Colleges With Direct Physical Therapy Programs

A.T. Still

• A.T. Still University (ATSU) in Mesa, Arizona, offers an entry-level DPT program through its Arizona School of Health Sciences. The program is approximately three years. Students can only pursue the DPT at ATSU full-time . The school keeps numbers small in each class ( 50-60), so students have faculty members readily accessible, for additional teaching when necessary. The program is both classroom and hands-on instruction. Required courses include functional kinesiology, basic patient care skills, principles and theory of education, pathology, human anatomy, applied human physiology, methods of data analysis and electrodiagnostic procedures.

  A.T. Still University
  5850 E. Still Cir.
  Mesa, AZ 85206
  480-219-6000
  www.atsu.edu

University of Florida

• The University of Florida also offers direct entry to its DPT program. Students benefit from an established university education with national recognition. "U.S. News & World Report" ranked the Florida physical therapy program No. 15 in the nation in 2008. In addition to the DPT program (113 credit hours for graduation), Florida offers a Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences. Students pursue research in areas such as muscle disuse and degeneration and functional motor control. Required courses include physiology, pharmacology, health promotion and well-being in physical therapy, neurorehabilitation, principles of disease and prosthetics and orthotics.

  University of Florida
  Dept. of Physical Therapy
  PO Box 100154
  Gainesville FL 32610-0154
  352-273-6085
  pt.phhp.ufl.edu/welcome.html

University of Colorado--Denver

• University of Colarado in Denver (UCD) offers a direct entry into a physical therapy doctoral program. Like the program at the University of Florida, the UCD program is nationally-ranked as well by "U.S. News & World Report" (No. 33). The program requires 116 credit hours for graduation and combines classroom instruction with clinical experience. Required courses include studies in histology, exercise science, psychosocial aspects of care, movement science, pharmacology and healthcare delivery.

  University of Colorado-Denver
  Physical Therapy Program, C244
  Education Bldg. 2 South - Room 3106
  13121 E. 17th Avenue
  Aurora, CO 80045
  303-724-9144
  www.uchsc.edu