In 2008, U.S. News & World Report listed U.S. schools offering the best physical therapy programs. At No. 1 was the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, followed by the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Washington University in St. Louis.
Duke University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, first offered in 1943, is one of the oldest physical therapy programs in the nation. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offered its bachelor's of physical therapy to its first honoree in 1959. The Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California began in 1945.
Students at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and USC can take advantage of nearby medical facilities offering the latest technology and accomplished faculty. At the University of Pittsburgh, students study through a partnership with the Centers for Rehab Services and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which offers an internship, affiliations and scholarships.
USC is considered among the most prestigious private research facilities in the world. The University of Miami's physical therapy program is consistently ranked among the top 10 most successful in the United States. Its tuition is among the lowest of top private educational institutions, and small class sizes provide a more personal educational experience, according to the school.
Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh both offer a three-year, full-time DPT course of study. USC offers a Ph.D. in biokinesiology, a physical therapy program focusing on extensive study of human movement. The University of Miami's Department of Physical Therapy offers two doctoral degrees: the DPT and a Ph.D. in physical therapy.
UNC-Chapel Hill's Sports Medicine Program offers a Ph.D. in human movement science for its sports medicine students. USC's Keck School of Medicine's Department of Orthopaedics Athletic Medicine Fellowship offers valuable first-hand sports medicine experience. At the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine, students learn from accomplished orthopaedic surgeons and certified physical therapists. The University of Miami's Department of Orthopaedics has an active division at UHealth Sports Medicine, a leading health system for research, resources and patient care.