Doctor of Physical Therapy
Total units required for Doctorate: 104-113
Program Description
Physical Therapy at Sacramento State is one of several professional curricula in the College of Health and Human Services. The program complements others in the College and provides opportunities for scholarship, instructional collaboration, and interaction.
The doctoral curriculum of 3 years, including summers, encompasses didactic instruction, laboratory experience, and clinical education. The clinical component is thirty-six weeks of full-time, off-campus clinical internships.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission consideration, students must meet the following criteria:
- Attain a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program;
- Eligible for admissions as a graduate student in good standing;
- Complete nine of the eleven prerequisite courses by the application deadline. The two remaining courses must be completed in the Spring and/or Summer semester (a maximum of one of these course may be completed during the summer);
- Complete a minimum 50 total Observation hours (work/volunteer experience) observing licensed physical therapists at work. Please check the PTCAS program page or the Departmental website to see the current application cycle requirements on inpatient and outpatient setting minimums, if any;
- Three letters of recommendation, one from a college professor and two from licensed physical therapists;
- GRE taken within five years of application.
Admission Procedures
Submit the following applications:
- Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) online application by the listed deadline;
- CSU, Sacramento's Department of Physical Therapy (DPT) Supplemental Application, by the listed deadline.
Both applications are accessible via the department website. Following the initial screening, the top 100 applicants will be invited to interview and to submit a Cal State Apply application.
Applicants will submit the following requirements with their PTCAS application:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.
- Verification of completing a minimum 100 total hours of work/volunteer experience in at least one "Inpatient" and one "Outpatient" setting. Each setting must have at least twenty-five (25) hours of exposure. All PT experience hours must be completed and verified by the deadline.
- Three letters of recommendation, two from U.S. licensed physical therapists and one from a college professor.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken within five years of applying to the DPT program using code: 7588.
- Applicants who do not possess a baccalaureate degree from a post-secondary institution where English is a principal language must take the TEST of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Submit TOEFL scores with your PTCAS application.
- Applicants who previously attended another professional entry-level physical therapy program must submit a letter from the director of the previous physical therapy program designating their academic standing (if applicable).
Admission is granted on a competitive basis. Meeting the admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the DPT program.
Selection Procedures
Application materials are reviewed by the DPT Admissions Committee. During the first screening applications are reviewed for the prerequisite coursework GPA, recommendation forms from two licensed physical therapists and one academic professional, GRE scores, volunteer hours, and additional background criteria. Based on the results of this first screening, the top applicants will be invited for a panel interview. The top thirty-two applicants along with alternates will be notified of their status within two weeks of the final interviews.
Additional Information
Health Requirements
Students admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Physical Therapy are required to have specified immunizations by the Student Health Center or a private physician prior to any clinical participation. Complete information on health requirements will be provided to incoming students.
Costs and Fees
In addition to University tuition and fees, students can be expected to incur costs of approximately $1,800 per year for books, and supplies. Students are required to assume responsibility for transportation and housing costs for clinical internships which may be anywhere in a contracted site in California.
Health Insurance, Transportation Schedules, CPR Certification, and Background Screens
All students accepted into the graduate program in the Department of Physical Therapy must provide their own health insurance and transportation to clinical facilities. Major medical health insurance is mandatory prior to beginning clinical experiences. CPR certification (Basic Adult and Pediatric for healthcare providers) must be maintained according to the requirements of the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check prior to clinical placements. A positive criminal history may limit or preclude student participation in the clinical courses.
Required Prerequisite Courses (41-42 units)
Prerequisite coursework must have been completed at an accredited college or university with a minimum grade of "C" or better.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses Required for enrollment consideration (41-42 Units) | ||
| Human Anatomy with Lab 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introductory Human Anatomy | ||
or BIO 122 | Advanced Human Anatomy | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Human Physiology with Lab 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I Human Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Systemic Physiology | ||
| Psychology | ||
| PSYC 2 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| Select one additional Psychology course similar to: | 3 | |
| Child Psychology | ||
| Psychological Aspects of Aging | ||
| Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Statistics | ||
| STAT 1 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 - 4 |
| or STAT 50 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | |
| Chemistry I with Lab | ||
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 6A | Introduction to General Chemistry | |
| Chemistry II with Lab | ||
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 6B | Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry | |
| Physics I with Lab | ||
| PHYS 5A | General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound | 4 |
| Physics II with Lab | ||
| PHYS 5B | General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics | 4 |
| Kinesiology (with lab preferred) 1 | ||
| KINS 151 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| or KINS 151A | Biomechanics | |
| or KINS 151D | Applied Kinesiology and Biomechanics | |
| Physiology of Exercise (with lab preferred) 1 | ||
| KINS 150 | Exercise and Sport Physiology | 3 |
| or KINS 152 | Physiology Of Exercise | |
| Total Units | 41-42 | |
- 1
Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology/Biomechanics, and Exercise Physiology must have been completed within the last ten (10) years of the application deadline for the DPT program.
Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree
Units Required for the DPT: 104-113
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.0; students must earn a grade of "B" in all courses taken in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
Advancement to Candidacy
Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure may begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:
- removed any deficiencies in admission requirements and achieved classified status;
- successfully completed all courses with a grade of "B" or higher in the first 4 terms with a minimum of 3.0 ("B") overall grade point average in all DPT graduate level coursework;
- passed (with a grade of "B" or higher) a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course (PT 608) and
- passed the faculty candidacy assessment.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| First Fall Semester (16 Units) | ||
| BIO 633 | Human Gross Anatomy for Physical Therapists | 3 |
| PT 600 | Pathokinesiology | 5 |
| PT 602 | Evidence Informed Practice I | 3 |
| PT 608 | PT/Patient/Professional Interactions | 2 |
| PT 630 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| First Spring Semester (16 Units) | ||
| PT 604 | Principles of Human Movement | 2 |
| PT 606 | Therapeutic Measurements and Techniques | 4 |
| PT 614 | Neuroscience for Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PT 618 | Foundations for Patient Management | 1 |
| PT 620 | Physical Therapy Interventions I | 3 |
| PT 622 | Evidence Informed Practice II | 3 |
| First Summer Semester (8 Units) | ||
| PT 632 | Pharmacology for Physical Therapists | 2 |
| PT 634 | Diagnostic Imaging for Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PT 636 | Geriatrics/Gerontology for Physical Therapists | 2 |
| PT 638 | Health, Wellness and Ergonomics in Physical Therapy | 2 |
| Second Fall Semester (16 Units) | ||
| PT 624 | Adult Neuromuscular Patient Management I | 4 |
| PT 625 | Musculoskeletal Patient Management I | 4 |
| PT 626 | Clinical Agents | 2 |
| PT 640 | Physical Therapy Interventions II | 3 |
| PT 646 | Acute Care and Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PT 660A | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar A: Research 1 | 1 |
| Second Spring Semester (21 Units) | ||
| PT 627 | Physical Therapy Educator | 1 |
| PT 644 | Adult Neuromuscular Patient Management II | 4 |
| PT 645 | Musculoskeletal Patient Management II | 4 |
| PT 648 | Health Care Delivery in Physical Therapy I | 2 |
| PT 660B | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar B: Research 1 | 1 |
| PT 660D | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar ID: Electrotherapeutics 1 | 2 |
| PT 660G | Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) 1 | 2 |
| PT 662 | Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PT 669 | Psychosocial Issues in Physical Therapy | 1 |
| PT 689 | Doctoral Project Proposal | 1 |
| Second Summer Semester (6 Units) | ||
| PT 695A | Clinical Experience I | 6 |
| Third Fall Semester (17 Units) | ||
| PT 660C | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar C: Research 1 | 1 |
| PT 660E | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar IE: NeuroPediatric Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| PT 660F | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar IF: Adult Neuromuscular Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| PT 663 | Integumentary Patient Management | 2 |
| PT 664 | Neuropediatric Patient Management | 2 |
| PT 665 | Musculoskeletal Patient Management III | 3 |
| PT 668 | Health Care Delivery in Physical Therapy II | 2 |
| PT 690 | Doctoral Project/Culminating Experience | 3 |
| Third Spring Semester (6 Units) | ||
| PT 695B | Clinical Experience II | 6 |
| Third Summer Semester (7 Units) | ||
| PT 680 | Graduate Physical Therapy Seminar II | 1 |
| PT 695C | Clinical Experience III | 6 |
| Total Units | 113 | |
- 1
Elective Course. A minimum of 2 elective units is required.