University of Michigan - Flint

The Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) is a clinical doctorate. It is an entry-level degree that signifies a level of competency to practice within the scope of physical therapy. A clinical doctor degree prepares the student to perform all the duties necessary for clinical practice and therefore has clinical application rather than an academic application as found in a Ph.D. degree. In order to meet the needs of a direct access health care market and autonomous practice, the entry-level practitioner will require the privileges and responsibilities that a clinical doctorate affords.

The DPT degree at the University of Michigan–Flint meets the challenge of preparing physical therapists to practice in the 21st century. The DPT program operates under a guiding philosophy that entry-level physical therapists should be competent to treat persons from infancy through the elder years. This life-span approach enables our graduates to value and respect diversity of gender, race, culture, and disability regardless of age. Our graduates are critical thinkers, recognizing the value of and using the scientific literature to make sound clinical judgments. Our graduates understand the scope of physical therapy practice, recognizing when a patient needs medical management in substitution for or in addition to physical therapy.

The PT faculty mentor students into the profession by using a collegial model, which incorporates mutual respect and understanding between the faculty, staff, and physical therapy student as they proceed through the program. The collegial model and small class size encourage faculty and students to form close, effective working relationships that enhance student learning. The faculty has a consistent record of scholarly and service activity at the state, regional, and national levels of the profession and therefore mentor the student in leadership and service to the profession and community. The faculty also consists of members recognized for clinical specialization, which reinforces the clinical aspects of the physical therapy curriculum.

In short, the University of Michigan-Flint PT department is preparing physical therapists who are professional, competent practitioners for the rapidly changing health care industry of the 21st century.

The physical therapy curriculum encompasses 117 credit hours, 30 weeks of clinical education and occurs over a 3 year span. Education is provided in a cohort fashion with classes starting in the fall of each year. Following successful completion of the program, graduates take a national exam. All who pass the national exam are eligible for licensure in all 50 states.

Visit the department Web site at www.umflint.edu/pt/Entry-LevelDPT/curriculum.htm for the curriculum and sequence of courses.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements and qualifications by the time they are admitted:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Overall 3.0 GPA or higher in the undergraduate degree, and a 2.75 undergraduate GPA in science pre-requisite courses
• Completion of prerequisite courses from an accredited institution with an equivalent grade of 'C' or better ('C-' for courses taken at UM-Flint):
  • 8 credits Biology with at least two labs (no Botany)
  • 8 credits Chemistry with at least two labs
  • 8 credits Physics with at least two labs
  • 4 credits Human Anatomy with lab
  • 4 credits Human Physiology with lab (if a 5-6 credit combination Anatomy and Physiology class is taken, then course content needs review)
  • 3 credits Exercise Physiology with lab 
  • 3 credits Statistics
  • 3 credits College Algebra and Trigonometry or Pre-calculus
  • 6 credits Psychology (general and developmental)
  • 1 credit Medical Terminology (must be a letter-graded course)
• Prerequisite courses should be completed within 7 years of applying to the program; prerequisite courses taken more than 7 years prior will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Completion of the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) general test (must be completed before application will be considered for admission)
• Current CPR (Adult, Child, and Infant) and First Aid certification

• 60 or more hours observing Physical Therapists in two or more different types of clinical settings required; 125 or more hours in four or more settings recommended

The most competitive applicants demonstrate knowledge of the depth and breadth of the profession as well as consistent academic performance, maturity and values associated with health care professions.

The Fall 2008 entering class GPA range (middle 80%) was a 3.16 - 3.76. 

Competitive scores on the GRE are in the range of 450 Verbal and 500 Quantitative.

For the Fall 2010 admission period, the University of Michigan-Flint will use the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).  The application will be available July 15-October 15, 2009.  In addition to the PTCAS application, you must submit the following to PTCAS by December 1:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended in the United States (foreign transcripts are to be sent to the Office of Graduate Programs, not PTCAS)
• Two letters of reference to be sent to PTCAS (you are recommended to use the electronic system through PTCAS).  At least one reference must be from a physical therapist who has observed you within the last five years in a clinical setting.  The second reference may be from another physical therapist or a university professor who has instructed you in a course within the last five years, or who has acted as your academic advisor.
• Arrange for a licensed physical therapist to review your PT observation hours and send the signed PTCAS Observation Hours form directly to PTCAS.  (See "Admission Requirements" above for observation hour requirements.)

In addition to materials required by PTCAS, you must submit the following directly to the University of Michigan-Flint by January 15:

• Completed UM-Flint Supplemental Application (completed online; available July 15) with Supplemental Application Fee (paid upon completion of the supplemental application)
• Completed Essay Questions specific to the DPT program at UM-Flint:  Please enter your PTCAS ID number on your essay responses, so that we can easily match your essays to your PTCAS file.  Please note these are not the essays you will complete on the PTCAS application; they are specific to the UM-Flint DPT program and must be submitted to UM-Flint directly.
• GRE scores (general test) sent to the University of Michigan-Flint Institutional Code #1853
• Foreign transcripts and diplomas or certificates of graduation from any colleges and universities you have attended from outside the United States (do not send to PTCAS)
• Additional Documentation if your native language is not English or you are an international student seeking a student visa

Print a Checklist of materials required for the application to the DPT program.

If you are admitted to the DPT program at UM-Flint, you will be required to submit the following directly to UM-Flint following admission before you can register for classes:

• Official transcript from the institution where you earned your bachelor's degree (with the degree posted)
• Copy of CPR card
• Copy of First Aid card

Students are admitted in the fall semester only.  The deadline to apply to PTCAS is October 15 to ensure full consideration of your application, though you may continue to apply through PTCAS until December 1.  All PTCAS-required documents must be submitted to PTCAS by December 1.  It can take up to five weeks for PTCAS to send UM-Flint all of your documents after you have submitted them to PTCAS.  If you do not submit all PTCAS materials to PTCAS by December 1, the materials may arrive to UM-Flint late and will thus take your application out of consideration.  All documents required for admission, including GRE scores and documents sent to UM-Flint by PTCAS must be received by January 15. 

The professional DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314: accreditation@apta.org; (703) 684-2782 or (703) 706-3245, the national body which accredits educational programs in the profession.