Program components for the Master's qualified student:
The physical therapist holding a master's degree will need to complete the Capstone Project for 5 required academic credits and 19 elective academic credits. The transitional DPT program is 24 credits for the master level student.
1. Completion of 19 credits
You have the option of completing one of three tracks:
A) A clinical specialization track where you will take all courses in a chosen certification track
| Choose From: |
Credits |
| Manual Therapy |
21 |
| Primary Care |
19 |
| Craniofacial, Head, Neck and Facial Pain |
20 |
As a part of Certification for this degree, the Foundation of Clinical Orthopaedics, an online distance education course and is included in the credits listed.
B) A clinical non-specialization track where you will select courses from the University catalog that will promote your professional development.
Visit the university course catalog to see a list of t-DPT courses and their descriptions.
Delivery Format
Courses in the Transitional DPT program are offered in a variety of formats. As noted in the course description, a prerequisite for a course may be completion of a continuing education seminar. This learning experience is then enhanced through completion of assignments in a distance education format. These assignments are submitted to the University for grading in a specified time frame subsequent to completion of the seminar.
Other courses are offered strictly through a distance education format. No seminar attendance is required and all learning activities are completed at a distance. This format is presented through a variety of delivery methods including assigned readings, videos, CD-ROM or via the Internet. All of these formats have assignments that must be completed and returned to the University for grading to receive course credit for the course.
Certain courses due to the equipment and/or other resource constraints are offered as block scheduled courses on the St. Augustine campus. These include courses in preparation of and testing for certification.
2. Either a Capstone Project of a Mentored Clinical Residency (5 credits)
The Capstone Project will complement your program and may take the form of one publishable case report or a manuscript on critical health care issues. The outline of your project will be approved by your assigned advisor.
- or -
The Clinical Residency or Fellowship is a mentored experience proposed by the student to be approved by the Program Director that will include 9-12 months of patient care plus a minimum of 200 educational activity hours.
3. Total Credits Needed (24 credits)
The minimum total credits required for the MPT or post-professional master's qualified student is 24 credits.
• Selected Coursework (19 credits)
• Capstone or Clinical Residency (5 credits)
Program components for BSPT Graduates
The physical therapist holding a bachelor's degree in physical therapy will need to complete 11 required academic requirements and will need to complete 49 elective academic credits. The transitional DPT program is 60 credits for the bachelor level students.
Program components for the BSPT student are:
1. Required USA Courses (49 Credits)
| Course |
Credits |
| Differential Diagnosis for the Therapist |
2 |
| Pharmacology |
2 |
| Imaging for Physical Therapy |
2 |
| Capstone Project or Clinical Residency |
5 |
| Clinical Integration I |
8 |
| Clinical Integration II |
8 |
| Clinical Integration III |
8 |
| Clinical Integration IV |
8 |
| Clinical Integration V |
6 |
2. Other Coursework (11 credits)
You have the option of completing one of three tracks:
1) A clinical specialization track where you will take all courses in a chosen certification track.
| Choose From |
Credits |
| Manual Therapy |
21 |
| Primary Care |
19 |
| Craniofacial, Head, Neck and Facial Pain |
20 |
As a part of Certification for this degree, the Foundation of Clinical Orthopaedics, a distance education course, is required and is included in the credits listed.
2) A clinical non-specialization track where you will select courses from the University catalog that will promote your professional development.
Delivery Format
Courses in the Transitional DPT program are offered in a variety of formats. As noted in the course description, a prerequisite for a course may be completion of a continuing education seminar. This learning experience is then enhanced through completion of assignments in a distance education format. These assignments are submitted to the University for grading in a specified time frame subsequent to completion of the seminar.
Other courses are offered strictly through a distance education format. No seminar attendance is required and all learning activities are completed at a distance. This format is presented through a variety of delivery methods including assigned readings, videos, CD-ROM or via the Internet. All of these formats have assignments that must be completed and returned to the University for grading to receive course credit for the course.
Certain courses due to the equipment and/or other resource constraints are offered as block scheduled courses on the St. Augustine campus. These include courses in preparation of and testing for certification.
Up to nine graduate credits may be transferred in from outside programs if approved by the Program Director.
4. Either a Capstone Project or a Mentored Clinical Residency (5 Credits)
The Capstone Project will complement your program and may take the form of one publishable case report or a manuscript on critical health care issues. The outline of your project will be approved by your assigned advisor.
- or -
The Clinical Residency or Fellowship is a mentored experience proposed by the student to be approved by the Program Director that will include 9-12 months of patient care plus a minimum of 200 educational activity hours.
5. Total Credits Needed (60 credits)
The minimum total credits required for the bachelor's degree in physical therapy is 60 credits.
| Required |
49 credits |
| Other Coursework |
11 credits |