Physical Therapy (Transitional D.P.T.)
The Marymount University transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t.D.P.T.) program develops licensed practitioners with a master's- or bachelor's-level education into doctors of physical therapy. Offered in association with Rehab Essentials Inc., this fully online program employs a dynamic learning-in-context environment that is designed to engage learners at their speed and level within their context of practice.
There are three anticipated start windows for a cohort each year: January, May, and August. Each cohort will follow in sequence the progression of courses listed below associated with their degree entry point. The bachelor's to D.P.T. program is 30 credits long and is completed in seven semesters. The master's to D.P.T. program is 30 credits long (with the potential of up to 6 credits of course waivers) and designed to be completed in five or seven semesters.
Upon successful completion of the t.D.P.T. program, students will be better equipped to incorporate all aspects of current PT patient management and professional practice responsibilities consistent with Marymount's entry-level D.P.T. program expectations:
- function independently, managing patients with a wide variety of simple or complex conditions;
- perform skilled physical therapist examinations, interventions, and clinical reasoning proficiently and consistently;
- apply best available scientific evidence, clinical judgment, and patient preferences in physical therapy patient management;
- manage a full-time physical therapist’s caseload to achieve resource-efficient and patient-effective outcomes;
- exhibit care, compassion, and empathy in delivering physical therapy services sensitive to individual, cultural, and social differences; and
- implement a self-directed plan for professional development and lifelong learning.
It is anticipated that these program outcomes will translate to t.D.P.T. students reporting improved professional performance as evidenced by such behaviors as
- increased commitment to the ideals of the profession;
- consistent application of critical thinking paradigms into clinical decision making and patient management approaches;
- ability to apply higher-level principles of management and leadership in professional practice environments;
- ability to transition from a general consumer of scientific literature to using the scientific literature to inform best practice decisions; and
- increased awareness and engagement in contemporary issues of practice.
The transitional doctor of physical therapy program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Admission Requirements and Eligibility:
1. U.S. Bachelor's-Trained Practitioners Interested in the D.P.T.
If you attained your B.P.T. or B.S.P.T. from a CAPTE-accredited institute:
- official transcript(s)
- copy of U.S. physical therapy license
If you attained your B.P.T. or B.S.P.T. from a non-CAPTE (or foreign) institute:
- official transcript(s)
- copy of U.S. physical therapy license
- academic equivalency report from a NACES- or AICE-approved agency
2. U.S. Master's-Trained Practitioners Interested in the D.P.T.
If you attained your M.P.T. or M.S.P.T. from a CAPTE-accredited institute:
- official transcript(s)
- copy of U.S. physical therapy license
If you attained your M.P.T. or M.S.P.T. from a non-CAPTE (or foreign) institute:
- official transcript(s)
- copy of U.S. physical therapy license
- academic equivalency report from a NACES- or AICE-approved agency
Due Dates: All material must be postmarked no later than the date(s) identified on marymount.rehabessentials.com. Spots are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Minimum Grade and Academic Progression Requirements: Physical therapy students must meet all of the university academic standards for graduate students. In addition, physical therapy students are expected to receive a minimum grade of C in all required courses. If a student does not attain a grade of C or higher, they will be allowed to remediate that course in the following semester. In the case of the remediation course, the student will need to attain a B or better. Should a student not be able to attain a B or better in the remediation course, the student may be dismissed from the program.
Degree Requirements — Physical Therapy (t.D.P.T.) Post-Bachelor's
30 credits
Semester One
| PT 772 | Pharmacology in Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PT 774 | Clinical Decision Making: Utilizing the Guide to PT Practice | 1 |
Semester Two
| PT 773 | Legal and Ethical Issues for Physical Therapists | 1 |
| PT 775 | Business and Marketing | 2 |
Semester Three
| PT 771 | Medical Imaging in Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PT 776 | Documentation, Coding, Payment, and Compliance | 1 |
| PT 777 | Professionalism — The Doctoring Profession | 2 |
Semester Four
| PT 770 | Screening for Medical Disorders | 2 |
| PT 778 | Critical Assessment of the Literature and Evidence-Informed Practice | 3 |
Semester Five
| PT 780 | Clinical Reasoning in Orthopedic and Manual Therapy | 2 |
| PT 781 | Management of Patients with Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders | 2 |
Semester Six
| PT 782 | Management of Patients with Neurological Disorders | 2 |
| PT 783 | Management of Patients with Integumentary Disorders | 2 |
| PT 784 | Foundations in Population Health | 2 |
Semester Seven