Entry-level DPT Curriculum
The entry-level DPT is 110-credit hours. The content is organized around 10 themes: Foundational Basic Science, Introductory Patient Care Skills, Foundational Clinical Science, Applied Clinical Science, Professional Engagement, Critical Inquiry, Multisystem Management across the Lifespan, Patient Management, Professional Practice and Clinical Decision Making.
Year 1
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 701 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 |
| DPT 711 | Patient Care Skills I | 3 |
| DPT 741 | Professional Engagement I | 3 |
| Total | 11 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 702 | Applied Physiology | 3 |
| DPT 703 | Foundations of Neuroscience for Physical Therapy Practice | 4 |
| DPT 712 | Patient Care Skills II | 3 |
| DPT 721 | Cells, Systems and Disease I | 2 |
| Total | 12 |
Summer Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 722 | Cells, Systems and Disease II | 2 |
| DPT 731 | Diagnostics and Pharmacology I | 1 |
| DPT 761 | Foundations of Movement Science | 5 |
| Total | 8 |
Year 2
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 862 | Fundamentals of Patient Management | 2 |
| DPT 851 | Critical Inquiry I | 2 |
| DPT 871 | Integumentary Physical Therapy | 2 |
| DPT 842 | Professional Engagement II | 3 |
| DPT 881 | Professional Practice I | 2 |
| Total | 11 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 872 | Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I | 4 |
| DPT 874 | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy | 3 |
| DPT 832 | Diagnostics and Pharmacology II | 2 |
| DPT 852 | Critical Inquiry II | 2 |
| Total | 11 |
Summer Semester
Course Number
| Course Name |
Credit Hours |
|
| DPT 833 | Diagnostics and Pharmacology III | 2 |
| DPT 873 | Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II | 4 |
| DPT 875 | Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I | 4 |
| Total | 10 |
Year 3
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 863 | Physical Therapy in Geriatrics | 3 |
| DPT 878 | Physical Therapy for Special Populations | 2 |
| DPT 843 | Professional Engagement III | 3 |
| DPT 882 | Professional Practice II | 4 |
| Total | 12 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 876 | Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II | 4 |
| DPT 877 | Orthotics and Prosthetics | 2 |
| DPT 864 | Physical Therapy in Pediatrics | 4 |
| DPT 834 | Diagnostics and Pharmacology IV | 2 |
| Total | 12 |
Summer Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 991 | Clinical Decision Making in PT Practice | 2 |
| DPT 983 | Professional Practice III | 4 |
| Total | 6 |
Year 4
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 979 | Health Promotion and Wellness | 2 |
| DPT 944 | Professional Engagement IV | 3 |
| DPT 953 | Critical Inquiry III | 3 |
| Total | 8 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| DPT 945 | Professional Engagement V | 2 |
| DPT 984 | Professional Practice IV | 6 |
| Total | 8 |
Accreditation
Effective October 25, 2022 the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Spalding University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 502-873-4449 or email physicaltherapy@spalding.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website.
Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statement
Spalding University is an equal-opportunity educational institution. The University does not discriminate against otherwise qualified individuals on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.
(Reference https://catalog.spalding.edu/?id=1085)