Pediatric Physical Therapy Schools

University of Delaware

• The University of Delaware's physical therapy program was ranked fourth in the nation in 2008 by U.S. News and World Report. The graduate program in physical therapy takes about two-and-a-half years to complete and exposes students to gross anatomy classes, the psychosocial effects of health and disease and several on-site clinical internships. Students may perform internships that are coordinated with class studies at the pediatric rehabilitation services clinic. The clinic serves children from birth to 12 years with minor developmental delays to significant disabilities.
  Admission is competitive. The average class size is 32 students. Qualified applicants must have a bachelor's degree, documented experience working in a physical therapy clinic, three letters of recommendation and completion of several required science courses with a minimum 2.0 grade-point average. Applicants must also submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum combined score of 1,000 in the qualitative and verbal sections.

  University of Delaware
  Department of Physical Therapy
  301 McKinly Lab
  Newark, DE 19716
  302-831-8046
  Udel.edu/PT

University of Iowa

• Ranked fifth in 2008 by U.S. News and World Report, the University of Iowa's Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science offers two graduate programs: the doctor of physical therapy and the doctor of philosophy. The doctor of physical therapy is a professional program open to 36 students and takes about two-and-a-half years to complete. The doctor of philosophy program is a Ph.D. program for students pursuing a career in research or teaching. Both require a bachelor's degree for admission and students must submit GRE scores. Students with a minimum combined score of 1,100 have a better chance of being admitted.

  Students in the professional program will learn the basics of physical therapy, explore professional issues and ethics and have 37 weeks of clinical experience in area physical therapy clinics. Several children's therapy clinics are located in the area. The school also offers a course that focuses specifically on pediatric physical therapy. Students in the Ph.D. program must complete an original research program.

  University of Iowa
  Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
  I-252 Medical Education Building
  Iowa City, IA 52242
  319-335-9791
  www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/physicaltherapy

University of North Carolina

• The University of North Carolina is ranked 11th on the 2008 U.S. News and World Report graduate school list. The school offers a graduate program for students with undergraduate degrees and prepares them for licensure as a professional physical therapist. Licensed physical therapists can also seek a doctoral degree, as the school offers a Ph.D. program.

  The university has a program designed specifically for students who have an interest in maternal and pediatric health. This program takes three years to complete and prepares students to plan, manage and evaluate mothers and children with physical therapy needs.

  Students interested in this dual-degree program enroll in their first or second year as a physical therapy student. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, submit a GRE score and have documented experience working or volunteering in a physical therapy setting. The school accepts between 24 and 30 students a year.

  University of North Carolina
  Division of Physical Therapy
  321 South Columbia St.
  Bondurant Hall; Suite 3000
  Chapel Hill, NC 27599
  919-966-4708
  Med.unc.edu/ahs/physical