Physical Therapy

At Duquesne University, the SUCCESS of our students is the true measure of our Physical Therapy Program. The rigor of the program produces graduates who are well prepared to excel on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) that grants licensure to practice Physical Therapy. The 2021-2022 two year NPTE Ultimate Pass Rate* is 87.9% for the graduates of the Duquesne University Physical Therapy Program.

First Time and Ultimate Pass Rate

*Not all NPTE attempts reported.

Physical Therapy is a profession that is very rewarding. Our graduates are accomplished clinicians that are recognized for their skills, compassion, and empathy. These attributes are attractive to employers who seek to employ Physical Therapists from Duquesne University. The 2020-2021 two year Employment/Job Placement rate is 100% for graduates of the Duquesne University Physical Therapy Program.

*Employment data will be updated as it becomes available. 

The rigors of the Physical Therapy program are well known. The curriculum is challenging and designed to for the student to ultimately achieve licensure . The 2023-2024 two year Graduation Rate is 97.43% from the professional phase of the program.

At the completion of the doctoral program in Physical Therapy the student will:

1. Practice autonomously in a competent, safe, ethical, legal, reflective and professional manner.
2. Use evidence-based principles and clinical reasoning skills to be autonomous practitioners who determine the physical therapy diagnosis of, and direct the prevention of and interventions for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions or changes in health status.
3. Perform effective patient examination.
4. Perform effective patient evaluation.
5. Determine correct diagnoses.
6. Develop a comprehensive physical therapy plan of care.
7. Provide physical therapy interventions to achieve patient goals.
8. Utilize appropriate outcome measures.
9. Integrate prevention, health education, and wellness initiatives.
10. Demonstrate effective written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills
11. Provide healthcare education to patients, clients, families, peers, and society, using culturally appropriate teaching methods.
12. Demonstrate effective practice management.
13. Demonstrate social responsibility and altruism.
14. Demonstrate professional development, service and advocacy.
15. Apply the principles of the basic human sciences to clinical practice.
16. Apply principles of pharmacology to physical therapy practice.
17. Apply principles of medical and clinical science to physical therapy practice.

• BIOL 111/L Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Dev/Lab (4 credits)
• HLTS 115 Intro to Health & Movement Exercise Science (1 credit)
• BRDG 101 Writing & Analysis (3 credits)
• BRDG 103 Health Research and Info Skills (1 credit)
• CHEM 113/L Fundamentals of Chemistry I/Lab (5 credits)
• BRDG 105 Intro to Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)
• BIOL 112/L Biology II: Diversity, Eco, Evo/Lab (4 credits)
• ATHT 120 Elements of HS, Info Lit & Term (3 credits)
• BRDG 103 Writing & Literature (3 credits)
• CHEM 132/L Fundamentals of Chemistry II/Lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 207/208 Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab (3/1 credits)
• HLTS 225/L Current Concepts in Sports Medicine (3 credits)
• PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
• MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)
• Ethical Reasoning & Moral Responsibility: HC Ethics (3 credits)
• BIOL 209/210 Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab (3/1 credits)
• PHYT 301 Introduction to Physical Therapy (1 credit)
• PHIL Philosophy/Critical Thinking Prob Solv (3 credits)
• THEO Theology Req. (3 credits)
• Cultural Fluency and Responsiveness (3 credits)
• EQ Essential Questions Req. (3 credits)
• PBHL 301 Healthcare Delivery & Organization (3 credits)
• HLTS 311 Tests & Measures (3 credits)
• HLTS 480/R Physiology I/Recitation (3 credits)
• PHYS 201/L Physics for Life Sci I/Lab (3/1 credits)
• HLTS 435 Histology (1 credit)
• PBHL 301 Intro to Epidemiology (3 credits)
• HLTS 402W/L Nutrition & Weight Management/Lab (3/0 credits)
• HLTS 481 Physiology II (4 credits)
• HLTS 430 Principles of Research (2 credits)
• PHYS 202/L Physics for Life Sci II/Lab (3/1 credits)
• PHIL Philosophy / Common & Creative Expression (3 credits)

Our Curriculum is 6 years for students admitted as freshmen, with no application to the professional phase required.  **Beginning with the Graduating Class of 2028, our Curriculum is 5.5 years for students admitted as freshman.

Freshmen Admission Health Science/Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum

Freshmen accepted to the Physical Therapy Programs are invited to initiate a plan of study in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Health Science.*  The Health Science Degree provides foundational training in the areas of kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise prescription, nutrition, and wellness that are necessary to becoming an outstanding Physical Therapist.  The Health Science curriculum exposes Doctor of Physical Therapy students to Interdisciplinary Education of various Health-Related fields including Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Global Health, Assistive Technology, and Healthcare Ethics in preparation to meet contemporary national and international healthcare needs and demands.  Students complete fundamental science coursework in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology, Psychology, and Statistics with flexibility to shape their general education requirements within the (Bridges Common Learning Experience).

Students who have attained pre-requisite benchmarks (including an overall and pre-requisite GPA of 3.0) may begin their studies in the Professional Phase of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the conclusion of their 3rd year of study.  During the 4th year of study students engage in courses that advance knowledge of Human Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Physiology.  These courses conclude the requirements for completion of the Bachelor of Science in Health Science Degree and mark the beginning of their Professional Phase studies specific to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.  After achieving a rigorous plan of study in the clinical sciences of Physical Therapy, students receive the respected and distinguishable Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree.

*An individualized undergraduate plan of study in another discipline (such as Biology or Psychology) may be substituted for the Health Science Curriculum with Department Chair approval.

• Prospective undergraduate transfer students should have graduated from an approved secondary school
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Achieved an SAT score (Math + Verbal) of 1170 or better (if taken in 2016 or later); 1100 or better (if taken prior to 2016) or a composite ACT of 24 or better.
• Documentation of forty (40) of shadowing, volunteer, or paid experience in physical therapy
• Completion of 100 hours of shadowing, volunteer or paid experience in two different physical therapy setting is required prior to admission into the professional phase.
• Pre-requisite Course Work with GPA of 3.0 or higher with no less than "C" grade in all pre-requisite course by the end of year three (3) which includes: two (2) courses with labs in biology, chemistry, and physics as well as one course in anatomy with lab and one course in physiology with lab. Alternatively, a two course sequence in anatomy & physiology is acceptable (these course must be equivalent to those taken by science majors and must be taken at a four-year degree-granting institution); three (3) credits in introductions to biostatistics/statistics; three credits (3) or more in psychology.
• Applicants who have not completed four years of high school must submit a High School Equivalency Diploma issued by their state department of education

The curriculum for transfer students will vary depending on previous coursework completed.

The curriculum for transfer students will vary depending on previous coursework completed. Our best approximation is the Freshmen Admission Curriculum.

The curriculum is three (3) years in duration. At the end of your third year, you will graduate with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). The Rangos School of Health Sciences will review your application based on the following guidelines:

• Undergraduate degree from a four-year, degree-granting institution
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• GRE score of 303 or higher. GRE scores must be from last 5 years.
• Pre-requisites Course work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher with no less than a "C" grade in all prerequisite courses which includes: Two courses with labs in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; Three (3) credits in Introduction to Biostatistics/Statistics; Three (3) credits or more in Psychology. A two course sequence (six [6] credits) in Anatomy & Physiology with labs. All prerequisite courses must be taken at a four year, degree granting institution.
• Documentation of 100 hours of volunteer, paid or shadowing hours with a licensed PT. Volunteering/shadowing must be evenly divided between at least two different areas of physical therapy practice
• Three professional references (references will not be accepted from a family member, friend, or PTA)

If offered admission, the following will also be required:

• CPR certification (adult, infant, and child)
• Verification of all Pre-Clinical Health Requirements
• Physical Exam
• Verification of Health Insurance

Admission to the professional program as a graduate student is limited. Typically, we have between five and fifteen seats available for this pathway to admission. Consequently, for you to compete well for one of these seats you should probably have higher than the minimum criteria mentioned above. In particular, students who are competitive for these seats will have:

• GPA at 3.5 or higher
• GPA for prerequisite courses of 3.5 or higher
• GRE at 308 or higher. GRE scores must be from last 5 years.

Although space is limited for this admission pathway, we very much value our graduate students as an integral part of the class and strongly encourage qualified applicants to apply.

To apply for graduate admission, please go to Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service: www.ptcas.org

You must also complete a short, free Duquesne University supplemental application to be considered.

CAPTE has a mechanism to consider formal complaints about physical therapy education programs (PT or PTA) that allege a program is not in compliance with one or more of CAPTE's Evaluative Criteria (for complaints about events occurring before December 31, 2015) or the Standards and Required Elements (for complaints addressing events occurring January 1, 2016 and thereafter) or has violated any of CAPTE's expectations related to academic integrity. CAPTE will consider two types of complaints: those that involve situations subject to formal institution/program due process policies and procedures and those that involve situations not subject to formal due process procedures. In order for CAPTE to consider a formal complaint, several conditions must be met.

The complaint must be specifically linked to the relevant Evaluative Criteria (or Standards and Elements, as appropriate) (PT or PTA) or to the integrity statements.

The complainant must have exhausted all remedies available through the institution, if appropriate.
The complaint must be submitted in writing, using the format prescribed by CAPTE, and must be signed by the complainant.

The event(s) being complained about must have occurred at least in part within three (3) years of the date the complaint is filed.

To obtain the materials necessary for submitting a complaint, contact the APTA Accreditation Department at (703) 706-3245 or at accreditation@apta.org.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/

The Physical Therapy Department encourages those with a legitimate relationship to the program (e.g. prospective and enrolled students, clinical education sites, employers of graduates, the general public), to express their concerns to, or file a written complaint against, the Department. The Department takes all program-related complaints seriously and will act upon any complaints in an expedient, consistent manner without retaliating against the complainant(s).

This policy applies only if all of the following three criteria are satisfied:

1) The compliant is directly related to the work of the Department of Physical Therapy;
2) The complainant is not a member of the University community (faculty member, or staff employee); and
3) either the complainant's status as described in (2) of the nature of the complaint itself means that no University or Rangos School of Health Sciences (RSHS) grievance policy or procedure is applicable.

This policy exists to address complaints about the program not overtly addressed by existing procedures described in the Undergraduate or Graduate Handbooks, the Faculty Handbook, The Administrative Policies (including #30 & #31), the RSHS Academic Student Handbook, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Student Handbook or the Clinical Education Manual. Where an existing University, RSHS or departmental policy (or procedure) conflicts with a provision of this policy, the University, RSHS or departmental policy shall prevail.

Procedure:
1) All complaints shall be in writing, signed by the complainant, dated and filed within one year from the event in question.  Phone calls, anonymous and email submissions will not be accepted.

2) All complaints shall be submitted to the following address:
     Chairperson - Physical Therapy Department
     139 Rangos School of Health Sciences
     Duquesne University
     Pittsburgh, PA  15282

3) Within ten business days of receipt, the Physical Therapy Department Chairperson will discuss the complaint with the complainant.  If dialog with the complainant successfully resolves the matter, the Department Chairperson will acknowledge resolution of the complaint with a letter sent to the complainant.  The Physical Therapy Chairperson will maintain a confidential copy of the original complaint and response.

4) If the complainant is not satisfied with the response/decision of the Physical Therapy Department Chairperson or if the complaint is about the Physical Therapy Chairperson, the complainant will be referred to the Dean of the RSHS.  The Dean will issue a written response to the complainant within fifteen business days of receipt of the original complaint.

5) If the complainant is not satisfied with the response/decision of the Dean of the RSHS, the complainant may, within ten business days of receiving the response/decision, request a review by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (the Provost).  This request shall be in writing, signed by the complainant, dated and sent to the Provost with a copy of the original complaint and the response from the Dean of the RSHS.

6) The Provost shall respond to the request for review in writing within ten business days of receiving it.  The decision of the Provost shall be final and not subject to further review.

7) Records of all confidential correspondence shall be maintained by the Physical Therapy Program in accordance with the University's policy on document retention.