School of Graduate and Continuing Studies - Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

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Physical therapy (PHTH) is a health care profession devoted to optimum health and function. Physical therapy improves and maintains an individual’s ability to move and assists in the prevention of movement disorders. Physical therapists work directly with patients and clients of all ages. They conduct evaluations to identify and then resolve problems and potential problems. Typical problems addressed by physical therapists include impaired movement, pain, and compromised ability to carry out daily activities. Physical therapists may choose to work in a variety of settings including private practice, acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, industry, private home therapy, school systems, and athletic programs

Stockton offers programs leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. One program is the professional DPT designed to prepare our students to become physical therapists. We invite high school and college undergraduate applicants (as early as sophomore year) and applicants who already hold a baccalaureate degree to apply to the program. Our DPT Program is three (3) years.

The Post-Professional (transitional) Program (tDPT)
Stockton also offers a post-professional (transitional) DPT program that is designed to prepare licensed physical therapists to be contemporary physical therapists who use an evidenced-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.
The transitional (tDPT) is primarily an online program.

The Physical Therapy faculty are an impressive group devoted to our students and the profession of Physical Therapy. Collectively, we are a professionally and personally diverse group who are well renowned at a national, state, and local level. We have vast clinical expertise in all major areas of practice. Faculty conducts research on an ongoing basis and routinely present and publish work in collaboration with our students. The faculty are dedicated educators and highly accessible. In addition to our full-time physical therapy faculty members, many other professionals contribute to the program, including physicians, basic scientists, and other health care professionals.

The curriculum is contemporary and innovative. Students learn in small class sizes in well-equipped classroom facilities. They have ongoing patient contact in the program such as patients visiting the classroom and regular trips to local clinics including two (2) on-campus hospitals. Additionally, there are three (3) full-time clinical experiences. For optimal learning, the full-time clinical experiences are scheduled at key times throughout the curriculum. Clinical experiences are concentrated in the mid-Atlantic region with additional sites outside the area.

As a school within the New Jersey system of Higher Education, every effort is made to maintain the affordability of the program. Students pay a combination of undergraduate and doctoral tuition during the first year and doctoral tuition thereafter. In some cases, students are able to complete their baccalaureate and doctoral education in six (6) years through a "dual degree" program. Our students have time off during each summer and often use the time for travel and employment. Locally, there are excellent employment opportunities on the Jersey shore or in clinical settings. Many students are awarded Stockton Graduate Assistantships that permit exciting learning experiences such as working in clinics and conducting research. Students can also apply for internal and external scholarships.

Graduates of the program are our ambassadors. They routinely pass the licensure examination. Our graduates are routinely employed within weeks of seeking employment. They are employed in diverse settings such as hospitals, outpatient facilities, nursing homes, and private practices.

If you would like additional information please call the Graduate Admissions Office at (609) 626-3640 or email gradschool@stockton.edu.

Bess Kathrins, PT, MS, PhD
Director, Professor
Physical Therapy Program