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Doctor of Physical Therapy Description
The Department of Physical Therapy offers an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy* (DPT) degree. The program is a 3-year, 9-semester full-time, graduate program that will prepare graduates to be competent and compassionate licensed physical therapists working toward optimizing health and physical function across South Texas and beyond. Students will engage in didactic and hands-on experiences to develop the knowledge and skills to master the evaluation and treatment of people impacted by injury and disease across the spectrum of physical therapy practice including those with musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and multisystem disorders. Under the guidance and mentorship of expert faculty, students will work individually and collectively to develop and hone their evaluative skills, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and application of evidence-based practice to practice in a complex and dynamic healthcare system.
Students will master clinical excellence through the development of original research projects, interprofessional collaboration, and multiple hands-on clinical experiences. Graduates will enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge to practice in clinical, research, and academic environments and rapidly become leaders in the profession as clinicians, scientists, and advocates. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) coursework is based on the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Standards for an entry-level doctoral program.
Effective 29 April 2025, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (956) 296-1393 or email physicaltherapy@utrgv.edu
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Program OverviewAcademic Programs
Doctorate
Doctoral Degree
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Program Modality: Campus
The Department of Physical Therapy offers an entry-level Doctorate of Physical Therapy* (DPT) degree. The program is a 3-year, 9-semester full time, graduate program that will prepare graduates to be competent and compassionate licensed physical therapists working toward optimizing health and physical function across South Texas and beyond. Students will engage in didactic and hands-on experiences to develop the knowledge and skills to master the evaluation and treatment of people impacted by injury and disease across the spectrum of physical therapy practice to include those with musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary and multisystem disorders. Under the guidance and mentorship of expert faculty, students will work individually and collectively to develop and hone their evaluative skills, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and application of evidence-based practice to practice in a complex and dynamic healthcare system.
The first class for the program will start in June 2025. Graduates from the first graduating class will be eligible to sit for the licensure examination in the summer of 2028. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy typically offers test dates in January, April, July and October each year.