward the final (fourth) year of undergraduate programming (biology elective courses). The student will complete 91 credits of undergraduate coursework (including PT Program pre-requisites) before matriculating to the DPT program.

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Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage. Licensure-Track Programs

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?

Department of Physical Therapy
605-658-5999 | pt@usd.edu | usd.edu/pt

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad