Doctor of Physical Therapy

Susan Johnson, PhD., RN, Dean of Health Sciences
Karen Holtgrefe, DHS, PT, OCS, Chairperson of Physical Therapy

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) is a comprehensive degree program designed to prepare a clinician who can think critically and solve problems; apply scientifically validated therapeutic skills and techniques effectively; respect the uniqueness, dignity and diversity of the individual; and understand the responsibilities of the health care provider in the professional and community life of the next century.

The professional course work of the DPT program encompasses three years including three summers. The full-time clinical internships are completed off-campus and may involve travel and/or relocation. Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate must apply for and successfully pass the licensure examination for physical therapists conducted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and apply for licensure to the physical therapy licensure board in the state where they plan to work.

The College of Mount St. Joseph transitioned to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2006. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) supports this trend in physical therapy education in order to recognize the level of professional performance standards in the field of physical therapy. The College of Mount St. Joseph was the first private college in the state of Ohio to receive approval to offer the DPT.

Students who attend the College for their undergraduate education and meet all admission requirements will have direct admission into the professional physical therapy program after completing their undergraduate degree:

Complete an undergraduate degree, complete all program pre-requisites, have an overall GPA of 3.0, a minimum science GPA of 2.75, and submit all admission materials by the deadline (apply in Fall of senior year)
The science GPA is calculated from the required one year of chemistry with lab, one year of physics with lab, and one year of anatomy and physiology with lab. At the time of application, all the course pre-requisites do not need to be completed, but must be complete prior to starting the program.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework at the College, complete an undergraduate degree, complete all program prerequisites, have an overall GPA of 3.0 (ALL undergraduate coursework, from all institutions attended will be considered in this calculation), a minimum science GPA of 2.75, and submit all admission materials by the deadline (apply in fall of senior year).

Ø NOTE: if a College of Mount St. Joseph student has an overall GPA of 3.0, but does not meet the minimum science GPA of 2.75, they are not guaranteed admission, but will be considered with all other applicants.

Admission Requirements

**The application materials for the DPT program have changed (6/2011). The application is to be completed through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). See Mount webpage at http://www.msj.edu/view/academics/graduate-programs/physical-therapy/admission-requirements.aspx.

An earned undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Notes: All undergraduate coursework, from all institutions attended will be considered in this calculation. For those individuals with a graduate degree, only the graduate degree GPA will be used.
Completion of the following prerequisite course work, with a grade of “C” or better (this includes C+, C, and C-), prior to the start of DPT course work in June:

Sciences - one (1) year [two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters] of each of the following courses with laboratory:
- Anatomy and Physiology (Human is preferred, although mammalian or vertebrate are also acceptable; courses in exercise physiology do NOT count towards the physiology requirement)
- Physics (algebra/trigonometry based as well as calculus based courses are acceptable)
- Chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry are all acceptable)
Humanities and Social Sciences - one course in each of the following areas:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Ethics
Statistics - one course
Completion of at least 80 hours of clinical observation in at least two distinctly different physical therapy settings (minimum of 20 hours to qualify as a second setting) .
Completion of the PTCAS application.
Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Notes: Scores, those within the last seven years will be accepted. This requirement is waived for applicants matriculating from the Mount.

Additional Requirements

For International Students

Undergraduate transcripts from countries outside the United States will need to be evaluated by World Education Service (www.wes.org)

TOEFL requirements: paper-based - 510 undergraduate, 560 graduate, computer-based - 220, i-TOEFL - 83. (www.ets.org/toefl). Requirements can be waived only if the graduate department requires another standardized test, e.g. GRE.

Permanent residents must provide a copy of Alien Registration Card (green card) or a copy of visa documentaion.

Declaration of Finances (for F-1 Visa), either I-134 or certified bank statement on letterhead with dollar amount equal to one year’s tuition, housing, etc

Technical Standards

The DPT program has established specific technical standards for admission (PDF 74KB). These standards reflect the minimum mental and physical requirements necessary to become a physical therapist. Candidates for selection to the College of Mount St. Joseph DPT program should review these before making the decision to apply to the program. However, this form is not a part of the DPT application. After students are enrolled, they will be required to verify they understand and meet these standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet them.

Application Deadline
The deadline for all applications is November 15th.
Note: If the 15th falls on a weekend day, applications will be accepted until the following Monday.

ALL application materials must be complete and to PTCAS by the application deadline to be considered for an interview. Thus, clinical observation hours must be completed and official GRE scores and transcripts must be to PTCAS by the application deadline in order to be considered for an interview. The only exception is ongoing prerequisite coursework and transcripts. It is acceptable to be completing your degree and/or some prerequisite courses when you apply. However, all completed coursework must be documented with transcripts by the application deadline.

Admission Decision Timeline

November 15: Application packet due
December 15: DPT program offers selected candidates on-campus interviews
Mid to late January: Candidate interviews to be held at the Mount
February 15: DPT program mails letters of acceptance to selected candidates
Mid June: DPT coursework begins

Questions? Need more information?
Please Ask Joe for answers to frequently asked questions.
If you need further information, contact the DPT program.

Donna Panzeca, Administrative Assistant
DPT program
5701 Delhi Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
(513) 244-4890
Toll free 1(800) 654-9314
Fax (513) 451-2547