College of Health professions
Doctor of
Physical Therapy
Help people improve movement, function, and quality of life. Combine doctoral coursework with clinical education and community experiences to develop your skills for professional physical therapy practice.
Doctor of Physical Therapy at Findlay
Why study Doctor of Physical Therapy at Findlay?
Prepare to help people improve movement and function through clinical care. Findlay’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program combines graduate study with 33 weeks of full-time clinical education.
- Learn through clinical practice. Full-time clinical experiences are distributed throughout the three-year DPT curriculum.
- Choose an entry pathway. Explore Early Assurance, Junior Admit, or Graduate Pathway options based on your academic stage.
- Build from undergraduate study. Junior Admit students enter after three undergraduate years; graduate applicants must complete an eligible bachelor’s degree and meet the (see Undergraduate Catalog transfer policy).
Admission and progression requirements differ by pathway, so review the program’s current criteria before applying.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Doctor of Physical Therapy by the Numbers
100%
Employment rate
Traditional DPT, 2024–25 two-year average.
33
Clinical education weeks
Required in the traditional DPT program.
36
Maximum cohort size
The program caps its cohort at 36 students.
College of health professions
At a Glance
College
College of Health Professions
Degree
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Format
On-Campus
Credits
116.5 credits
For DPT cohorts entering through Summer 2028. Students entering in Summer 2029 or later complete 109 credits.
Curriculum
Course Requirements
For DPT cohorts entering through Summer 2028, the program requires 116.5 credits over nine consecutive semesters, including summer terms. This curriculum includes:
- 100 academic course credits
- 16.5 Clinical Education course credits (33 weeks)
Beginning with the DPT cohort entering in Summer 2029, the program requires 109 credits over 2.5 years of professional study. See the University of Findlay Graduate Catalog for the requirements that apply to your entering cohort.
Clinical affiliations are staggered throughout the academic portion of the curriculum to fully integrate what students have learned in the classroom. Clinical education courses are varied among all areas of clinical practice and offered through clinical sites across the United States.
Students earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree must complete the following curriculum. The curriculum consists of required courses grounded in basic science with a liberal arts foundation, content areas of physical therapy, clinical sciences, clinical education, and the role of physical therapists in an ever-changing healthcare environment. View the full curriculum in the University of Findlay Graduate Catalog.
doctor of physical therapy
Admissions Requirements
Early Assurance
The Early Assurance pathway gives motivated first-time freshmen a direct route into the DPT program while completing their undergraduate studies.
Junior Admit
The Junior Admit pathway allows qualified undergraduate students to transition seamlessly into the DPT program.
Graduate Entry
Designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree, this program combines advanced coursework with hands-on clinical experience.
opportunities
Hands-On Experience
In the Traditional DPT Program, a series of four full-time clinical education experiences, ranging from seven weeks to ten weeks, occurs throughout the curriculum. The clinical experiences begin with a seven-week clinical experience, commencing during the second summer, in any setting except specialty settings. Upon completion of the second year of coursework, the students complete an eight-week clinical in outpatient orthopedics. The fall of the student’s third year, the students complete an eight-week clinical in an acute or subacute setting. Upon completion of the remainder of the didactic portion, students complete a terminal ten-week experience in the setting of the student’s choice. The sequence is designed to give students experience in a variety of clinical settings.
beyond graduation
Careers
Physical therapists help patients improve movement and manage pain in a range of clinical settings. Professional practice requires state licensure.
- Outpatient physical therapist
- Hospital physical therapist
- Home-health physical therapist
- Pediatric or school-based physical therapist
Explore related occupations and typical entry requirements in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for physical therapists.
financial aid
Cost of Education
Graduate students can support the cost of their education in a variety of ways during their time at Findlay.
college of Health Professions
Accreditation
The Traditional DPT Program and Weekend PTA to DPT Bridge Program at The University of Findlay is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call at 419-434-4863 or email hubera@findlay.edu.
Contact Us
Need more information about the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Findlay? Have questions about admissions, curriculum, clinical education experiences, career opportunities, or student support? We’re here to help—connect with our team to learn how the Physical Therapy program prepares students to improve movement, restore function, and make a lasting impact in the lives of patients and communities.
Email: holly.haws@findlay.edu
Phone: 419-434-4863
Location: 1000 N. Main St., Findlay, OH 45840
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Explore Your Next Step
Ready to see whether Findlay fits your goals?