Program Description

Our highly ranked entry-level doctorate of physical therapy (D.P.T.) program is a three-year, full-time graduate degree program. The curriculum, with a focus on interprofessional education and quality care, ensures students have a strong foundation in clinical care and evidence-based practice. Faculty are national and international leaders in the field of physical therapy committed to offering students opportunities for scholarship, research, and professional leadership. We have relationships with over 400 clinical facilities throughout the United States and internationally where students can complete their clinical rotations. With a 100 percent employment rate among graduates, Rutgers students are sought after for residency programs and clinical practice in every practice venue. Interprofessional education is woven into the curriculum, pairing classroom learning with hand-on simulation with a wide variety of health care practitioners. Service learning opportunities include providing supervised services through a student-run free clinic and participation in an inner-city free clinic. Students are able to assist faculty in research performed in the departments' labs and other venues. Our three-year average pass rate is 99.2 percent.

The program is located on two campuses, Newark and Blackwood, New Jersey. Applicants to the doctorate of physical therapy program must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The entry-level curriculum is a full-time three-year program that prepares a student to take the licensing exam and, upon successful completion, enter the physical therapy profession as a licensed clinician capable of practicing in an autonomous and ethical manner. Graduates have skills in differential diagnosis and advanced clinical and patient management practices. They are able to understand and apply research presented in various formats to clinical decision-making and practice and are expected to help lead the profession in the changes needed for effective practice in the 21st century. The program also offers a joint D.P.T./Ph.D. program in collaboration with the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies. Rutgers students are also chosen for prestigious residency programs upon graduation. The physical therapy department has a rich tradition of academic excellence in education, research, patient care, and community service. Our program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education since 1980.