Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctoral Degree
Hybrid Program
- Next Start Dates
- January 03, 2023
- Apply By
- November 30, 2022
A DPT Program with Educators Committed to Your Success
With our future-focused model, we attract inspired faculty from across the nation. They have extensive experience working in physical therapy and contributing to the field through publications, presentations and professional associations. Our faculty are dedicated to helping you reach your learning goals and mentoring you throughout your doctoral experience.
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On this page:
“The team that we've created is probably the best team I've ever worked with in my 17 years of educator experience. We are a committed group who are looking forward to creating the future of what we think DPT education should be.”
Petra Williams PT, PhD, NCS
Associate Professor
Meet Your Faculty
All our faculty members are doctorally prepared, ensuring you get the highest level of instruction and support.
Carl DeRosa, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA
- Program Director
As Program Director, I work with and lead a team of core faculty in developing and implementing an innovative, competency-based education program—one of the first in the country.
My research interests:
- Human anatomy and biomechanics
- Orthopedic and sports physical therapy
- Health and wellness
Deborah Zagray, PT, DScPT, CMPT
- Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor
As the Director of Clinical Education, I am your go-to person for anything and everything related to clinical education. My goal is to provide you with high-quality clinical education experiences that will help you fall in love with physical therapy.
My research interests:
- Competency-based education
- Hybrid DPT programs
- Simulation
Daniel Lee, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, COMT
- Director of Curriculum Integration and Delivery, Professor
My goal is to make sure our DPT curriculum translates into a positive learning experience. I work as a conduit between the many moving parts of the program, ensuring that no student gets left behind.
My research interests:
- Geriatric physical therapy
- Limb loss rehabilitation
- Prosthetics and orthotics
Karen Mueller, PT, DPT, PhD, NBC-HWC
- Professor
As one of the core founding faculty of the DPT program, I look forward to collaborating with students and colleagues to create a vibrant learning community that supports our collective well-being. My greatest hope for our students is that their experience in our program will lead each of them to a rewarding and meaningful career in our profession.
My research interests:
- Health and well-being of physical therapists and physical therapy students
- Professional communication and collaborative care
- Professional identity formation and moral reasoning among physical therapy students
- Physical Therapist Intervention in hospice and palliative care
Petra Williams, PT, PhD, NCS
- Associate Professor
My role, along with my fellow founding core faculty team, is to create and deliver foundational and clinical science courses that will prepare the DPT student to thrive as a physical therapist in clinical practice. My teaching focus includes neuroscience, movement science and neurologic physical therapy. As a DPT educator, I am accountable to our students’ future patients. As the breadth and depth of our profession continues to grow, my personal mission is to equip students with a solid foundation to create the future of our profession.
My research interests:
- Neurologic physical therapy
- Use of 360° digital video/audio in PT education
- Factors influencing burnout and strategies to foster well-being and mental health
- Evidence-based teaching strategies in competency-based education
Brett Windsor, PT, PhD, MPA
- Associate Professor
My teaching focus includes musculoskeletal physical therapy, business operations and innovations around medical informatics to drive clinical outcomes.
My research interests:
- Assessment of clinical reasoning
- Pragmatic clinical expertise
- International clinical education
Ray VanWye, PT, DPT, PhD
- Associate Professor
As a core founding faculty member, I provide exercise physiology and cardiopulmonary physical therapy expertise. My goal is to help you embrace your role as a Doctor of Physical Therapy by emphasizing clinical reasoning and leadership.
My research interests:
- Cardiopulmonary physical therapy and exercise physiology
- Screening and primary care physical therapy
- Leadership, administration, management and professionalism
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.