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The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) degree bridges the gap for practicing physical therapists between their past entry-level education (Bachelors of Masters) and the current doctoral-level degrees. It is a post-professional program designed to assist licensed, practicing physical therapists to obtain the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The transitional DPT signifies augmented knowledge, skills, and behaviors equivalent to the current entry-level educational standards, allowing program participants to build on their existing clinical experience while earning a clinical doctoral degree. Students progress through the program at their own pace. Classes are scheduled to accommodate the clinician’s busy professional schedule. The degree awarded will be the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).

Mission of the t-DPT Program

The mission of the t-DPT program is to provide a student-centered curriculum that enables program participants to build on their existing clinical experiences, while earning this clinical doctoral level degree. With this intention, the curriculum provides a structure of post-graduate education, allowing students the widest possible freedom in choosing an area of clinical concentration, the learning setting, and guided progression through the curriculum. Graduates of the program will be better able to meet the changing needs of the health care delivery system and serve the health care needs of a variety of consumers as an autonomous practitioner in diverse communities and society.

Goals of the program are to engender DPT graduates who are able to:

1. Function as primary, autonomous practitioners of physical therapy care;
2. Integrate assessment data with practice experience and in support of best evidence-based practice;
3. Make differential diagnoses with knowledge of pathology;
4. Act on their professional social responsibility roles as an advocate, consultant, and educator for the betterment of the health in our communities and society;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural issues affecting clinical practice and effectively advocate for changes in health care policy; and
6. Be a lifelong learner with the ability to plan and pursue professional development grounded in their unique individual professional mission.

Admissions Requirements and Process

Provisional Admission Requirements

• Proof of current license to practice physical therapy in the United States
• Transcript(s) of the physical therapist’s educational program, providing proof of graduation from an education program accredited by an agency approved by Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé outlining all professional development activities including, but not limited to:
• Professional and Life Experience Portfolio Assessment including but not limited to evidence of:
• ABPTS clinical specialist certification
• Platform or Poster Presentation at the state or national level
• Presentation to a professional audience
• Professional writing (book chapter, substantive professional paper)
• Leadership position or committee member of an APTA specialty council, section or special interest group; or leadership role in another professional organization
• Governance position at the local, state, or national level
• One page statement of professional goals and objectives related to obtaining the DPT degree
• Two references from clinical colleagues (one of whom is a supervisor)
• Provide evidence to meet the technology requirement for participation in the program. (Form provided in Admission Packet.)
• Clinicians with a baccalaureate degree (BS, BA) are also required to complete the APTA’s Physical Therapist Evaluation Tool (PTET) and submit their scores to Gannon University.
• Professional and Life Experience Portfolio Assessment is required when student is pursuing conversion of significant continuing education and experience into academic credit. (See conversion procedure.)
• Documentation of 500 hours of current clinical experience within the last two years.  This requirement is primarily for recent MPT graduates who chose to enter the tDPT program before completing 500 hours of clinical practice as a licensed physical therapist.  (Space provided on Admissions Form)

Final Admission

• After the applicant has completed the provisional requirements, a faculty advisor in the t-DPT program will be assigned to meet with the candidate to review their assessment portfolio and assist them in creating a written curricular and professional development plan. In addition, the student will develop a learning contract and establish a plan of action with measurable objectives.
• Final official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Program Degree Requirements

Clinicians with and entry-level MPT or advanced Master’s degree (MS)

20 credit hours with a core of 12 required credits. The remaining 8 credits may be fulfilled through coursework, transfer credits, life experience identified through portfolio self-assessment, or by taking available courses. Up to 4 credits may be waived based on review of the Portfolio Self- Assessment completed at the time of admission.

Clinicians with an entry-level PT degree at the Baccalaureate (BS) level

Additional Admissions Requirement: Completion of APTA’s Physical Therapist Evaluation Tool with scores mailed to Gannon University.

30 credit hours with a core of 12 required credits and 18 additional completed at the graduate level. The remaining credits may be fulfilled through tDPT coursework, graduate courses at Gannon University, transfer credits, and life experience identified through portfolio self-assessment. Up to 4 credits may be waived based on review of the Portfolio Self- Assessment completed at the time of admission. Scores on the APTA’s Physical Therapist Evaluation Tool (PTET) will be used to guide course selection for these credits.

 

Curriculum

Core Program Course Requirements

All program participants will be required to take the following 5 core courses for a total of 12 credits:

GTDPT 900: Incorporating Evidence into Daily Practice (2 credits)

GTDPT 901: Foundations of Current and Future Practice (2 credits)

GTDPT 902: Medical Screening/ Differential Diagnosis (3 credits)

Or

GTDPT 911: Seminar/Lab of Medical Screening and Differential Diagnosis (1 credit)

Plus

GTDPT 912: Theoretical Aspects of Medical Screening and Differential Diagnosis (2 credits)

GTDPT 903: Imaging and Pharmacology (3 credits)

GTDPT 910: Program Synthesis (2 credits)

An additional 8 to 18 graduate credits are required for completion of degree. Up to 4 credits from the following list of courses may be converted to academic credit based on review of the Portfolio Self- Assessment completed at the time of admission. These courses include:

GTDPT 904: Teaching and Learning (2 credits)

GTDPT 905: Health Promotion and Community Wellness (2 credits)
Any combination of the following courses that totals at least 4 credits:

GTDPT 906: Special Topics / Independent Study I (1 credit) – may be repeated 4 times

GTDPT 907: Special Topics / Independent Study II (2 credit) – may be repeated twice

GTDPT 908: Special Topics / Independent Study III (3 credit) – may be repeated twice
The requirements for GTDPT 906, 907, 908 may be waived for any prospective students who already have ABPTS Clinical Specialist Certification.

GTDPT 909: Advanced Clinical Practicum (2 credits)

About the Coursework

Course work will be conducted primarily over the Internet via web-based technology. It will be in a simple format that allows students and faculty to share lecture materials, assignments and participate in online discussions.

Generally students will attend class on campus only once per course. We anticipate that each course will take about the same time as any two or three credit graduate course, in other words, four to six hours per week. This time will be spent reviewing posted materials, reading, completing assignments, and participating in on-line discussions. Each course will start and end according to the University’s semester calendar.

Courses will be offered Fall, Spring, and Summer to help busy clinicians plan a sequence of courses that fits within clinical and personal obligations. All of the course activities will be related to each therapist’s clinical care, so that knowledge may be immediately applied to clinical practice.

Course Descriptions

View course descriptions >