Choosing a Ranked Physical Therapy Program

Students interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy, must weigh many factors when choosing a graduate school. Some of these factors include the program’s coursework, the location, admission requirements, and tuition. Given the multitude of PT educational programs nationwide, it can be difficult to know where to begin. U.S. News and World Report publishes an annual ranking of graduate schools with physical therapy programs. Although this is by no means a complete list of all U.S. PT programs, it does provide a comparison of some of the top-rated programs in the United States.

Topping the U.S. News and World Report 2008 ranking was the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. USC’s Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, as well as clinical residency program for already-licensed physical therapists. In addition to these programs, USC offers Master of Science (MS) degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Biokinesiology for those wishing to pursue a career in research. The DPT degree prepares students to be independent practitioners who are trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat movement dysfunction in patients.

The University of Pittsburgh’;s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offers a three-year DPT program for students who already have an undergraduate degree. The program focuses on practical training in various areas of study including musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, integumentary, geriatric, and pediatric physical therapy. Graduates of the SHRS program may pursue PT certification and licensure or may branch into other related areas such as academic research or ergonomic product design.

Another ranked program is Old Dominion University’s School of Physical Therapy located in Norfolk, Va. ODU’s accredited program leads to a Doctorate Physical Therapy and boasts a 10-1 student-to-instructor ratio in lab classes. The curriculum consists of 117 credit hours to be completed during a three-year course of study (summers included). Graduates have a high licensure pass rate and a high rate of employment upon completion of the program.

The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff offers a program leading to a DPT degree. The 33-month course of study prepares students to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination which allows licensure in any of the 50 states. Students in the PT program receive classroom instruction and clinical practice focusing on the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary and cardiopulmonary systems. NAU’s goal is to prepare physical therapists who operate autonomously, provide a high standard of patient care, and are committed to professional development in order to stay apace of medical advances.