Doctor of
Physical Therapy1
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16200 Amber Valley Drive Whittier, CA 90604
Improve people's lives in a
growing and rewarding field.
1 YEAR TO
COMPLETION
2 Based on O*Net 2018-2028, Physical Therapists in California
2 Based on O*Net Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 wage data
CLINICAL PRACTICE
IN CALIFORNIA
Students engage in clinical activities to improve practice quality and advance evidence-based care at SCU’s University Health Center and other clinical experience sites.
ONLINE AND ON-CAMPUS LEARNING
All lecture content will be delivered online, and all lab skills will be delivered on-ground weekly, meaning students only need to come to campus two days a week.
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND CADAVER LAB
Students use virtual software help students view the intricacies of the human body, and develop manual skills. Gain experience learning in a cadaver lab.
BECOME A LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST
INTERACT WITH STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES
Interact with students from other programs while in interprofessional (IPE) coursework, so you can learn and excel side-by-side. SCU’s groundbreaking IPE model combines curriculum, clinic, community, and clubs to help students develop a broader base of knowledge and gain a deeper appreciation for different perspectives on care.
Expected growth between
2018 and 2028 (1)
Thank you for your interest in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. This DPT program takes a modern approach to teaching and learning in physical therapy. Our cutting-edge Clinical Framework for learning brings the goal of educating DPTs back to clinical expertise and guides learners toward that goal from day one. The Clinical Framework describes tasks that DPTs regularly perform in the clinic. Each course will be aligned to one or more clinical tasks from the Clinical Framework to help you know exactly why you are learning coursework and make learning relevant and easier. Developing task expertise is the goal, while knowledge is used to make that happen.
Our mission is to develop competent, caring, professional Doctors of Physical Therapy, able to thrive as integrative healthcare team members within a learning environment focused on inclusion and imbued with kindness, integrity, and determination. This means whole person, integrative health, from a DPT movement system perspective, and we aim to accomplish this in a learning environment where you thrive.
JACKLYN BRECHTER, PT, DPT, PHD
Program Director, Physical Therapy
Southern California University of Health Sciences
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Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)1 and the California jurisprudence (law) exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC).
The curriculum is mapped to the licensure exam and embeds exam prep questions throughout courses to prepare students for NPTE success, which is necessary for clinical practice as a physical therapist.
About This Program
Graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program (pending WSCUC and CAPTE1 approval) will be agents of excellence who are able to provide patient/client-centered care and thrive in a curriculum guided by a clinical framework for learning, integration of knowledge for practice with patient care skills, wellness, and evidence-based care, delivered in an environment focused on equity and imbued with kindness.
Median annual wage for physical therapists in California(2)
SCU's Holistic Admissions Process
Academic history is balanced by personal traits that reflect those needed within the healthcare environment and by skills and background characteristics to provide an opportunity for admission of students with a wide variety of strengths. This process promotes a learning community that can learn together and from each other as we all focus on developing excellence while celebrating differences.
1 Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Southern California, University of Health Sciences, is seeking accreditation for a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on June 1, 2023. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.