Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctoral Degree
Hybrid Program
- Next Start Dates
- January 03, 2023
- Apply By
- November 30, 2022
Your Hybrid DPT Program: Make a Difference Through Movement
Currently, this program is NOT eligible for participation in Title IV federal student aid programs.
Join in the century-long tradition of restoring and improving patients’ quality of life through our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Together with our experienced faculty, you and your cohort will create a vibrant learning community.
With support all along the way, you’ll find that how you learn is just as important as what you learn. Our hybrid model combines the benefits of online courses, in-person learning and community-based clinical education.
In your online DPT courses, you’ll explore and discuss the material, forming connections in live, virtual sessions. Then, you’ll work at your own pace with our competency-based education model, giving you a strong scientific foundation to build on.
Five times throughout the program, you’ll travel to our campus in Eagan, Minnesota, for in-person learning experiences to refine your skills and practice hands-on care. Finally, through 30 weeks of full-time clinical education, you’ll prepare for the workforce and begin your own legacy of helping others feel, move and live better.
This unique blend of learning formats will allow you to connect with a national network of clinicians—without having to relocate for your program. In as few as two years,6 you’ll learn how to become a well-rounded physical therapist, health advocate and thought leader in the evolving healthcare system.
Want to hear from our faculty about the program? Sign up for an information session
On this page:
"We teach you how to think like a physical therapist . . . not to treat like I do, or the way that we've historically treated people, but to be ready to treat the next problem, the problems we haven't thought of yet.”
Petra Williams, PT, PhD, NCS
Professor
Why Earn Your Physical Therapy Degree at Rasmussen University?
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Holistic Approach to DPT
Rarely does an injury affect just one part of the body. So why study it that way? Our DPT courses focus on treating patients holistically. You’ll look at physical, psychosocial and even economic factors. With our approach, your learning will closely match what physical therapists see in their day-to-day work.
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History of Online Education
Rasmussen University has 20 years of experience building online courses. That’s 20 years of leadership in innovation. We have the infrastructure and technology to make online learning an engaging and worthwhile experience for you. Your faculty are experts in physical therapy and are highly qualified for teaching in a hybrid environment.
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Empowered Learning™
Many of the online courses in this DPT program are designed with our competency-based education model: Empowered Learning™. You’ll complete activities based on specific competencies. Then, you’ll demonstrate your mastery of those competencies through real-world projects.
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Increasing Projected Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 21% from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.5 The large aging population, increase in chronic conditions and advances in medical technology all lend to the need for more physical therapists.
Get to Know Our Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Help people feel, move and live better with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rasmussen University. You’ll complete our hybrid program in two years, experiencing the best of online courses, in-person learning and comprehensive clinical education. For 20-plus years, Rasmussen University has been a leader in online learning and innovating higher education. We have the expertise to make your virtual courses engaging and worthwhile—whether you’re at home or checking in from your phone. Our curriculum features competency-based education to help you develop skills key to a successful career in physical therapy. You’ll explore the full spectrum of patient management through real-world experiences, mirroring what you’ll do in the field. Feedback between you and your faculty is on-going, giving you frequent opportunities to absorb and master the material. So, you won’t just be learning to pass a test. You’ll be working to transform into a well-rounded, confident clinician. To put your online learning into practice, you’ll travel to the Twin Cities in Minnesota five times throughout your program. Along with your cohort, you’ll participate in residential immersion labs lasting 6 to 11 days each. You’ll work closely with your faculty to further develop your practical skills as well as clinical reasoning and decision making. Finally, you’ll complete 30 weeks of clinical education under the guidance of physical therapists. With clinical locations across the country, we’ll help you look for opportunities to gain diverse experience. Our faculty is dedicated to mentoring you throughout your doctoral program. Given our innovative program model, we attract outstanding educators from around the nation—giving you direct access to their knowledge and mentorship. You’ll also have the chance to meet students from different states, expanding your professional network of people just as passionate about physical therapy as you are. All along the way, you’ll have the support of our team including:
- Graduate Services Advisors to guide you from start to finish,
- Graduate Librarians to help you with research,
- 24/7 tech support, career advisors and more.
Plus, you’ll have your cohort and faculty to lean on day-to-day. As you learn to help others by becoming a health advocate and thought leader in physical therapy, we’re here to help you. To learn more about this program, you can sign up for a DPT information session.
Tuition & Savings
Do the Math
We set out to strike the perfect balance between high-quality education and affordable tuition. Our accelerated format and online courses help to reduce campus costs and relocation expenses—making your investment more manageable.
Currently, this program is NOT eligible for participation in Title IV federal student aid programs.
View the Course Catalog and Refund Policy
$595 cost per credit
x 135 total credits
_______________________
$80,325 total tuition
+ $5,720 total fees
_______________________
$86,045 estimated total program cost
Other Ways to Save
Talk to an admissions advisor to learn how you could save on your DPT program with military grants and scholarship opportunities. We offer a 10% tuition grant to active-duty service members, National Guard, Reserve, retired military and veterans, and their families. Plus, the American Physical Therapy Association®8 publishes an annual list of scholarships that you may qualify for.
Learn more about:
Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!
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Graduate-Level Support
You do the hard work of learning, and we’ll make sure you’ve got the support to succeed, including:
- Graduate services advisors to support you from start to finish. You’ll always have someone to turn to for help with questions about your class schedule, attendance requirements, billing information, resources and more.
- Graduate librarians to help you with graduate-level research. They have access to a vast library and can help you locate and review materials to support your learning.
- Clinical support to help you evaluate and secure clinical locations, guiding you through the experience.
You’ll also have access to 24/7 tech support, career advisors, disability services, mental wellness support and more. Plus, you’ll have your cohort and faculty to lean on day-to-day. As you learn to help others, we’re here to help you.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)7
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 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.
Rasmussen University-Graduate Studies North (MN) is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On June 1st, 2022, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not ensure 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 ensure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Formal Complaints about PT Programs to CAPTE
CAPTE has a mechanism to consider formal complaints about physical therapy education programs if a concern exists that the program is not in compliance with one or more of CAPTE’s Standards and Required Elements or has violated any of CAPTE’s expectations related to academic integrity. For more information regarding these complaints, please refer to the CAPTE website (https://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/).Academic Appeals and Grievance Policy
Rasmussen University has a mechanism to consider formal complaints by individuals who have dealing with the University (i.e. prospective student, clinical education site, employer of a graduate, general public). No retaliatory action may be made by the University or any of its representatives against those who file a grievance or participate in the resolution of the process. The University will investigate and attempt to resolve each grievance made under this policy, and associated allegations of retaliation. Follow the link to the Catalog and Student Handbook, University Policies, B. Grievance Procedure section to follow the procedure to present a complaint.
To find the procedure for an individual to present a complaint through the B. Grievance Procedure, view the course catalog.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term.
- Graduates of the Health Sciences Associate’s degree program with a specialization in Pharmacy Technician meet the education requirements needed to apply for a Pharmacy Technician license or registration from the board or pharmacy or equivalent agency in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WI, WY. Other eligibility requirements may apply, please check with the board of pharmacy or equivalent agency in your state of residence. This program may not meet the educational requirements needed to apply for a Pharmacy Technician license or registration in states not listed above, please check with the board of pharmacy or equivalent agency in your state of residence for further information.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [salary data accessed July 2022] www.bls.gov/oes/. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed July 2022] www.bls.gov/ooh/. BLS salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Study. Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment, 2020. Accessed on March 31, 2022. Data is for persons age 25 and older who are full-time wage and salary earners. https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed March 31, 2022] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
- Completion time depends on maintaining full-time study and completing all scheduled courses with the cohort.
- CAPTE Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education is a registered trademark of American Physical Therapy Association.
- American Physical Therapy Association is a registered trademark of American Physical Therapy Association.
- TOEFL iBT is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service.
- Students are responsible for costs associated with all travel expenses for the immersion lab experience and clinical education experiences.
- GRE® is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service.
- Students are required to travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, five times throughout the program for 6 to 11 days each time. Students are responsible for costs associated with all travel expenses for the immersion lab experience and clinical education experiences.
- NPTE is a registered trademark of Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.