Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

D.P.T. Physical Therapy

Students contribute to the health needs of society through education, scholarly activities, service and professional practice.
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Program Overview

The doctor of physical therapy program offers a unique advantage with the onsite Texas State Physical Therapy Clinic and a student-run pro bono clinic. Under the supervision of experienced, licensed faculty, students treat patients with various conditions. Combined with a unique curriculum design, cost-effective state tuition, and a 100% national board exam pass rate and employment rate, the nationally accredited program has garnered unsurpassed community support and reputation.

Course Work

Texas State's physical therapy program is a three-year, nine-semester cohort course of study with 99 credit hours that culminates in the doctor of physical therapy degree. The course load for the degree ranges from 6-15 credit hours per semester. The program offers strong collaborative relationships with local clinical sites, short term study abroad, and international clinical education site options. All students are required to complete full-time clinical education experiences. Part-time experiences will be completed in the Texas State Physical Therapy Clinic. Clinical experiences and internships may be completed at locations in or outside the Central Texas area.

Degree Course WorkDissertationTotal HoursLocation
Degree
D.P.T.
Course Work
99 hours
Dissertation
No Dissertation
Total Hours
99 hours
Location
Round Rock

What Our Alumni Say

“The Texas State University Doctor of Physical Therapy program’s stellar curriculum and all-star faculty prepared me to provide amazing patient care with confidence.”

— Dr. Thomas F. Lawlor, PT, D.P.T. ’13, M.S. ’13, Exercise Science, Manual Therapy Certified, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Staff Physical Therapist and Clinical Instructor, Texas Physical Therapy Specialists

Program Details

Over the last 20 years, 98% of the program's students have graduated with a 100% employment rate. The overall national board exam pass rate required for licensure is 100%.

Program Mission

The Department of Physical Therapy's mission is to be a supportive, inclusive community that fosters strong advocates and future leaders through innovative education, clinical practice, scholarship, and service for an ever-changing healthcare environment.

Our vision is to develop the next generation of strategic leaders and advocates to optimize health and the human experience by transforming physical therapist practice.

Career Options

Graduates of the physical therapy program will become professionals who provide a unique perspective on purposeful, precise and efficient movement based upon their knowledge of the movement system and expertise in mobility and locomotion. The degree provides opportunity for career settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings and skilled nursing facilities.

Program Faculty

The Texas State Physical Therapy Department faculty value the importance of continued learning and development of the body of professional knowledge for the growth of the physical therapist profession and improvement in patient care services. The faculty believe that the professional education environment must provide opportunity for, and involvement in, research activities. These research areas include basic and applied clinical research, administrative research and educational research activities. Many faculty members are board certified specialists who maintain active clinical practices. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1-to-10.

Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Janet Bezner
jb25@txstate.edu
512.716.2652
Willow Hall (WILW), Room 336

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Suzanna Okere
sd11@txstate.edu
512.716.2652
Willow Hall (WILW), Room 336

Advisor Support
Brittany Needham
ban35@txstate.edu
512.716.2653
Willow Hall (WILW), Room 336

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Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Summer I
U.S. Citizen
September 15
International
September 15

This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.

Funding Information
The deadlines to apply for certain types of funding may be earlier than the deadline above.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a firm basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • separate PTCAS application fee
      and either
    • $80 nonrefundable application fee
      OR
    • $115 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each international institution attended (transcripts issued by U.S. institutions must be submitted through PTCAS)
    • minimum overall 3.0 GPA or 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses) 
    • minimum 3.0 GPA in all science courses (biology, chemistry, and physics) 
    • minimum 3.0 GPA in all prerequisite course requirements, completed by the end of spring semester prior to enrollment. To view the specific prerequisite courses, visit the Department of Physical Therapy requirements page. 

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • official GRE (general test only) scores with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning section (Must use GRE code 7405 for PTCAS)

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • three letters of recommendation. Two from a licensed physical therapist and one from a professor (for a list of accepted evaluators, check the PTCAS requirements).
    • physical therapy experience 
    • physical therapy observation hours are highly recommended
    • background check
    • an interview based on a holistic application review process that considers the applicant's life experience and academic record

    Review important information about documents.

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