Program Description

Our highly ranked entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program is a 2.5 year, full-time degree program that prepares students for excellence in physical therapy.�The long-established Doctor of Physical Therapy program, centrally located on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences campus in Newark, NJ, has been continuously accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education since 1980. Our DPT program continues to build on its vast array of clinical sites, fostering strong relationships with clinical facilities throughout the United States and internationally where students can complete their clinical rotations. Our program aligns with SHP's Center for Rehabilitation Excellence on the RBHS-Newark Campus provides students with outstanding opportunities for research and interprofessional collaboration.

Faculty are national and international leaders in the field of physical therapy. They are committed to offering students opportunities for scholarship, research, and professional leadership. Scholarly work by faculty and students is regularly accepted for dissemination at national and international conferences, and by top journals in our faculty members fields of expertise.

The curriculum, with a focus on interprofessional education and quality care, ensures students have a strong foundation in clinical care and evidence-based practice. Interprofessional education is woven into the curriculum, pairing classroom learning with hand-on simulation with a wide variety of health care practitioners. Learning opportunities include students providing supervised services through a student-run free clinic. Students are able to assist faculty in research performed in the department labs and nearby clinical venues. We have relationships with over 400 clinical facilities throughout the United States and internationally where students can complete their clinical rotations. With a 98% employment rate among graduates (within one year of graduation), Rutgers DPT students are sought after for residency programs and clinical practice in every practice venue.

Applicants to the DPT program must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The entry-level curriculum prepares students to take the licensing exam and, upon successful completion, enter the physical therapy profession as a 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. 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. the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, 3.0 APTA,2014).