START

June

CREDITS

120

CAMPUS

Providence

FORMAT

In Person

Functional Movement to Improve Quality of Life

JUNE 2026 START • 30 MONTHS (8 SEMESTERS) • COHORT MODEL 

Imagine helping a patient recover mobility after a stroke or rebound from a painful sports injury. Physical therapists (PTs) work collaboratively with doctors, surgeons and healthcare providers to develop treatment plans for preventive, rehabilitative and functional patient care. JWU Providence’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program trains the next generation for entry-level clinical practice in this growing field.

Building upon JWU’s expertise in healthcare, wellness and nutrition, this 8-semester, full-time program prepares graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and to practice as doctors of physical therapy. Over the course of the program, learn to effectively develop and implement a PT exam, diagnosis, prognosis and care plan.

With 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE), service work, and a research capstone, JWU’s DPT curriculum will help you gain a versatile skillset that can be applied to virtually all facets of PT, including outpatient therapy, inpatient rehabilitation and home health services.

_{Admissions is contingent upon meeting the essential functions for this program. Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. For more information, visit the Catalog’s Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.}

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Program Structure

• Year 1: Build foundations in evidence-based medicine, musculoskeletal anatomy, patient safety, exercise physiology and biomechanics.
• Year 2: Advance to interconnected body systems; begin clinical experience.
• Year 3: Culminates in 36 weeks of full-time clinical
  education. In addition, complete a research capstone and licensure review.

Hands-on Learning

• 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Education (ICE)
• 45 hours of community service-learning opportunities
• 3 systems-based practical exams
• Qualifying exam and practical to prepare for clinical experience

What Makes JWU’s Doctorate in Physical Therapy Unique?

As the second program in the state and the only program in northern RI, JWU’s DPT program takes advantage of Rhode Island’s economic strengths in health services and education.

The DPT program is housed in the Bowen Center for Science and Innovation, an applied learning hub where you will work collaboratively with students from the College of Health & Wellness (COHW), including those in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, dietetics and applied nutrition, exercise and sports science, health science and public health.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects this field to grow by 15% through 2032 (an average of 13,900 projected annual job openings). As of May 2024, the BLS reports $101,020 as the median pay for physical therapists.

Interdisciplinary work is built into the curriculum, including:

• Exploring the preventive benefits of nutrition with the College of Food Innovation & Technology (CFIT).
• Assessing movement and working conditions in CFIT kitchens as a way to reduce workplace injuries.
• Working with hospitality students to refine their ability to interpret communication cues.
• Providing adaptive sport exercise and recreation offerings to individuals with disabilities, including wheelchair rugby and sled hockey.

Physical Therapy Labs

Housed within JWU’s Bowen Center, the DPT program utilizes a range of customized labs and spaces, including:

• Two dedicated physical therapy labs
• Simulation labs:
  Hospital room, ICU and emergency room
  Labor and delivery rooms
  Home setup with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom
• Cadaver lab
• Pediatric lab
• Human performance lab with Olympic lifting platforms and Biodex isokinetic devices
• Assessment lab featuring human physiology testing equipment, including the BODPOD, a motion-capture system, Quark Metabolic Cart, Robotic Cycle Ergometer and a 25 mph/25° incline treadmill

Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum

SEMESTER 1

• Patient Mobility & Safety
• Exercise Physiology & Wellness
• Foundations for Physical Therapy Practice
• Foundations of Evidenced‐Based Medicine
• Anatomy

SEMESTER 2

• Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development I
• Biomechanics
• Musculoskeletal System I
• Pathophysiology
• Pain Neuroscience
• Research Seminar I

SEMESTER 3

• Motor Control
• Musculoskeletal System II
• Psychosocial Theory & Practice
• Essentials of Rehabilitation Technology
• Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum I
• Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Integumentary Examination & Treatment
• Health Promotion & Wellness

SEMESTER 4

• Neuroanatomy for the Physical Therapist

• Service Learning
• Neurological Examination & Treatment
• Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum II
• Research Seminar II
• Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development II

SEMESTER 5

• Healthcare Management
• Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum III
• Physical Therapy for Genitourinary Health
• Comprehensive Skills Review & Qualifying Examination
• Professional Development III

SEMESTER 6

• Clinical Education Experience I
• Diagnostic Imaging

SEMESTER 7

• Clinical Education Experience II
• DPT Capstone

SEMESTER 8

• Clinical Education Experience III
• Licensure Review & PEAT

Review the full curriculum in the JWU Catalog:

JWU Providence Catalog: DPT