Doctor of Physical Therapy
For more information: (626) 815-5020
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is a 3-year (including summers), entry-level professional program emphasizing the scientific basis of human structure and human movement, the spiritual basis of human worth, and the integration of these foundational elements into a comprehensive, problem-solving, evidence- and consensus-based approach to artful evaluation and skillful treatment.
Mission Statement
Grounded in Christian values, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares graduates to integrate an ethical and service-driven perspective into excellence in physical therapy practice.
Pathways
There are two pathways for entrance into the DPT program:
A. The traditional 4+3 (7-year) pathway
This option is characterized by a 4-year undergraduate degree and completion of prerequisite requirements for the DPT program, followed by a 3-year professional DPT degree.
B. The accelerated pathway
In this pathway, qualified students may begin DPT studies following sufficient prerequisite coursework in the fourth year of undergraduate studies. The first term of DPT courses (up to 18 units) may be counted toward the 120 units required to graduate with an undergraduate degree at Azusa Pacific University. Upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and the first term of the DPT program, students will be awarded a bachelor’s degree consistent with their chosen major—allied health or kinesiology. Upon subsequent completion of the DPT curriculum, students will be awarded the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Transfer students who have completed coursework at another institution may apply for admission to the allied health major or kinesiology major at Azusa Pacific University and declare their interest in the accelerated pathway.
Admission
University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.
International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.
Admission Requirements
University graduate and program admission requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Graduate Admissions):
A. The traditional 4+3 (7-year) pathway
- Applicants must have an officially posted bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the time they matriculate to APU.
- Prerequisite courses must be similar in value to courses offered by an accredited four-year college or university. Grades of C or better are required. Science courses must have laboratories. No prerequisite work may be taken on a pass/no-pass basis. Hybrid online science courses that combine online lectures and in-person labs may be acceptable. Courses can be taken at any regionally accredited college or university. All science prerequisite coursework more than seven years old is not accepted.
- A cumulative baccalaureate or master’s degree GPA of at least 3.0.
- A cumulative science GPA of at least 3.0 (a science GPA below 3.0 will not be considered for admission).
B. The accelerated pathway
- Completion of undergraduate major requirements for the pathway (including a minimum of 12 units of upper-division courses).
- Fulfillment of benchmarks (GPA level, technical standards, volunteer hours, prerequisite courses) for DPT admission.
- Undergraduate students who have completed the prerequisite coursework and satisfied the academic and program requirements will qualify for an admissions interview to the DPT program. If coursework is still in process, an acceptance to the DPT program will be conditional upon completion and maintenance of the required GPA standards. There is no guarantee of admission to the DPT program for students in this pathway.
- If an undergraduate student begins the DPT program but chooses to withdraw, fails a course, or sustains an academic dismissal, any DPT-level course that was completed with a passing grade will be accepted toward completion of the undergraduate degree program in which they are enrolled. In order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, students must then complete any remaining undergraduate course requirements for the bachelor’s degree in allied health or kinesiology. Any academic or course failures that occur while taking DPT courses will be handled in accordance with the DPT student handbook.
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall term before entry:*
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOLOGY: Four courses | ||
Human Anatomy with lab (required) (No intro courses accepted) | ||
Human Physiology with lab (required)(No Intro courses accepted) | ||
Cell Biology or General Biology with lab (required) (No Intro courses accepted) | ||
Biology—any additional course (lab not required) | ||
| CHEMISTRY: One year with lab (No Intro courses accepted) | ||
General Chemistry or Organic Chemistry | ||
| PHYSICS: One year with lab (must include electro, hydro, and magnetic physics) | ||
| EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY: One course | ||
| STATISTICS: One course | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY: One course | ||
General Psychology | ||
| HUMANITIES AND ARTS: | ||
English Composition | ||
| ADDITIONAL COURSES (recommended but not required): | ||
Kinesiology/Biomechanics | ||
Nutrition | ||
*Advanced Placement scores of 4 or 5 are acceptable for General Psychology, Statistics, English Composition, Chemistry, and Physics; unofficial scores must be submitted to PTCAS with the application; official scores must be submitted to APU for all accepted/matriculated applicants. The credit hours and grade points will not be computed in the GPA.
Other Admission Criteria
- The Department of Physical Therapy participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). To apply to the APU DPT program, visit the PTCAS website and follow all instructions. Early applications are encouraged. Final deadline is October 1.
- The DPT program reviews applications on a rolling basis, and acceptances are processed year-round. To ensure consideration for the January start date, completed applications should be submitted early in the admissions cycle.
- International students have a different application procedure; to learn more, visit the International Admissions site.
- Submit to PTCAS all supporting documents, including:
- Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s baccalaureate degree and all postbaccalaureate study. Mail transcripts to APU’s Graduate and Professional Center only if admitted into the program. (To be considered official, a transcript must be sent directly from the Office of the Registrar of the school attended to the Graduate and Professional Center: Admissions at Azusa Pacific University. Students’ sealed copies will not be considered official.)
- Three recommendation forms from persons well-suited to evaluate qualifications for graduate study and/or physical therapy: one must be from a registered/licensed physical therapist, and two from faculty members familiar with academic work in areas closely related to the proposed field of study or responsible persons well-informed about relevant work completed by the student.
- 100 hours of clinical experience in a physical therapy setting.
- Essay
- Students admitted into the DPT program will be required to provide a $1,200 nonrefundable enrollment deposit to reserve a seat. Deposit is due within 10 days of receipt of the acceptance letter. This will be applied to the first term’s tuition fee.
If applicable, any additional materials should be submitted to:
Student Services Center: Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
Located at:
Azusa Pacific University
568 E. Foothill Blvd.
Azusa, CA 91702
(626) 815-4570
Fax: (626) 815-4571
gpadmissions@apu.edu
apu.edu/graduateprofessional/apply/
In addition to meeting the admission requirements, those students whose first language is not English must meet the required English proficiency standard as demonstrated by passing the following minimum international iBT (internet-based TOEFL) scores:
| Reading: 25 | Speaking: 25 |
| Writing: 25 | Listening: 25 |
Course Requirements
Graduation requirements include maintaining a minimum 3.0 program and cumulative grade-point average (GPA). The calculation is based upon courses taken in fall, spring, and summer semesters. See Grading and Academic Probation and Dismissal in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Spring | ||
| PT 701 | Human Anatomy | 8 |
| PT 702 | Clinical Skills I | 6 |
| PT 706 | Seminar I | 2 |
| PT 707 | Professional Relationships | 2 |
| Summer | ||
| PT 724 | PT Clinical Skills II | 3 |
| PT 754 | General Medicine | 3 |
| PT 726 | PT Clinical Skills III | 1 |
| PT 755 | Research Methods in Physical Therapy | 3 |
| Fall | ||
| PT 703 | Clinical Neuroscience | 6 |
| PT 705 | Orthopedics I | 6 |
| PT 752 | Cardiopulmonary Patient Management | 3 |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring | ||
| PT 704 | Neurorehabilitation | 8 |
| PT 748 | Orthopedics II | 6 |
| PT 760 | Pediatrics | 4 |
| Summer | ||
| PT 762 | Seminar II | 2 |
| PT 781 | Integrated Clinical Decision-Making | 1 |
| PT 750 | Comprehensive Exams | 1 |
| PT 769 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| PT 771 | Clinical Experience I | 8 |
| Fall | ||
| PT 742 | Prosthetics and Orthotics | 2 |
| PT 764 | Current Concepts in Chronic Pain | 2 |
| PT 774 | Capstone I | 3 |
| PT 776 | Capstone II | 3 |
| PT 798 | Integumentary and Lymphedema Management | 3 |
| PT 744 | Professional Ethics | 2 |
| PT 790 | Physical Diagnosis Screening | 3 |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring | ||
| PT 773 | Clinical Experience II | 8 |
| PT 778 | Diagnostic Imaging | 3 |
| Summer | ||
| PT 711 | Wellness | 3 |
| PT 779 | Special and Emerging Topics | 2 |
| PT 768 | Administration | 3 |
| PT 785 | Advanced Patient Management | 2 |
| PT 783 | Integrated Community Service and Milestones | 0 |
| Fall | ||
| PT 775 | Clinical Experience III | 8 |
| Total Units | 123 | |