Physical Therapy Program

Saint Louis University's early assurance (freshman-entry) Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) curriculum is a six-year program, including two summers. Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science - Physical Therapy (BSES-PT) after completion of the first four years, and the D.P.T. degree after successful completion of the additional two post-baccalaureate years.
Physical therapists work with people across the lifespan to optimize movement and improve health. Physical therapists are responsible for the examination and evaluation of patients/clients, the development and implementation of intervention programs, patient education and supervision of other health care practitioners. In addition to patient care, physical therapists may also serve as administrators, teachers, researchers and consultants.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum is divided into the pre-professional (freshman–junior years) and the professional phase (senior year–second post-baccalaureate year). Progression to the professional phase of the program provides a seamless entry from foundational coursework to practical labs and clinical experiences.
Once accepted, a student will progress through the entire program without the need for reapplying or taking a graduate entrance exam provided the student meets the program academic and professional behavior standards.
During the professional phase, students enroll in coursework specific to the physical therapy profession and complete 38 weeks of full-time clinical experiences. Students begin their clinical experiences in the spring of the senior year.
Elective courses in the physical therapy curriculum and clinical exposure help students gain advanced knowledge and skills in specialty areas. In addition to the PT curriculum, students are required to complete a minor.
Upon graduation, students must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to obtain a license to practice physical therapy.
Clinical and Research Opportunities
The program in physical therapy is affiliated with more than 300 clinical sites locally, nationally and internationally.
The faculty and clinical staff provide clinical services at a variety of locations including the Saint Louis University Physical Therapy Clinic, Student Health, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic.
Careers
Graduates enjoy employment in a variety of settings, including hospitals, out-patient clinics, long-term rehabilitation facilities, collegiate and professional sports, schools, patient homes and fitness centers.
Physical therapists typically work in full-time positions and receive benefits. The 2017 median annual wage of physical therapists was $86,850 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salary depends on location and experience level.
Alumni of the program in physical therapy DPT alumni report a 100% employment rate within the profession within one year of graduation.
Admission Requirements
High school seniors applying for admission have two options for acceptance into the Saint Louis University program in physical therapy. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis.
- The standard selective admission process is for students with an ACT composite score of 25 or higher with no subsection below a 23 (or equivalent SAT scores) and a high school GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale (with an emphasis on math and science).
- The early-acceptance admission process is for students with an ACT composite score of 30 or higher with math and science subsections scoring at least a 28 ACT (or equivalent SAT scores), a high school GPA of 3.85/4.0 and an outstanding high school academic record (with an emphasis placed on excellence in math and science courses).
- Students that do not meet the requirements for early acceptance will automatically be considered for the standard selective admission process.
Minimum eligibility requirements also include:
- Four years of science, including biology and chemistry. Physics is strongly encouraged but not required.
- Four years of math. A course equivalent to pre-calculus is strongly encouraged but not required.
- Four years of English.
Meeting minimum GPA and test score requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. The deadline for completed program in physical therapy applications and financial aid consideration for all freshman is Dec.1.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. In addition to University scholarships, the Doisy College of Health Sciences offers a scholarship to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
- Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Accreditation
The Program in Physical Therapy at Saint Louis University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 314-977-8505 or email sluptat@health.slu.edu.
For more information about the SLU Physical Therapy program outcomes, matriculation rate, graduate rate, employment rate, NPTE pass rates and technical standards, please see Additional Accreditation Information.
- DPT Graduates will be able to serve others by advocating for the health of society.
- DPT Graduates will be able to communicate in a way that optimizes patient-centered care.
- DPT Graduates will be able to apply principles of evidence-based practice in patient care.
- DPT Graduates will be able to evaluate typical versus atypical physical movement.
Foundation
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ANAT 1000 | Basic Human Anatomy | 3 |
BIOL 1240 & BIOL 1245 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
ENGL 2000-3900 Literature | 3 | |
CHEM 1080 & CHEM 1085 | Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab | 4 |
CHEM 1480 & CHEM 1485 | Principles of Chemistry 2 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab | 4 |
ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies Of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
IPE 1100 | Introduction to Interprofessional Health Care | 1 |
IPE 3500 | Health Care Systems and Health Promotion | 3 |
IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum | 2 |
MATH 1400 | Pre-Calculus | 3 |
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | 3 |
PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
PHYS 1220 & PHYS 1240 | General Physics I and General Physics II | 8 |
PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSY 4390 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
THEO 1000 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
THEO 2xxx | Theology elective | 3 |
HIST 1110-4930 | History elective | 3 |
Fine Arts elective 1 | 3 | |
Foreign Language (through 1020 level) | 6 | |
Statistics course | 3 | |
Non-specified electives | 18 | |
Total Credits | 96 |
1 | Fine Arts Elective: Any course specified in the college catalog as accepted as a fine arts elective (for Arts and Sciences) will be accepted as a fine arts elective for Physical Therapy. Courses from Study Abroad experiences will be accepted as per the approval of the Program in Physical Therapy. |
Physical Therapy Requirements (for B.S. in Exercise Science, PT)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
DPT 1111 | Student Development I | 1 |
DPT 1212 | Student Development II | 1 |
DPT 2113 | Student Development III | 1 |
DPT 2214 | Student Development IV | 1 |
DPT 3230 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
DPT 4021 | Kinesiology I | 2 |
DPT 4122 | Kinesiology II | 3 |
DPT 4125 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
DPT 4127 | Basic Examination | 3 |
DPT 4131 | Survey of Disease | 3 |
DPT 4146 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
DPT 4226 | Therapeutic Exercise | 2 |
DPT 4228 | Basic Procedures | 2 |
DPT 4241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
DPT 4247 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
DPT 4276 | Documentation | 1 |
DPT 4290 | Skills Practicum | 1 |
DPT 5132 | Pharmacology | 1 |
DPT 5133 | Lab Studies & Imaging | 2 |
DPT 5261 | Musculoskeletal Conditions I | 2 |
ANAT 4000 | Human Gross Anatomy | 6 |
ANAT 4300 | AHP Neurosciences | 5 |
Total Credits | 51 |
Physical Therapy Requirements (for DPT)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
DPT 5115 | 1 | |
DPT 5123 | Clinical Gait | 2 |
DPT 5134 | Multi System Management | 3 |
DPT 5135 | Cardiopulmonary Conditions | 3 |
DPT 5137 | Aspects of Nutrition in PT | 2 |
DPT 5142 | Evidence Based Practice | 2 |
DPT 5149 | Applied Neuroscience | 2 |
DPT 5162 | Musculoskeletal Conditions II | 3 |
DPT 5218 | Effective Communication and Teaching | 3 |
DPT 5250 | Neuropathology | 2 |
DPT 5251 | Neurological Conditions I | 4 |
DPT 5263 | Musculoskeletal Conditions III | 4 |
DPT 5271 | Patient Management I | 3 |
DPT 5291 | Clinical Rotation IA | 2 |
DPT 6072 | Patient Management II | 1 |
DPT 6077 | Department Administration | 2 |
DPT 6091 | Clinical Rotation IB | 2 |
DPT 6092 | Clinical Rotation IIA | 2 |
DPT 6116 | Professional Development II | 2 |
DPT 6124 | Biomechanical Interventions | 3 |
DPT 6138 | Concepts of Wellness | 1 |
DPT 6152 | Neurological Conditions II | 2 |
DPT 6164 | Musculoskeletal Conditions IV | 3 |
DPT 6173 | Patient Management III | 2 |
DPT 6178 | Applied Administration & Mgmt | 2 |
DPT 6192 | Clinical Rotation IIB | 2 |
DPT 6217 | Professional Development III | 1 |
DPT 6243 | Applied Evidence-Based Clinical Practice | 1 |
DPT 6293 | Clinical Rotation III | 4 |
DPT 6294 | Clinical Rotation IV | 3 |
Total Credits | 69 |
Continuation Standards
For a complete list of continuation standards, see the Program in Physical Therapy Student Handbook located on the program web page.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
BIOL 1240 & BIOL 1245 |
Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory |
4 |
CHEM 1080 | Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture | 3 |
CHEM 1085 | Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab | 1 |
DPT 1111 | Student Development I | 1 |
ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies Of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
IPE 1100 | Introduction to Interprofessional Health Care | 1 |
XXXX 1010 | Modern Foreign Language | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
CHEM 1480 & CHEM 1485 |
Principles of Chemistry 2 Lecture or General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
DPT 1212 | Student Development II | 1 |
MATH 1400 | Pre-Calculus | 3 |
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | 3 |
THEO 1000 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
XXXX 1020 | Modern Foreign Language | 3 |
Credits | 17 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
DPT 2113 | Student Development III | 1 |
PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
PHYS 1220 |
General Physics I or Physics I and Physics I Laboratory |
4 |
IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
ANAT 1000 | Basic Human Anatomy | 3 |
DPT 2214 | Student Development IV | 1 |
PHYS 1240 |
General Physics II or Physics II and Physics II Laboratory |
4 |
IPE 3500 | Health Care Systems and Health Promotion | 3 |
PSY 4390 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
Credits | 17 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
Participation in Study Abroad Optional | ||
ENGL 2000-3900 | Literature Elective | 3 |
HIST XXXX | History Elective | 3 |
THEO XXXX | Theology Elective | 3 |
XXXX | Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
DPT 3230 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum | 2 |
STAT 1100 |
Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Business Statistics or Elementary Statistics with Computers |
3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
XXXX | Elective 1 | 3 |
Credits | 17 | |
Summer | ||
ANAT 4000 | Human Gross Anatomy | 6 |
DPT 4021 | Kinesiology I | 2 |
Credits | 8 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
DPT 4122 | Kinesiology II | 3 |
DPT 4125 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
DPT 4127 | Basic Examination | 3 |
DPT 4131 | Survey of Disease | 3 |
DPT 4146 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
DPT 5132 | Pharmacology | 1 |
DPT 5133 | Lab Studies & Imaging | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science - PT awarded upon completion of Semester Eight | ||
ANAT 4300 | AHP Neurosciences | 5 |
DPT 4226 | Therapeutic Exercise | 2 |
DPT 4228 | Basic Procedures | 2 |
DPT 4241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
DPT 4247 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
DPT 4276 | Documentation | 1 |
DPT 4290 | Skills Practicum | 1 |
DPT 5261 | Musculoskeletal Conditions I | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Year Five | ||
Fall | ||
DPT 5115 | 1 | |
DPT 5123 | Clinical Gait | 2 |
DPT 5134 | Multi System Management | 3 |
DPT 5135 | Cardiopulmonary Conditions | 3 |
DPT 5137 | Aspects of Nutrition in PT | 2 |
DPT 5142 | Evidence Based Practice | 2 |
DPT 5149 | Applied Neuroscience | 2 |
DPT 5162 | Musculoskeletal Conditions II | 3 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
DPT 5218 | Effective Communication and Teaching | 3 |
DPT 5250 | Neuropathology | 2 |
DPT 5251 | Neurological Conditions I | 4 |
DPT 5263 | Musculoskeletal Conditions III | 4 |
DPT 5271 | Patient Management I | 3 |
DPT 5291 | Clinical Rotation IA | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Summer | ||
DPT 6072 | Patient Management II (Online course taken during clinical rotations) | 1 |
DPT 6077 | Department Administration (Online course taken during clinical rotations) | 2 |
DPT 6091 | Clinical Rotation IB | 2 |
DPT 6092 | Clinical Rotation IIA | 2 |
Credits | 7 | |
Year Six | ||
Fall | ||
DPT 6116 | Professional Development II | 2 |
DPT 6124 | Biomechanical Interventions | 3 |
DPT 6138 | Concepts of Wellness | 1 |
DPT 6152 | Neurological Conditions II | 2 |
DPT 6164 | Musculoskeletal Conditions IV | 3 |
DPT 6173 | Patient Management III | 2 |
DPT 6178 | Applied Administration & Mgmt | 2 |
DPT 618X | Physical Therapy Elective (optional) | 1 |
DPT 6192 | Clinical Rotation IIB | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
Doctor of Physical Therapy awarded upon completion of Semester 12 | ||
DPT 6217 | Professional Development III (Online course taken during clinical experiences) | 1 |
DPT 6243 | Applied Evidence-Based Clinical Practice (Online course taken during clinical experiences) | 1 |
DPT 6293 | Clinical Rotation III | 4 |
DPT 6294 | Clinical Rotation IV | 3 |
Credits | 9 | |
Total Credits | 217 |
1 | 18 Elective Credits are required that may be used to complete a minor by the end of the junior year |
Program Notes
The curriculum is divided into the pre-professional (freshman – junior years; semesters 1-6) and the professional phase (senior year – second post-baccalaureate year; summer semesters 1 and 2; semesters 7-12). Progression to the professional phase of the program provides a seamless entry from foundational coursework to practical labs and clinical experiences.
For additional admission questions please contact:
Julie Miller
Recruitment Specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu