University of Michigan - Flint

Physical Therapy - Transitional DPT (t-DPT)

Program Description

The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) program is offered for currently practicing physical therapists who are interested in augmenting their Bachelor or Masters education to earn a DPT.

Enhance your knowledge and skills, broaden your clinical perspective, and invigorate your passion for the profession. The UM-Flint t-DPT program content is presented online from an evidence-based practice perspective, allowing you to apply the most current and relevant biomedical literature to individual patient management decisions on a daily basis. Learning materials are available electronically and through live audio chat discussions and interaction. If you are a practicing physical therapist with a U.S. or Canadian license, UM-Flint’s Online Post-Professional t-DPT program is designed to enable you to advance your career to the doctoral level and to provide opportunity and challenge to enhance your professional competence and career marketability.

Within our online program, opportunities exist to enhance your general clinical skills (t-DPT) and to enhance clinical skills in a focused professional practice area (Clinical Concentrations / PT Clinical Certificate with APTA Credentialed Residency).

Fitting in Post-Professional t-DPT courses to advance your career can be challenging. In the University of Michigan-Flint Post-Professional t-DPT program courses are ALL offered online, making it a flexible and easy way to move forward. Most courses are offered in a semester (14 week) or half-semester (7 week) format. Students may take courses every semester, or opt to take a semester off. This program is designed to fit your current work/life schedule.

Program Curriculum

The number of credits required to complete the Online Post- Professional t-DPT program depends on your educational background, but requires a minimum of 24 credit hours. All courses are online except the optional Advanced Practicum (6 credit hours) taken to complete requirements for APTA credentialed residencies.

You will provide documentation of knowledge and experience in applying to the t-DPT program. This includes but is not limited to previous entry-level physical therapy degree credit, proof of licensure, and portfolio analysis through the APTA Physical Therapists Evaluation Tool (PTET) to grant credit for professional experience and clinical expertise. Depending on the number of credit hours required for the individual, we anticipate that typical students will take one to three years to complete the program.

Generally, master's-prepared, licensed PTs can complete the online program taking 7 to 9 courses. Baccalaureate-prepared, licensed PTs can complete the program taking 9 to 15 courses, depending on prior experience. UM-Flint’s Online Post- Professional t-DPT program is consistent with guidelines set by the APTA and offers courses relevant to advance clinical practice. The program recognizes the contribution experience plays in developing physical therapy leaders and presents courses with immediate applicability to real world practice.

The following are courses most likely to be required, following the PTET review:
     581: Teaching, Learning and Health Education (3)
     512: Neuroscience (2)
     513: Physiology of Exercise (3)
     546: Pharmacology in Practice (3)
     694: Professional Service Learning I (1)
     682: Pediatric Diseases, Disorders and Examination in Practice (2)
     782: Pediatric Intervention in Practice (3)
     783: Geriatrics in Practice (2)
     761: Evidence Based Practice Patterns (1)
     770: Assistive Technology to Enhance Accessibility (1)
     794: Professional Service Learning II (1) project completed

These scholarly activity / research courses may be required for those who did not complete a research project as part of their professional entry-level degree:
     560: Research Methods [includes stats lab] (3)
     661: Literature Analysis in Evidenced Based Practice (1)
     660: Critical Inquiry Project (3)

Clinical Concentrations

You may concurrently pursue a clinical concentration (if desired).

Clinical Specializations

Admission Requirements

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

Bachelor’s or master's degree in physical therapyfrom an accredited institution
Physical therapy license in the United States or Canada
Overall 3.0 GPA or higher in the physical therapy degree (as determined by the PTET review*)
Current CPR certification (if applying to a clinical specialization)

Application Process

To be considered for admission, an applicant must submit the following by the application deadline to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library, before the admissions committee will evaluate the applicant's file:

Application for Graduate Admission (apply online or with a paper application)
Application fee (non-refundable) payable to the University of Michigan-Flint
Copy of current Physical Therapy license issued in the United States or Canada (If license has lapsed, submit a copy of most recent license; if seeking a clinical specialization, the license must be current.)
Official transcripts from the institution where the baccalaureate degree was earned and from the institution where the Physical Therapy degree was earned (if different from the college of the baccalaureate degree)
Portfolio Score Report* from the Physical Therapy Evaluation Tool (PTET) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant's scholarly and/or professional ability
Copy of Educational Credential Review if licensed in the United States but educated outside the United States
Copy of current CPR card (only if applying to a clinical specialization)
International students must submit additional documentation

An interview (by telephone or in person) with a PT faculty member will be scheduled after review of the applicant's materials (not required for UM-Flint MPT graduates).

*PTET Portfolio Score Report is not required of University of Michigan-Flint graduates with a M.P.T. degree.

Application Deadlines

To be considered for admission, an applicant must submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs on or before the application deadline.

Deadlines are as follows: