DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

• This highly competitive program offers multiple opportunities for hands-on learning through courses in our faculty-supervised clinics, plus full-time clinical affiliations around the country.
• Learn person-centered care that changes lives — of students, patients, and their families.
• The doctor of physical therapy program at Nazareth University — the only one in the Rochester region — is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Program is Ideal For

• Academically strong students driven to succeed who have a bachelor's degree and have completed these prerequisites with a grade of B or better by the start of classes (summer): 8 credits of anatomy and physiology, 8 credits of chemistry, 8 credits of physics (all sciences include labs), 3 credits of statistics (psychology-based preferred), 6 credits of psychology (one course in developmental psychology preferred).
• Strong academic performance is paramount for admission; your undergraduate major is secondary.

Elective Course Examples

• Advanced Applied Anatomy
• Advanced Neurology
• Advanced Orthopedics
• Advanced Pediatrics
• Advanced Sports PT

What to Expect

• Develop excellent hands-on and clinical reasoning skills, effective communication strategies, and the ability to collaborate interprofessionally through experience.
• Experience integrated clinical education starting your first semester, working with patients/clients in our on-campus physical therapy clinics specializing in multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, orthopedic injuries, prosthetics, wellness, and pediatrics, under the supervision of faculty. Immediately apply material learned in lecture and lab to ensure mastery.
• Be part of a rich tradition of providing inter-professional pro-bono service to the local community by working collaboratively with occupational therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, and music therapy students in our numerous on-campus clinics.
• Use cutting-edge equipment to help patients/clients regain mobility. Research at Nazareth guided the development of Gorbel's SafeGait trainer.
• Gain further experience through four full-time clinical internships, totaling 32 weeks, at any of nearly 500 sites around the country with which Nazareth University has official agreements.
• Work closely with faculty in classes, labs, clinics, and during research projects. Faculty members have an open-door policy and students often stop by to talk about physical therapy.
• Learn human anatomy through cadaver dissection in our on-campus Anatomy & Physiology Lab.
• Conduct research with faculty mentors, attend lab classes, and help people with movement dysfunctions using high-tech equipment in Nazareth's motion analysis lab.
• Choose elective courses in unique applied clinical topics.
• You have the option to get specialized preparation in working with school-age children with autism through Nazareth's Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism (I-SPAN) specialization.
• You have the option to include an early-intervention interprofessional concentration (track): Rochester Scholars for Early Intervention helps you develop specialty knowledge and skills to be a strong advocate for young children and their families.
• Frequently asked questions about the Physical Therapy program.

Catalog: Full D.P.T. requirements, course list, and course descriptions »