Physical Therapy (Transitional DPT)

Why UM-Flint

What Sets UM-Flint's Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) Program Apart?

FOCUS:

The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) program is offered for currently practicing physical therapists who are interested in augmenting their bachelor’s or master’s education to earn a DPT. In contributing to your professional growth, our program will:

enhance your knowledge and skills
broaden your clinical perspective
present online program content from an evidence-based practice perspective
allow you to apply the most current and relevant biomedical literature to individual patient management decisions

FLEXIBILITY:

UM-Flint’s fully-online post-professional t-DPT program’s flexibility is key to enhancing your general skills and focusing in a professional practice area.
Most courses are offered in a semester (14-week) or half-semester (10-week) format. You may take courses every semester, or opt to take a semester off, tailoring the program to fit your current work/life schedule.
You have the option to concurrently complete a clinical concentration in orthopedics (OCS), geriatrics (GCS), neurology (NCS), or pediatrics (PCS).

RESOURCES:

The program makes most learning materials available electronically, as well as through live audio chat discussions and interaction.
You will benefit from outstanding faculty, whose consistent record of scholarship and service at the state, regional, and national levels of the profession helps to mentor you in leadership and service, both to the profession and the community.
As part of the world renowned University of Michigan system, UM-Flint can tap additional resources, expertise, and contacts at our sister campuses in Dearborn and Ann Arbor to assist our students, their research, and other initiatives.

Admission

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution in the United States or its equivalent in another country
Physical Therapy license or registration (or equivalent)
Overall 3.0 GPA or higher (4.0 scale) in the physical therapy degree
Current CPR certification (or equivalent) [if applying to a clinical specialization]

Applying

To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:

Application for Graduate Admission
$55 application fee (non-refundable)
Copy of current Physical Therapy license or registration (or equivalent) (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 your baccalaureate degree was earned and from the institution where your Physical Therapy degree was earned (if different from the college of your baccalaureate degree)
Curriculum vitae or resume
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your scholarly and/or professional ability
Copy of Educational Credential Review if educated outside the United States or Canada: FCCPT recommended for those licensed in the U.S. or Canada; all others may use an appropriate service such as FCCPT, ECE, or WES
Copy of current CPR card (if applying to a clinical specialization)
Proof of English proficiency as required (see below).

A telephone interview with a Physical Therapy faculty member will be scheduled after review of your application materials (not required for UM-Flint MPT graduates).

English Proficiency Requirements

If English is not your native language and/or if you received your physical therapy degree in a country other than the United States, Canada (English-speaking provinces), Australia, or the United Kingdom, you must demonstrate English proficiency by providing evidence through one of the methods listed below. This requirement applies even if you are currently a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and regardless of how long you have resided or been educated in the U.S.*:

1. Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) or Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE). Scores must be no more than two (2) years old.

The table below indicates the minimum acceptable scores for admission, as well as the scores and score ranges for which a supplemental English writing course will be required upon admission to the program:

Exam	Minimum Score for Admission	English Writing Course Required If:
TOEFL PBT and TWE	560 overall	Overall less than 600 or TWE less than 5.0
TOEFL iBT	84 overall	Overall less than 101 or WR less than 27
IELTS	6.5 overall	Overall less than 7.5 or Writing less than 7
MELAB	80 overall	Overall less than 85 or Composition less than 85
ECPE	Certificate of Proficiency	Writing Score = LP (Low Pass)

2. Provide an official transcript showing a degree earned at an accredited U.S., Canadian (English-speaking), Australian, or U.K. college or university OR successful completion (‘C’ or higher) of ENG 111 or ENG 112 or its equivalent.

*If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and wish to waive this requirement, you may make your case to the director of the post-professional DPT program. The director, in turn, must make the case to the Dean of Graduate Programs. You must provide sufficient evidence that you have the requisite English proficiency.

Application Deadlines

To be considered for admission, submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs on or before the application deadline*:

Fall - May 1
Winter - October 1
Spring - March 1

*International students are required to apply one month earlier for each semester

Courses

Physical Therapy Post-Professional Transitional Program (Doctor of Physical Therapy)

t-DPT Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits. The Physical Therapist Evaluation Tool (PTET) review is used to establish the learning contract. Up to two courses may be substituted based on previous coursework; UM-Flint MPT graduates may possibly substitute up to three courses or 12 credit hours. Students will be able to substitute up to 12 credit hours of the new specialization courses being developed for the Transitional Clinical DPT with clinical concentrations in orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics and cardiopulmonary linked to APTA residencies (See the Clinical Certificates section.) These substitutions must be specified in the initial learning contract. The Service Learning Practicum and Case Study Capstone may not be waived by any student. Courses taken more than 5 years to the semester in which the students starts the program will not be considered for a course transfer. In extreme circumstances, students may petition for a leave of absence from the program and be allowed to continue later on a space available basis. (An example of extreme circumstances would be a serious medical problem.) Degree candidates must attain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher and receive no course grade below C.

t-DPT Course Requirements

A.    Core courses.
        PTP 694 - Professional Service Learning I.
        PTP 761 - Evidence-Based Practice.
        PTP 794 - Professional Service Learning II.

B.    Individualized learning plan. Each student’s curriculum is based on individualized learning plans. Physical therapists with
       Bachelors or Masters entry-level PT degrees frequently have to take a selection of the following courses:
       PTP 503 - Independent Study for Physical Therapy Students.
       PTP 513 - Physiology and Exercise.
       PTP 612 - Neuroscience in Physical Therapy.
       PTP 623 - Introduction to Musculoskeletal Imaging.
       PTP 624 - Systems Review and Screening in Clinical Decision Making.
       PTP 625 - Advanced Medical Imaging for Diverse Populations.
       PTP 647 - Examination and Intervention in Practice for Integument Conditions.
       PTP 648 - Pharmacology in Practice.
       PTP 661 - Literature Analysis in Evidence-Based Practice.
       PTP 662 - Critical Inquiry I.
       PTP 663 - Critical Inquiry II.
       PTP 681 - Teaching, Learning & Health Education.
       PTP 732 - Pediatric Examination and Intervention in Practice.
       PTP 761 - Evidence-Based Practice.
       PTP 770 - Assistive Technology in Accessibility.
       PTP 783 - Geriatrics in Practice.
       PTP 792 - Management in Physical Therapy Practice.

Sequence Requirements
Courses in the post-professional program are intended to be taken in a prescribed sequence. The learning plan developed for each student based on their transcripts and PTET report is not just a series of courses but instead a professional program in which appropriate sequence is important to assure intended educational outcomes.

Transfer Credit
Transfer of courses taken within five years prior to admission to the t-DPT program for a total of up to 12 credits remains the prerogative of the Physical Therapy faculty .

Concentration
Currently enrolled t-DPT students have the option to dual enroll in a concentration area. This allows the student to obtain a t-DPT degree with a concentration. See the Post-Professional Physical Therapy Clinical Certificates and Credentialed APTA Residency section for more information.

The teaching faculty and the administrative support staff in the Physical Therapy Department have been great in helping me through the t-DPT program. They have a genuine interest in the success of the students, the program, and in the physical therapy profession. I simply want to be the best physical therapist that I can be; I want to realize my full potential, and find new ways to challenge my knowledge and skills. With the t-DPT program being a distance learning program, I was able to continue working at my current job, continue with work-life balance and family commitments while pursuing my doctorate.

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