Why UM-Flint

What Sets UM-Flint's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Apart? 

The DPT program at UM-Flint prepares you to become an exceptional practitioner ready to advance your practice while also advancing patient care. It employs a life-span approach, which encourages you to value and respect diversity of gender, race, culture and disability, regardless of age.

Our Mission
The mission of the University of Michigan-Flint Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to educate students to become competent physical therapists through engagement in evidence-based practice, scholarship, and community service, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the public.

RELEVANT CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

As part of the DPT program, you’ll have a say in choosing clinical internships that reflect your academic and professional interests, and that translate directly to your future practice as a physical therapist.

EXPERT FACULTY 

DPT faculty remain available and accessible to mentor and support you throughout the program and after graduation. Along with the guidance of faculty, you’ll also have the support of fellow students who enter and complete the program alongside you. You’ll develop close connections with your classmates who share your journey as well as your passion for excellence in patient care.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Broaden your experience and build your professional network through participation in the DPT Student Organization, state and national professional organizations, as well as PT HEART—the student-led pro bono clinic that enables DPT students to work directly with underserved patients from the local community.

FULL- OR PART-TIME

The DPT from UM-Flint allows you to pursue your interests and direct your course of study. Choose the full-time track to complete your degree in three years. The program’s part-time enrollment option gives you the flexibility to complete your degree while balancing personal and professional obligations.

DUAL ADVANCED DEGREES

Students interested in pursuing leadership roles have the option to combine a DPT degree with a Master of Business Administration earned through UM-Flint’s highly respected School of Management. Our dual degree program allows you to earn both degrees simultaneously with certain courses counting toward both programs.

U-M RESOURCES

As part of the world-renowned University of Michigan, you’ll have access to the full academic and research resources at the Flint, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor campuses.

 

Admission

Apply Now
 

NOTE:  For admission purposes, it is recommended that if future applicants should take the option of a letter grade instead of a P/F grade for any course during semesters affected by COVID-19

Admission to the program is highly competitive with 60 students admitted in Fall semester. Competitive applicants often have GPAs above 3.5.  Up-to-date admissions requirements and application process information is available here.

All official documents are to be sent to The Office of Graduate Programs:

Postal Service                                                                Electronically
The University of Michigan-Flint                                   graduate@umflint.edu
The Office of Graduate Programs
251 Thompson
303 E. Kearsley St.
Flint, MI  48457
 

ROLLING ADMISSION CRITERIA

Rolling Admission = admission offer once application reviewed instead of moving into the general pool

Metrics: 

  • Cumulative GPA:  3.50 or higher
  • Science GPA: 3.50 or higher
  • Verbal GRE: 152 or higher
  • Quantitative GRE: 150 or higher

Attributes:

  • Essay Questions:  Answered with great breadth and depth of topic
  • Letters of recommendations: Both letters (one from a PT and one from academia) highly recommended

Experiences:

  • Observation/work hours with a PT: 125 of more with at least 1 inpatient and 1 outpatient setting
  • Life and academic experiences: looking for breadth and depth of experiences at least 3 of the one of the following:
  • Well written personal essay
  • Well written re-application Essay
  • International Service Learning or study abroad
  • Interprofessional educational experiences
  • College sports
  • Honors courses
  • Military
  • Second career
  • Leadership positions
  • Previous published/presented research
  • 2nd language
  • 1st generation college student
  • Last 2 year performance (all grades B or higher)
  • 4 year college sciences (all sciences taken at 4 year university)
  • Graduate level courses taken
  • Resilience written about in personal essay demonstrating great character with difficult situations
  • Kinesiology / movement science courses

 

Courses

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Requirements (120 credits)

The DPT degree requires completion of a three-year academic program including satisfactory completion of clinical education courses. Students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher both prior to beginning the final clinical internships and upon completion of the degree program. Each academic calendar includes a 14-week Fall and Winter semester followed by a 10-week Spring/Summer semester.

Year One

Fall Semester (15 credits)

BIO 634 - Human Anatomy & Neuroanatomy (6)
PTP 611 - Kinesiology (4)
PTP 629 - Integrated Clinical Experience I (2)
PTP 664 - Fundamentals of Patient Management (3)

Winter Semester (16 credits)

PTP 612 - Clinical Neuroscience (3)
PTP 630 - Integrated Clinical Experience II (2)
PTP 651 - Neurologic Conditions (3)
PTP 820 - Quantitative Research Methods (3)
PTP 665 - Fundamentals of Tests and Measures (3)
PTP 681 - Teaching, Learning & Health Education (2)

Spring/Summer Semester (16 credits)

PTP 627 - Introduction to Musculoskeletal Practice (3)
PTP 648 - Pharmacology (3)
PTP 821 - Statistical Analysis Quantitative Research (3)
PTP 703 - Biophysical Agents (2)
PTP 705 - Soft Tissue Techniques (2)
PTP 640 - Medical and Surgical Conditions I (2)
PTP 699 - Integration & Critical Thinking in PT I (1)

Year Two

Fall Semester (14 credits)

PTP 704 - Therapeutic Exercise (3)
PTP 730 - Full-Time Clinical Experience (4)
                        (Last 6 weeks of semester)
PTP 752 - Neuromuscular Examination and Practice I (3)
PTP 772 - Cardiovascular Conditions, Examination and Management  I (3)
PTP 781 - Pediatric Conditions (2)

Winter Semester (15 credits)

PTP 729 - Musculoskeletal Practice: Upper Quadrant (3)
PTP 739 - Orthotics, Prosthetics, Assist. Tech. (2)
PTP 753 - Neuromuscular Examination and Practice II (4)
PTP 761 - Evidence-Based Practice (1)
PTP 773 - Pulmonary Conditions, Examination and Management (3)
PTP 782 - Pediatric Examination and Plan of Care (3)

Spring/Summer Semester (12 credits)

PTP 746 - Integument Conditions (3)
PTP 760 - Ethics & Legal Issues (1)
PTP 770 - Assistive Technology (1)
PTP 783 - Geriatrics (3)
PTP 794 - Professional Service Learning (1)
PTP 830 - Musculoskeletal Practice: Lower Quadrant (3)

Year Three

Fall Semester (13 credits)

PTP 728 - Musculoskeletal Practice: Axial Skeleton (3) 
PTP 841 - Medical and Surgical Conditions II (2)
PTP 855 - Therapeutic Relationships & Cultural Competency (2)
PTP 892 - Professional Practice Management (3)
PTP 893 - Professional Issues (1)
PTP 899 - Integration & Critical Thinking in PT II (2)

Winter Semester (10 credits)

PTP 823 - Clinical Internship I (5)
PTP 824 - Clinical Internship II (5)

Spring/Summer Semester (5 credits)

PTP 825 - Clinical Internship III (5)

Required Elective (3 credits)

Three (3) credit hours of electives must be selected from the list provided below. For more detailed information regarding the Independent Study course and other courses, please speak with your advisor.

PTP 602 - Independent Research (1-10)
PTP 759 - Biomechanics of Sports & Exercise (3)
PTP 768 - Physical Therapy Management of the Athlete (2)
PTP 769 - Advanced Management of Pain (3)
PTP 774 - International Service Learning (3)
PTP 789 - Advanced Topics (1-3)

Additional information on the Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program including course descriptions can be found in the catalog. 

Applying

For the Fall 2021 admission period, the University of Michigan-Flint will use the
Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
The application will be available July 1-October 15, 2021. 

  • Sixty students are admitted once each year in the fall semester (Fall 2021 is the next available admission semester).
  • The UM-Flint Physical Therapy program operates on a rolling-admission basis; we encourage you to apply early.
  • The deadline to submit all your documents to PTCAS is October 15 to ensure full consideration of your application.  It can take up to six 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 October 15, the materials may arrive to UM-Flint late and could take your application out of consideration.

Submit the following to PTCAS by October 15, 2021:

  • 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 submitted to PTCAS.
    • 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.
  • Observation of Physical Therapist Hours: 
    • Arrange for a licensed physical therapist to review and verify your PT observation hours.
    • 30 or more hours required in at least one (1) setting (paid and volunteer hours are accepted)
    • 100 or more hours in a least 2 settings is recommended
  • Essay Questions specific to the DPT program at the University of Michigan-Flint through PTCAS

The University of Michigan-Flint does not hold admissions interviews.

Submit the following directly to UM-Flint by October 15, 2021:

  • $55 UM-Flint Supplemental Application Fee (paid online)
  • GRE scores (general test) sent to UM-Flint Institutional Code #7737.  Must be completed before application will be considered for admission
  • 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. Visit the International Students page for details.

Calendar

Outcomes

Accreditation

Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program at the University of Michigan – Flint  is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 810.762.3373  or email PhysicalTherapy@umich.edu.  CAPTE only accredits entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs. The PhD in Physical Therapy and the transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy programs cannot be accredited by CAPTE.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Michigan-Flint satisfies educational prerequisites for professional licensure as a physical therapist in all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.

Click here for a message from Dr. Laura Smith

OUTCOMES

  • Difference between Early Decision and Rolling Admission: 

    The PTCAS Early Decision program is a binding option for applicants who decide that a particular physical therapy degree program is their first choice and they commit to enroll if accepted. Early Decision applicants can only apply to one physical therapy degree program.  UM-Flint is not a part of the Early Decision program via PTCAS. 

    UM-Flint DPT Rolling Admission is the process with which applicants can be offered admission immediately upon application review and are not limited to one school, like the Early Decision.  This process offers applicants an opportunity to be admitted to the program prior to the December final decisions.  

CALENDAR

APPLY NOW

                                                                              PT Heart

Sabrina Khan, Student

Hometown: Livonia, MI

I selected UM-Flint for my graduate studies for many reasons, including cost, financial assistance, and quality of education. I was surprised by how close the staff and students became throughout the program and how invested the professors were in helping each student become the best physical therapist they can be. I have appreciated learning from multiple viewpoints and schools of thought. Obtaining my graduate degree from UM-Flint puts me one step closer to my dream of truly making a difference and improving people’s quality of life.

SCHOLARSHIPS