Description
The mission of the University of Central Florida Program in Physical Therapy is to educate students to become competent, compassionate, and ethical practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings. The graduates will be highly dedicated professionals with excellent patient care, communication, critical thinking, patient education and advocacy, management and research skills.
The Goals of the Program are to:
- Strive as a faculty to meet the needs of the changing healthcare environment, continually improve our skills, and be good role models in all areas of practice
- Prepare physical therapists who demonstrate commitment to their profession through active participation in their communities and strong advocacy for patients
- Inspire physical therapy students throughout the educational process at UCF to be intellectually aware of their responsibilities as a growing professional in the community
- Contribute to the achievements of faculty and students and produce measurable improvements in higher learning
- foster an environment of creativity, cultural diversity, and innovation, preparing students to be active leaders in the profession
The program in Physical Therapy (DPT) is a three-year (nine consecutive semesters) professional curriculum designed to prepare entry-level therapists to practice in a variety of clinical settings. The professional curriculum is a full-time "lock-step" program with no opportunity to take courses other than those prescribed by the curriculum. The professional program includes clinical practicums and internships ranging from four weeks to twelve weeks long. Applicants need to note that one or more of the clinical practicums may be assigned at a site sufficiently removed from the Orlando area to require the student to provide transportation and housing. Admissions decisions will be made only once per academic year. Incoming students will begin the program in the summer semester.
Students who successfully complete the course of study will be granted the DPT degree in Physical Therapy, enabling the graduate to seek membership in the American Physical Therapy Association and to qualify to take the national board examination leading to state licensure as a Physical Therapist. UCF’s Program in Physical Therapy is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.
Degrees Offered
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
Admission
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
Before applying to the program, the applicant must:
- Earn a competitive score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE and a minimum 2.75 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 attempted semester hours earned toward a bachelor’s degree (Official GRE results must be submitted regardless of score.)
- Applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or applicants whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, must score at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Submit three letters of recommendation, including one from a practicing PT.
- Submit an essay or personal statement
- Submit a current resume
- Earn a minimum of thirty hours of volunteer/work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist in the field of physical therapy.
- Participate in an on-campus interview (by invitation only).
Approximately 34 students are admitted to the program each year. The demographics of the class that entered in 2006 include an average age of 24 years and an overall grade point average of 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).
Acceptance and registration to study at UCF does not constitute admission to the program in Physical Therapy.
Before entering the program, the applicant must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree.
- Complete program prerequisites with at least a 2.75 grade point average and no grade less than a “C.”
- Earn a competitive score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Program Prerequisites
Before application to the program, each of the following prerequisite undergraduate courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" and a GPA grade point average of 2.75 in the prerequisites.
- General Psychology (3 credits)
- Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- Statistical Methods (science majors) (3 credits)
All of the following require labs:
- Biology (8 credits) or Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits)
- Chemistry (8 credits)
- Physics (8 credits)
Application Due Dates
All application materials must be submitted by the appropriate deadline listed below.
All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.
U.S. Applicants
Applications are only accepted for Summer admission.
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | Dec 15 |
International Applicants
Applications are only accepted for Summer admission.
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | Nov 1 |
International Transfer Applicants
Applications are only accepted for Summer admission.
| Program(s) | Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | Dec 15 |
Doctor of Physical Therapy
All students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program are required to engage in independent learning, a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without help of others to attain knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors. Tangible assignments, such as "Grand Rounds" (i.e., patient case studies), research projects, scholarly reviews, and full-time clinical practica mandated by the program, give students ample opportunities to develop and demonstrate independent learning skills as a result of self-inquiry and group dialogue.
Degree Requirements
Summer Term 1
- PHT 5003 Foundations of Physical Therapy I (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5115 Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience I (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5115L Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience I Lab (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5125 Clinical Kinesiology (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5125L Clinical Kinesiology Lab (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5156 Physiology of Therapeutic Exercise (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5156L Physiology of Therapeutic Exercise Lab (2 credit hours)
Fall Term 1
- PHT 5118 Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience II (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5118L Gross Anatomy/Neuroscience II Lab (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5240 Physical Assessment (1 credit hour)
- PHT 5240L Physical Assessment Lab (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5260 Patient Care Skills (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5260L Patient Care Skills Lab (1 credit hour)
- PHT 6606 Research Methods in Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
Spring Term 1
- PHT 5218 Theories and Procedures I (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5218L Theories and Procedures I Lab (1 credit hour)
- PHT 5241 Therapeutic Exercises I (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5241L Therapeutic Exercise Lab I (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5306 Pathology/Pharmacology (4 credit hours)
- PHT 6242 Orthopedic Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6242L Orthopedic Physical Therapy Lab (1 credit hour)
Summer Term 2
- PHT 5718 Neurological Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 5718L Neurological Physical Therapy Lab (1 credit hour)
- PHT 6219 Theories and Procedures II (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6219L Theories and Procedures II Lab (1 credit hour)
- PHT 6245 Therapeutic Exercise II (3 credit hours)
- PHT 6245L Therapeutic Exercise II Lab (1 credit hour)
- PHT 6716C Advanced Orthopedic Physical Therapy I (2 credit hours)
Fall Term 2
- PHT 5805 Clinical Education I (3 credit hours)
- PHT 5722C Physical Therapy Integration I (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6521 Management of Physical Therapy Services (3 credit hours)
- PHT 6322C Pediatric Physical Therapy (3 credit hours)
- PHT 6381C Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6XXXC Radiology/Imaging for Physical Therapy (3 credit hours)
Spring Term 2
- PHT 6374 Gerontology in Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6618 Research Applications in Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6719 Advanced Neurological Physical Therapy II (2 credit hours)
- PHT 6719L Advanced Neurological Physical Therapy Lab II (1 credit hour)
- PHT 6723C Physical Therapy Integration II (2 credit hours)
- PHC 6160 Health Care Finance (3 credit hours)
- PHT 6938 Special Topics: Wound Care and Professional Issues (1 credit hour)
Summer Term 3
- PHT 6822 Advanced Clinical Education I (6 credit hours)
Fall Term 3
- PHT 6823 Advanced Clinical Education II (3 credit hours)
- PHT 7XXXC Primary Care for Physical Therapy (2 credit hours)
- PHT 7XXXC Advanced Orthopedic Physical Therapy II (1 credit hour)
- PHT 7XXXC Advanced Neurological Physical Therapy II (1 credit hour)
- PHT 7XXXC Advanced Gerontologic Physical Therapy I (1 credit hour)
- PHT 7XXXC Advanced Pediatric Physical Therapy I (1 credit hour)
Spring Term 3
- PHT 5005 Foundations of Physical Therapy II (2 credit hours)
- HSC 6636 Issues and Trends in Health Professions (3 credit hours)
- PHT 7XXX Capstone Project in Physical Therapy (3 credit hours)
- PHT 7XXX Advanced Clinical Education III (3 credit hours)
Examinations
This nonthesis program requires a final comprehensive examination on course work in the program of study. In addition, comprehensive examinations may be required at the end of each year of the program. Participation in a research project may also be required of each student.
Financial Support
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Key points about financial support:
- If you are interested in financial assistance, you are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
- You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
- If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu/ and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov/. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
- UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and therefore not affected by FAFSA determination of need. .
- Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
- For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.
Contact Info
Gerald V. Smith, P.T., Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-3470
ptinfo@mail.ucf.edu