Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctoral Degree
Hybrid Program
- Next Start Dates
- January 03, 2023
- Apply By
- November 30, 2022
Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum
Given our accelerated curriculum, you can graduate in as few as two years, giving you the potential to start your career earlier.6 During the program, you’ll participate in virtual sessions, online courses, in-person learning experiences and hands-on clinical education—without having to relocate.12
Want to hear from our faculty about the program? Sign up for an information session
On this page:
Your Doctor of Physical Therapy Courses
We are one of the first DPT programs in the country to use a competency-based education model—something we call Empowered Learning™. Find out more >
Your DPT courses are organized into five primary groups:
| Subject Immersion | 3-day, live online courses to kick off the quarter with your cohort and faculty |
| Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice | 11-week online CBE courses |
| Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice | 11-week online CBE courses |
| Physical Therapy Immersion | 6- to 11-day courses in person in Minnesota |
| Physical Therapy Clinical Education Experiences | Three 10-week clinical rotations |
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Subject Immersion Courses
During the first week of five quarters, you’ll spend time immersed in subjects critical to the physical therapy profession. For three full days, your faculty will lead you through live, online sessions, setting you up to explore the subjects further in your online courses.
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Online CBE Courses
In this DPT program, you’ll take two types of online CBE courses: Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice and Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice. Both types of courses last 11 weeks and are designed with our competency-based education model. They will help you understand the scientific foundations of physical therapy practice as well as the art and science of becoming a skilled physical therapist.
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Physical Therapy Immersion Courses
These courses will take place in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Five times throughout this program, you’ll join your cohort and faculty for 6–11 days to practice what you’ve been learning online. You’ll participate in hands-on simulations and immersive labs. You’ll also focus on developing your clinical reasoning and decision-making skills—ultimately helping you prepare for your clinical education experiences.10
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Clinical Experience
Near the end of your program, you’ll complete 30 weeks of full-time clinical education—putting your skills into practice in the real world. With clinical locations across the country, we’ll help you get experience in diverse settings across a continuum of care. Under the guidance of experienced physical therapists, you’ll prepare to enter the workforce as a confident clinician.10
What Makes the Rasmussen University DPT Program Special?
Hear from our faculty about what makes this program exciting.
Year 1
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Winter Quarter 1
- Subject Immersion I: Introduction to the Profession, 3 Virtual Days
- Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice I, 11 Weeks Online
- Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice I, 11 Weeks Online
- Physical Therapy Immersion I, 6 Days on Site
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Spring Quarter 2
- Subject Immersion II: The Influence of the Social Determinants of Health on Communication, Attitudes and Behaviors, 3 Virtual Days
- Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice II, 11 Weeks Online
- Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice II, 11 Weeks Online
- Physical Therapy Immersion II, 8 Days on Site
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Summer Quarter 3
- Subject Immersion III: Clinical Informatics and Healthcare Technologies, 3 Virtual Days
- Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice III, 11 Weeks Online
- Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice III, 11 Weeks Online
- Physical Therapy Immersion III, 8 Days on Site
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Fall Quarter 4
- Subject Immersion IV: Principles of Value-Based Physical Therapy Care, 3 Virtual Days
- Foundational Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice IV, 11 Weeks Online
- Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice IV, 11 Weeks Online
- Physical Therapy Immersion IV, 8 Days on Site
Year 2
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Winter Quarter 5
- Physical Therapy Clinical Education Experience I, 10 Weeks at Clinical Site
- Legal and Ethical Accountabilities in Physical Therapy Practice, 11 Weeks Online
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Spring Quarter 6
- Subject Immersion V: Comprehensive Patient/Client Management Across the Lifespan, 3 Virtual Days
- Clinical Sciences of Physical Therapy Practice V, 11 Weeks Online
- Physical Therapy Immersion V, 11 Days on Site
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Summer Quarter 7
- Physical Therapy Clinical Education Experience II, 10 Weeks at Clinical Site
- Healthcare Business and Marketing, 11 Weeks Online
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Fall Quarter 8
- Physical Therapy Clinical Education Experience III, 10 Weeks at Clinical Site
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Capstone, 11 Weeks Online
What is Empowered Learning™?
Empowered Learning is what we call our competency-based education model. It’s how we built many of the online courses in this program. Instead of just helping you pass tests, your education should prepare you with real-world competencies.
That means thinking about curriculum and coursework in a new way. Assignments are designed to help you develop and then demonstrate your skills. They mirror what you’ll actually do as a physical therapist so that you can become a confident, well-rounded clinician.
“It's not like you learn something in quarter one, and then when it comes time to take your boards, you haven't seen it since quarter one. It's interwoven and added and built upon throughout the curriculum.”
Deborah Zagray, PT, DScPT, CMPT
Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor
Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!
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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.
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 March 31, 2022] www.bls.gov/oes/. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed March 31, 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.