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Physical Therapy, Doctor of

  1. Graduates will be able to serve others by advocating for the health of society.
  2. Graduates will be able to communicate in a way that optimizes patient-centered care.
  3. Graduates will be able to apply principles of evidence-based practice in patient care.
  4. Graduates will be able to evaluate typical versus atypical physical movement.

Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Requirements

ANAT 4300AHP Neurosciences 4
ANAT 5010Human Gross Anatomy 5
EXSC 5121Clinical Biomechanics 3
EXSC 5241Clinical Research and Design 2
DPT 5011Foundations in Physical Therapy1
DPT 5125Therapeutic Modalities 3
DPT 5127Basic Examination 3
DPT 5130System-Based Pathology 4
DPT 5147Human Growth and Development 3
DPT 5290Formation of Identity as a Physical Therapist 1
DPT 5222Kinesiology 3
DPT 5228Basic Procedures 2
DPT 5226Therapeutic Exercise 2
DPT 5240Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions 4
DPT 5123Clinical Gait2
DPT 5134Multi System Management3
DPT 5135Cardiopulmonary Conditions3
DPT 5137Aspects of Nutrition2
DPT 5142Evidence Based Practice2
DPT 5149Motor Control and Motor Learning2
DPT 5162Musculoskeletal Conditions II4
DPT 5215Cura Personalis as a Physical Therapist2
DPT 5218Effective Communication and Teaching3
DPT 5251Neurological Conditions I4
DPT 5263Musculoskeletal Conditions III4
DPT 5271Patient Management I3
DPT 5291Clinical Experience IA2
DPT 6072Patient Management II1
DPT 6077Department Administration2
DPT 6091Clinical Experience IB2
DPT 6092Clinical Experience IIA2
DPT 6192Clinical Experience IIB2
DPT 6116Leadership and Advocacy as a Physical Therapist2
DPT 6124Biomechanical Interventions3
DPT 6138Concepts of Wellness1
DPT 6152Pediatric Conditions2
DPT 6173Patient Management III4
DPT 6178Applied Administration and Management2
DPT 6293Clinical Experience III3
DPT 6294Clinical Experience IV3
Total Credits105

Direct entry freshmen program courses taken in the Senior Year.

Continuation Standards

For a complete list of GPA and professional behavior continuation standards, see the Program in Physical Therapy Student Handbook. Students must earn a C or better in all required courses with a DPT, EXSC, and IPE prefix. Students must earn a C or better in all required ANAT courses at the 4000 level and above. For clinical education courses in the professional phase, an S (satisfactory) grade is required.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
Pre-Professional Phase  
BIOL 1240
BIOL 1245
General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
CHEM 1080
CHEM 1085
Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture
and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab
4
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy (satisfies CORE 1700) 3
DPT 1111 Self and Community in PT (satisfies CORE 1500) 1
ENGL 1900 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research (satisfies CORE 1900) 3
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 1260
BIOL 1265
General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 1480
CHEM 1485
Principles of Chemistry 2 Lecture
and Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab
4
DPT 1212 Fueling the Fire, Discovering Your Passion (satisfies CORE 1000) 2
MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus 3
CORE 1200 Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication (satisfies CORE 1200) 3
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
IPE 2100 Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context 3
PPY 2540 Human Physiology 4
PHYS 1310 College Physics I 3
PHYS 1320 College Physics I Laboratory 1
PSY 1010 General Psychology 3
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
 Credits17
Spring
ANAT 1000 Basic Human Anatomy 3
DPT 2213 Professionalism and Physical Therapy Thought (satisfies CORE 2500) 1
IPE 4200 Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice 3
PHYS 1330 College Physics II 3
PHYS 1340 College Physics II Laboratory 1
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
 Credits17
Year Three
Fall
Participation in Study Abroad Optional  
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 2-3
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
PHIL 2050
or HCE 2010
Ethics
or Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics
3
PSY 3460 Abnormal Psychology 3
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
 Credits17-18
Spring
EXSC 3230 Exercise Physiology 3
IPE 4900 Interprofessional Community Practicum (satisfies CORE 4000) 3
STAT 1100 Introduction to Statistics 3
DPT 3214 Reflections on the Core and the Future 1
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
XXXXElective (for minor) 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Summer
Professional Phase  
DPT 5011 Foundations in Physical Therap 1
ANAT 4000 Human Gross Anatomy 5
 Credits6
Fall
EXSC 5121 Clinical Biomechanics 3
DPT 5125 Therapeutic Modalities 3
DPT 5127 Basic Examination 3
DPT 5130 System-Based Pathology 4
DPT 5147 Human Growth and Development 3
 Credits16
Spring
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science - PT awarded upon completion of this semester.  
ANAT 4300 AHP Neurosciences 4
DPT 5222 Kinesiology 3
DPT 5226 Therapeutic Exercise 2
DPT 5228 Basic Procedures 2
EXSC 5241 Clinical Research and Design 2
DPT 5240 Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions 4
DPT 5290 Formation of Identity as a Physical Therapist 1
 Credits18
Year Five
Fall
DPT 5123 Clinical Gait 2
DPT 5134 Multi System Management 3
DPT 5135 Cardiopulmonary Conditions 3
DPT 5137 Aspects of Nutrition 2
DPT 5142 Evidence Based Practice 2
DPT 5149 Motor Control and Motor Learning 2
DPT 5162 Musculoskeletal Conditions II 4
 Credits18
Spring
DPT 5215 Cura Personalis as a Physical Therapist 2
DPT 5218 Effective Communication and Teaching 3
DPT 5251 Neurological Conditions I 4
DPT 5263 Musculoskeletal Conditions III 4
DPT 5271 Patient Management I 3
DPT 5291 Clinical Experience IA 2
 Credits18
Year Six
Summer
DPT 6072 Patient Management II 1
DPT 6077 Department Administration 2
DPT 6091 Clinical Experience IB 2
DPT 6092 Clinical Experience IIA 2
 Credits7
Fall
DPT 6116 Leadership and Advocacy as a Physical Therapist 2
DPT 6124 Biomechanical Interventions 3
DPT 6138 Concepts of Wellness 1
DPT 6152 Pediatric Conditions 2
DPT 6173 Patient Management III 4
DPT 6178 Applied Administration and Management 2
DPT 618XPhysical Therapy Elective (optional) 0-1
DPT 6192 Clinical Experience IIB 2
 Credits16-17
Spring
Doctor of Physical Therapy awarded upon completion of Semester 12  
DPT 6293 Clinical Experience III 3
DPT 6294 Clinical Experience IV 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits203-205

Program Notes

The six-year curriculum is divided into the pre-professional (years one through three) and the professional phase (years four through six). Year four represents the final year of the baccalaureate degree for freshman-entry or pre-professional-phase transfer students and first year of the professional phase for the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Progression to the professional phase of the program provides a seamless entry from foundational coursework to practical labs and clinical experiences. The post-baccalaureate curriculum is the coursework outlined in years four through six. 

Apply for Admission

Contact Doisy College of Health Sciences
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu