Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Courses
Entry-level DPT Courses
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
DPT 851
Critical Inquiry I
2
Total
10
Year 2
Fall Semester
Course Number
Course Name
Credit Hours
DPT 862
Fundamentals of Patient Management
3
DPT 851
Critical Inquiry II
2
DPT 842
Professional Engagement II
3
DPT 872
Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I
4
Total
12
Spring Semester
Course Number
Course Name
Credit Hours
DPT 873
Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II
4
DPT 874
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
3
DPT 832
Diagnostics and Pharmacology II
2
DPT 881
Professional Practice I
2
Total
11
Summer Semester
Course Number
Course Name
Credit Hours
DPT 833
Diagnostics and Pharmacology III
2
DPT 871
Integumentary Physical Therapy
2
DPT 875
Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I
4
Total
8
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.
