<p>Hi! Anybody out here have any suggestions on this topic? My son is interested in doing a degree in the field, specializing in sports rehab. How are the U Del, U Pitt, Boston U, Northeastern, Syracuse, Ithaca and U of Il in Chicago programs? I'd appreciate some advice.</p>
<p>The Sargeant School at Boston University is one of the top physical therapy programs in the country. Physical therapy programs, however, are usually 6 year programs at this point…not a four year bachelors…that culminates in the equivalent of a doctorate type of degree.</p>
<p>Northeastern has a 6 year program, you end up with a Doctorate in PT. There may be a few others like that, but I think most other programs are graduate programs. I don’t believe there are any certified programs which will give you a degree in Physical Therapy in 4 years. There are many schools that offer an undergrad in Exercise Science, Sports Training or (forgive me, I’m about to butcher the spelling on this) Kinesiology, but you’d need to go to grad school to get a masters or doctorate to be considered a Physical Therapist. </p>
<p>Northeastern’s program is very highly rated. Gettysburg also has a pre-health professions program that will guarantee admission to Drexel for their DPT program as long as you meet certain requirements (minimum undergrad GPA, correct courses, etc).</p>
<p>You must now have a doctorate or DPT to be a practicing physical therapist. Some schools offer 6 year programs for freshmen. Otherwise, there is no undergrad degree in PT; instead, schools might offer ex science or kinesiology degree programs along with advising that ensures you get your pre-reqs for grad school. You would also need to take the GRE. The 6 year programs are nice for those who know they want PT – you bypass what is often a very competitive process as far as GPAs and GRE scores.
Go to the website for the American Physical Therapy Association – they have a list of all accredited programs.</p>
<p>A DPT will be the required standard very soon, so all school have moved to this format. You can not practice with a BS you must have at least an MS today and a DPT starting very soon.</p>
<p>I can speak to the Ithaca program and what we liked was that it was one of the very few that you were accepted as a freshman all the way through to the DPT. It is a highly regarded program with a very high pass rate on the national exam. Another benefit was that the site affiliations started in the undergraduate years and the site selection were all over the country, including Hawaii. You do get a BS in Clinical Science/PT after 4 years so if you decide PT is not for you at least you’ve got a decent degree to move forward with in a different direction.</p>
<p>PM me if you want any specific details, DS is in the 5th year now.</p>
<p>UDel, Pitt, Syracuse, and UIC would be grad school only, if I’m not mistaken. D is in a six year program at Marquette.</p>
<p>SLU has a six-year program- undergrad in three years, DPT in three more.</p>
<p>Yes, SLU (Saint Louis University) and Marquette are both excellent programs.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure this is true. While it is true there are no BS in Physical Therapy programs, I’m almost positive one can still practice PT with only a BS.</p>
<p>The University of Scranton offers a DPT program. Exceptional high school applicants can apply for a guaranteed seat in the DPT program at the time they apply for undergrad admission. A friend of S’s was accepted this way and is currently in progress as an ex. science major. It is not required to major in ex. science, but they do recommend a science based major such as biology or neuroscience as they include the DPT requisites. </p>
<p>Sacred Heart in CT also offers a DPT program.</p>
<p>I think I have heard that Quinnipiac has a good program</p>
<p>UIC now only offers the DPT program. It is very hard to get admitted. There are only 36 seats a year in that program. Almost all of them go to IL residents. They got rid of the Masters only a few years ago. UIC does have a guaranteed admissions program for PT. For some guaranteed admissions programs at UIC, you do have to be an IL resident.</p>
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<p>Where I am…if you are currently practicing with a bachelors or masters in PT, you will be allowed to continue (grandfather clause). New PT licenses are being granted to DPTs only. This may not be true in all places…so YMMV. </p>
<p>My understanding from my PT buddies is that the DPT will be the standard for licensing virtually everywhere very soon. Most college programs have moved in that direction.</p>
<p>There may be some schools that still offer a Bachelors or masters program…but if you have to have the DPT to get licensed…that is where you should be enrolling.</p>
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<p>No I think you’re right on. In fact, I don’t know of any BS programs still around and very few MS programs. Almost everything is DPT. But like you said, those with “lesser” degrees are grandfathered…</p>
<p>Many thanks! I have heard the program is great, but hard to get into. But that would be a top choice.</p>
<p>UConn has a nice program:
[Neag</a> School of Education - Department of Physical Therapy](<a href=“http://www.education.uconn.edu/departments/pt/]Neag”>http://www.education.uconn.edu/departments/pt/)</p>
<p>Thanks so much everybody for your feedback. I appreciate it!</p>