Doctor of Physical Therapy

Division Director: Megan Donaldson PT, PhD, FAAOMPT

Physical therapy is a dynamic health care profession. Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education and provide care across the lifespan to anyone of any ability. PTs can identify, diagnose, and treat movement problems. Pain-free movement is crucial to quality of life, ability to earn a living, and independence. PTs design treatment plans for each person's individual needs, challenges, and goals. PTs help people improve mobility, manage pain and other chronic conditions, recover from injury, and prevent future injury and chronic disease. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, private offices, rehabilitation centers, community health centers, research centers, industry, sports medicine clinics, and as educators and researchers in colleges and universities.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) program prepares individuals to evaluate patients/clients with impairments that affect the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, integumentary or other body systems that cause movement dysfunction. Physical therapists then implement evidence-based treatment programs that minimize or prevent these impairments, improve and restore movement, and enhance function and quality of life.

The three-year DPT program incorporates foundational learning with clinical coursework, clinical reasoning, community-based service, and interprofessional learning embedded throughout. The curriculum incorporates 40 weeks of clinical practice that allow students to further develop their knowledge and skills in a clinical environment.

Accreditation

The MUSC Doctor of Physical Therapy program at MUSC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Admissions

Learn more about the admission steps and requirements for the program.

More Info

Curriculum

Year 1, Summer

PT 700 Foundations of Physical Therap 2
PT 705 Movement Science 3
PT 705L Surface Anatomy Lab 1
PT 718 Human Anatomy 4
PT 764 Evidence Based Practice I 1
Semester Total 11

Year 1, Fall

PT 701 Neuroscience 4
PT 712 Applied Physio and Nutrition 3
PT 712L Applied Physio and Nutrition Lab 1
PT 730 Musculoskeletal I 3
PT 730L Musculoskeletal I Lab 3
PT 752 Motor Development 2
Semester Total 16

Year 1, Spring

PT 711 Clinical Pathophysiology 3
PT 716 Biomechanical Analysis 1.5
PT 724 Therapeutic Exercise 2
PT 724L Therapeutic Exercise & Massage 1.5
PT 731 Musculoskeletal II 3
PT 731L Musculoskeletal II Lab 2
PT 748 Pharmacology 1
IP 711 IP Foundations & Teamstepps 1
IP ### IP Concentration Course of Choice 1
Semester Total 16

Year 2, Summer

PT 725L Biophysical Agents Lab 1.5
PT 727A Cardiovascular & Pulmonary A 2
PT 727LA Cardiovascular/Pulmon PT LabA 0.5
PT 732 Musculoskeletal III 3
PT 732L Musculoskeletal III Lab 2
PT 749 Healthcare Delivery 2
PT 765 Evidence Based Practice II 1
ELEC Elective from Approved Listing var.
Semester Total 12+

Year 2, Fall

PT 727B Cardiovascular & Pulmonary B 1
PT 727LB Cardiovascular/Pulmon PT LabB 1
PT 726L Functional Mobility 1
PT 728 Imaging/ Electrodiagnosis 2
PT 733 Prosthetics and Orthotics 1.5
PT 740 Clinical Practicum I 8
PT 751 Integumentary Physical Therapy 2
PT 766 Evidence Based Practice III 1
ELEC Elective from Approved Listing var.
Semester Total 17.5+

Year 2, Spring

PT 746 Health Promotion 2
PT 755 Neuromuscular I 3
PT 755L Neuromuscular I Lab 3
PT 710 Adult Development & Aging 3
PT 760 Pediatrics 3
PT 760L Pediatrics Lab 1
ELEC Elective from Approved Listing var.
Semester Total 15+

Year 3, Summer

PT 717 Differential Diagnosis 2
PT 756 Neuromuscular II 3
PT 756L Neuromuscular II Lab 2
PT 761 Practice Management 2
PT 762L Clin Reason/Practice Lab 1
ELEC Elective from Approved Listing var.
Semester Total 10+

Year 3, Fall

PT 741 Clinical Practicum II 10
PT 742 Clinical Practicum III 10
PT 767 Evidence Based Practice IV 1
Semester Total 21

Year 3, Spring

PT 743 Clinical Practicum IV 12
Semester Total 12
Curriculum Total 130.5+

Approved Electives

  • PT 695. Community Based Practice, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 720. Owning a Private Practice, 1 credit hour
  • PT 729. Special Topics in Pediatrics, 1 credit hour
  • PT 734. Manual Therapy: Upper Body, 1 credit hour
  • PT 735. CSCS Exam Preparation, 0.5 credit hours
  • PT 736. Sports Rehabilitation Outreach II, 1 credit hour
  • PT 737. Trigger Point Dry Needling, 1 credit hour
  • PT 758. Manual Therapy: Lower Body, 1 credit hour
  • PT 768. Special Topics: Physical Therapy, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 790. Sports Rehabilitation Outreach I, 1 credit hour
  • PT 800. PT Education I, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 801. PT Education II, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 802. PT Education III, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 810. PT Research I, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 811. PT Research II, 1-3 credit hours
  • PT 812. PT Research III, 1-3 credit hours