DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

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SHRP-Physical Therapy (Academic_Department) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_GRADUATE

Program Title

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Default Credentials

DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy

Program Description

The physical therapist is a health professional who examines, designs, implements and modifies therapeutic interventions for persons of all age groups in order to promote health and wellness, enhance or maintain endurance, muscle strength and mobility, and treat pain, movement dysfunction or disability due to disease, injury, loss of a body part or birth defect. The therapist helps the individual prevent injury and overcome movement dysfunction through the use of exercise, education, assistive devices and physical procedures. Additionally, the therapist considers psychological, sociological and economic factors in interactions with clients, patients and community groups, assesses living environments and recommends adaptations to eliminate architectural barriers.

As the need for qualified professional physical therapists exists wherever health care services are required, employment opportunities include hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, industry, research centers, nursing homes, community centers, wellness centers, clinics and school settings. The physical therapy profession offers opportunities for advancement in the areas of education, clinical specialization, management, consultation and research. Practice settings, employment arrangements, occupational responsibilities and career opportunities depend upon the interests and skills of each practitioner.

Upon completion of the program, consisting of 36 continuous months, the graduate will be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Licensure Examination. Be advised that a misdemeanor or felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the certification examination or attain state licensure.

Accreditation Status

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE),3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (601) 984-6330 or email mlauderdale@umc.edu.

Learning Outcomes

(Education) Students will demonstrate didactic and clinical knowledge consistent with national standards.

(Education) Graduates will demonstrate clinical practice across a variety of communities while integrating evidence-based care.

(Education) Faculty will educate DPT students on contemporary topics using evidence-based teaching practices.

(Education) The DPT program will prepare physical therapists who provide competent care to patients in Mississippi and provide opportunities to excel in physical therapy

(Service) Students will actively participate in service to the community, the program, and the profession.

(Service) Graduates will actively participate in service to the program, community, and profession.

(Service) Faculty will actively participate in service to the department, the school, the institution, and the profession.

(Service) The program will produce physical therapists who demonstrate service to their patients, community, and/or profession to contribute to a healthier Mississippi.

(Scholarship) Students will synthesize research findings to answer clinically relevant questions in the field of physical therapy.

(Scholarship) Graduates will contribute to the evidence that supports physical therapy practice through ongoing investigation and publications.

(Scholarship) Faculty will contribute to the evidence that supports physical therapist practice through one or more forms of scholarship.

(Scholarship) The program will prepare physical therapists to be lifelong learners using evidence-based practice.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission standards of the institution and the general admission requirements of the School of Health Related Professions, candidates seeking admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must:

Provide evidence of observation in a minimum of two (2) physical therapy clinical departments or practices for total of 40 hours. Additional hours and sites are considered beneficial to enhance the applicant's knowledge of the professions. A maximum of 20 hours may be used from any one (1) site. Hours earned through employment will not be accepted and no more than 20 hours total can be applied to the observation requirement from hours earned during internship experiences. A minimum of 8 observation hours must be completed in the current year of the application and documentation must be received by the application deadline. Applicants will document information for each observation site in the application. Note: The form may be requested for verification as part of the application process.
Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;
Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale by application deadline and prior to enrollment;
Have a minimum required course grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale by application deadline and prior to enrollment;;
Submit an official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) report that includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores;
Submit a resume that includes (1) career objective; (2) educational history; (3) work history; (4) community service activities; and (5) honors and activities;
Complete all prerequisite courses with the following stipulations. Students should have completed at least four (4) of the eight (8) prerequisites course by the application deadline. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or better on each prerequisite course with a minimum prerequisite average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Prerequisite Courses*	Number of Courses	Semester Hours
Statistics (mathematics, psychology or education)¹	1	3
Biology with Lab	2	8
Chemistry with Lab	2	8
Physics with Lab	2	6-8
Advanced Physical or Biological Science²	1	3-5
Total Prerequisites		28-32

*Science survey courses designed for non-science majors are not acceptable for a required course. Science courses with lab that count for science major credit are considered appropriate. Normally, required science courses must have been taken in the last ten (10) years. All physical or biological sciences listed at a particular college or university do not necessarily satisfy the prerequisite requirements. Combined Human Anatomy and Physiology is not a prerequisite and will not be accepted as a prerequisite course. Please consult with the UMMC physical therapy pre-academic advisor, Dr. Joy Kuebler at jkuebler@umc.edu, for clarification.

¹The statistics course must not be business statistics. Graduate level courses will not be used to meet prerequisite requirements

² Must be 300/3000 or 400/4000 level undergraduate courses and taken at a senior college or university. Associated labs, whether incorporated or offered separately, must also be completed. Graduate level courses will not be used to meet prerequisite requirements.

Program Application Deadline

Students will apply to UMMC's DPT program via the Centralized Application Service for PT Programs (PTCAS). All application documents and required application fees must be received in PTCAS and by UMMC's Office of Enrollment Management by October 1 for summer admission, while the fall transcript must be received by Friday, January 16, 2026. General application information and application procedures may be found in the SHRP General Admissions Requirements Policy in PolicyTech.

Applicants accepted into the program will be assessed a nonrefundable enrollment fee, which will be applied to the first year tuition.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the physical therapy degree must have completed the prescribed curriculum with an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale. Following satisfactory completion of all course requirements, the student will be awarded the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Mississippi. Due to the variability of available clinical sites, completion of the required curriculum may be extended beyond the minimum of 36 months. Students are recommended by the faculty for graduation.

Professional Course of Study*

*This curriculum is effective for the class entering summer 2025. Classes entering summer 2026 and after will follow an updated curriculum. Please visit the program website for additional details.

First Year		Semester Hours
Summer
PT 600	Anatomical Basis of Human Movement in Physical Therapy Practice	5
PT 607	Anatomical Basis of Human Movement in Physical Therapy – Lab	2
PT 610	Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice	3
		10
Fall
PT 601	Physiologic Basis of Physical Therapy I	3
PT 602	Human Kinesiology and Biomechanics I	3
PT 611	Systems Review and Clinical Dysfunction	4
PT 620	Acute Care in Physical Therapy I	3
PT 630	Principles of Physical Therapy Practice I	3
		16
Spring
PT 603	Physiologic Basis of Physical Therapy II	3
PT 621	Clinical Tests and Measures in Physical Therapy Practice	4
PT 631	Assessment and Management of Musculoskeletal Problems I	4
PT 632	Principles of Physical Therapy Practice II	3
PT 660	Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice I	3
		17
Second Year
Summer
PT 604	Human Kinesiology and Biomechanics II	3
PT 605	Pharmacology in Physical Therapy	2
PT 633	Acute Care in Physical Therapy II	3
PT 639	Therapeutic Interventions in Physical Therapy	1
PT 640	Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care	2
PT 670	Specialty Practice in Physical Therapy Elective	2*
		11*
Fall
PT 617	Issues in Community Health and Prevention and Wellness	2
PT 634	Assessment and Management of Musculoskeletal Problems II	3
PT 641	Organizational Systems in Health Care Delivery	2
PT 650	Clinical Experience I	6
PT 664	Research Methodology I	1
		14
Spring
PT 606	Neurosciences in Physical Therapy Practice	4
PT 612	Developmental Basis of Functional Movement across the Lifespan	3
PT 625	Physical Therapy Practice Across Client Populations	3
PT 636	Neurological Aspects of Physical Therapy Practice I	3
PT 661	Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice II	2
PT 665	Research Methodology II	2
PT 670	Specialty Practice in Physical Therapy Elective	2*
		17*
Third Year
Summer
PT 613	Applied Clinical Decision-Making	3
PT 651	Clinical Experience II	6
		9
Fall
PT 616	Comprehensive Capstone	3
PT 637	Neurological Aspects of Physical Therapy Practice II	4
PT 638	Neurological Aspects of Physical Therapy Practice III	4
PT 642	Resource Management in Physical Therapy	3
PT 670	Specialty Practice in Physical Therapy Elective	2*
		14*
Spring
PT 652	Clinical Experience III	6
PT 653	Clinical Experience IV	6
		12
Total Required Hours		120

*Elective Option

For more information about this program, contact:

Melanie Lauderdale, PT, DPT, EdD
Phone: (601) 984-6330
Email: mlauderdale@umc.edu