School of Graduate and Continuing Studies - Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Post-Professional (transitional) DPT Program is designed to prepare licensed physical therapists to be contemporary physical therapists who use an evidence-based approach to meet the current and future physical therapy needs of the patient/client and profession. The mission of the Program is to augment the professional education of licensed physical therapists to achieve a standard education for the doctoring profession of physical therapy. By completing this degree, you will be prepared to meet the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2020 Vision which states:

“By 2020 physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health.”

Last chance to apply for this program is July 1 for this Fall 2013!

The faculty of the Post-Professional DPT Program is committed to shaping an educational experience that leads to the graduation of competent, ethical professionals. The students and academic faculty have an equal responsibility for a successful learning experience. The faculty is responsible for imparting physical therapy’s body of knowledge in a manner that is relevant and current. The faculty is also responsible for guiding you toward a goal of being a problem solver and an independent thinker.

The program relies primarily on a distance education format that allows easy accessibility to practicing clinicians by minimizing time away from the clinic and other family and community responsibilities and by minimizing travel time, allowing more time for study. Classes are provided through online techniques with faculty and class interaction. The software chosen for this program is WebCT, permitting students access to course materials, ways to discuss course materials with classmates and faculty, and ways to post projects and papers. Faculty provides support via e-mail, telephone, fax, online discussions, formative feedback, and formal assessment.

Each course follows a modular format using clinical case studies. This method allows students time to read, research, prepare responses to questions posed, and post responses and discuss the materials with students and faculty. The general format for each course is:

One introductory module (1 week)
One summative module (2 weeks)
Three content modules (4 weeks each), of which:
- 2 weeks are allocated for reading assignments and research on the topic;
- 1 week is used for preparing materials for postings or papers; and
- 1 one is dedicated to responding to postings and submitting papers

Upon graduation, you will be equipped as an ongoing learner who can function in society as a professional. You will be prepared to strive for optimal client health by using your foundation of knowledge and sense of ethics to restore function and reduce and prevent dysfunction in clients by utilizing all roles, including education, administration, research, and consultation. You will value the importance of a life-long commitment to the profession and enriching the profession’s place in the health care system.

Return to Top

**Post-Professional DPT Curriculum**
For Stockton graduates since 2003: 12 required credits
PHTH 6670 Physical Therapy Diagnostics
PHTH 6675 Business and Ethics in Physical Therapy Practice
PHTH 6680 Health Care in the 21st Century
PHTH 6685 Clinical Decision Making

For Stockton graduates from 1990-2002: 18 required credits
PHTH 5675 Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy
PHTH 6670 Physical Therapy Diagnostics
PHTH 6675 Business and Ethics in Physical Therapy Practice
PHTH 6680 Health Care in the 21st Century
PHTH 6685 Clinical Decision Making
PHTH 6690 Health Promotion and Wellness

For non-Stockton graduates: 21 required credits
PHTH 5670 Pharmacology
PHTH 5675 Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy
PHTH 6670 Physical Therapy Diagnostics
PHTH 6675 Business and Ethics in Physical Therapy Practice
PHTH 6680 Health Care in the 21st Century
PHTH 6685 Clinical Decision Making
PHTH 6690 Health Promotion and Wellness

For course descriptions, please visit The College's Course Catalog.

Return to Top

Admission Requirements

Completion of a PT degree
Current license to practice physical therapy in any state of the U.S.A. (a temporary license is not acceptable)

How to Apply & Application Deadlines
Please complete Stockton's online application. Stockton will be admitting its last tDPT Class this Fall 2013. The deadline to apply for this fall semester is July 1.

Course Waiver Options

Within the structure of the program students may be permitted to waive one course for which they have already achieved competency through prior course work or professional continuing education. Students are required to discuss their request to waive a course with the Associate Director prior to formally submitting their application. Ideally, the request should be made at the time the student is applying for admission to the program. At the latest, the request must be made by the end of the first semester in which the student is enrolled in the program.

For Stockton Graduates 1990-2002:

Depending upon their professional development and continuing education students in this group may apply to the Physical Therapy program for a waiver of one the required courses.
A maximum of one course may be waived, which will be counted as transfer credit.
Please submit documented proof of completion of the course objectives to the Associate Director of the Program.

For Non-Stockton Graduates:

Depending upon their professional development and continuing education students in this group may apply to the Physical Therapy program for a waiver of one the required courses.
A maximum of one course may be waived, which will be counted as transfer credit.
Please submit documented proof of completion of the course objectives to the Associate Director of the Program.

Students must be able to demonstrate achievement of the learning objectives of the course for which they are seeking a waiver. Achievement of a course’s learning objectives may be demonstrated by:

Submitting the syllabus with course objectives and proof of successful completion of the course (transcript with minimum grade of B) taken at another academic institution.
Submitting the curriculum/syllabus of a course taught by the applicant. Additional documentation must include a sample lecture/presentation, a sample examination, and feedback from students and mentors.
Submitting the syllabus of a continuing education course with course objectives, contact hours, and proof of successful completion of the course (signed continuing education certificate with contact hours).

The Associate Director has the primary responsibility of reviewing the evidence and making a recommendation regarding the waiver. The instructor of the course in question may be consulted for further clarification. Students will be notified of the decision within one month of submission of all materials.

Apply today. If you have further questions, Request More Information, view Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Program's Web site, or please call the Graduate Admissions Office at (609) 626-3640 or E-mail gradschool@stockton.edu.

Elaine L. Bukowski, PT, DPT, MS, (D) ABDA
Professor and Director of the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Member of Stockton Physical Therapy faculty since 1987
Elaine.Bukowski@stockton.edu

Return to Top