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The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program is a professional doctorate designed to prepare physical therapists for practice in an evolving healthcare environment. The FranU DPT program is unique among its competitors in that it features a streamlined curriculum, expert faculty with over 150 years of industry experience combined, state-of-the-art learning environments and both clinical education and service-learning opportunities for students.
The mission of the DPT program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to educate and form entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy practitioners in a faith-based academic community. Students are educated to become highly skilled ethical servant leaders who are valued contributors to the health professions and to the community.
Graduates of the DPT program will be prepared to practice as competent, compassionate Physical Therapists in a variety of healthcare settings.
Physical Therapist Ranked #21 in U.S. News 2025's 100 Best Jobs.
Learn more about how you can advance your career in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at FranU. Applications must be verified by the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS, no later than April 15!
Applicants applying to the FranU physical therapist education program should apply online using the PTCAS system.
Excellent preparation for NPTE - FranU DPT graduates are well prepared for the National Physical Therapy Examination. Our program goal is that graduates have an ultimate pass rate of greater than 90%, and the two-year average ultimate pass rate for the past year was 97%.
Eight-semester DPT program - The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is an eight-semester program that consists of 100 credits and both online asynchronous and in-person classes. Our program is rigorous and comprehensive, creating a space where students come together to learn and grow as professionals. Learn more about courses and credits.
Experienced faculty - FranU DPT faculty members are highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and a comprehensive blend of clinical practice, content expertise and educational experience. Learn more about our faculty.
Streamlined application process - Our physical therapy doctorate program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Applicants applying to the DPT program should apply online using the PTCAS system.
Research oriented - We encourage our students to develop their own research projects and strive to provide research opportunities as much as possible. In the FranU DPT program, you can follow your interests and dive deeper into ideas that excite you. Keep up with recent news from DPT students and faculty projects!
For our regular cycle, applications must be verified by PTCAS no later than April 15th, 2025. For those who would like to be considered for early decision, applications must be verified by PTCAS by November 1st, 2024
To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the following admissions requirements must be met:
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to the first day of scheduled classes in the DPT program.
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a calculated GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses.
Successful completion of all prerequisite courses with C or better.
Graduate Record Exam (>/= 290) combined quantitative and verbal portions and earned a minimum of 3.0 on the analytical writing portion. Must have been taken within the last five years.
Sixty clock hours of observation/practical experience with a licensed physical therapist.
At least two letters of recommendation from licensed physical therapists under which the applicant completed observation hours AND who submitted hours to PTCAS.
A personal statement that summarizes why the applicant desires to be a physical therapist, what they personally can contribute to the profession and why they are a fit for the University.
Prerequisite courses* in which a grade of C or better is required include:
General Biology and lab (8 credit hours)
Upper-level Biology or Chemistry (2000 level or above) (3 credit hours)
General Chemistry and lab (8 credit hours)
Human Anatomy (3 credit hours)
Human Physiology (3 credit hours)
- Or 6 hours of combined Human Anatomy and Physiology
General Physics and lab (8 credit hours)
Math [Algebra or higher] (6 credit hours)
Statistics (3 credit hours)
General Psychology (3 credit hours)
Upper-level Psychology [preferably Child/Developmental Psychology and/or Abnormal Psychology] (3 credit hours)
General English Composition/Writing (6 credit hours)
Upper-level English Composition/Writing [2000 level or above] (3 credit hours)
Medical Terminology (1 credit hour)
*All coursework will be reviewed with regard to course acceptability as meeting prerequisite requirements. If you have questions regarding acceptability of coursework, please email us.
The early decision deadline for the present application cycle is now open. Those wishing to be considered for early decision for the application cycle will need to have their application verified through PTCAS prior to November 1.
Early Decision Process
In order to be considered in the early decision process with FranU DPT, applicants must indicate via prompt questions on PTCAS of plan to apply early decision. Applicants must complete the PTCAS online application and submit the following supporting documents at the PTCAS website.
Transcripts from all colleges and universities listed on your application.
Prerequisite information: applicants must have no more than 9 outstanding hours of prerequisite courses and must maintain minimum required GPA and a C or better in outstanding prerequisite courses.
GRE scores (program code 4462).
At least two letters of recommendation from licensed physical therapists under which you completed observation hours AND who submitted hours to PTCAS.
Documentation of at least 60 hours of physical therapy observation.
Personal statement.
Early Decision Deadlines
PTCAS will allow application submission starting July 1. The early decision deadline for the DPT program is November 1. PTCAS applications must be completed and all transcripts received by PTCAS by this date. Application fees and/or transcripts arriving after November 1 will be considered in our regular application cycle.
Early Decision Interviews
Interviews for the early decision process are tentatively scheduled for early to mid-December.
Early Decision letters will be delivered no later than January 15th. If offered early admission, applicants are not bound to the university; however, a non-refundable enrollment deposit will be required to accept and hold the position in the cohort. If applicants are denied early admission, the application will be automatically returned to regular applicant status for continued consideration in the regular application cycle.
The program admits up to 40 students every Fall semester.
In the previous admissions cycle, we had 310 applications submitted to PTCAS, 133 of these were verified by PTCAS and we admitted 40 students to start the program in Fall 2022.
Our curriculum is comprised of 100 credit hours over eight semesters and includes over thirty-two weeks of formal clinical education.
DPT program at FranU costs less than most private physical therapy programs in the south region. The tuition is $90,690 and fees are $7,709, totaling $98,399 for the overall cost of the program
School | Tuition | Fees | Total |
FranU* | $91,555 | $9,159 | $100,714 |
Incarnate Word** | $102,725 | $8,185 | $110,910 |
William Carey University*** | $102,000 | Included | $102,000 |
St. Augustine – Austin, TX, Miami, FL, St. Augustine, FL **** | $112,091 | $8,700 | $120,791 |
*https://www.franu.edu/admissions/tuition...
**http://www.uiw.edu/physicalthe...
***https://www.wmcarey.edu/page/t...
Yes, financial aid is available to FranU DPT students. The office of financial aid works individually with students to procure appropriate student loans and aid based on their needs. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.
Transfer credits from other physical therapy or physical therapist assistant programs are not accepted.
In most cases, kinesiology coursework does not meet the upper-level biology or chemistry requirement for our program. Please visit FranU’s PTCAS Directory Page for a list of acceptable coursework.
Currently, a bridge program from PTA to PT does not exist at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Plans have not been made to include this in the future.
Absolutely not! You may attend any accredited college or university within the US for your prerequisite and degree completion.
As a premier health professional education program, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University will meet the following program goals:
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program will achieve a two-year average graduation of greater than 85%.
The program graduates will have a two-year average ultimate licensure exam pass rate of greater than 90%.
The program graduates will sustain a first-time licensure exam pass rate of greater than the national average.
Program graduates will have a two-year average employment rate of greater than 95% among graduates who are actively seeking employment in the field of physical therapy within one year of graduation.
As a community-engaged campus, 85% of the program faculty and students will be engaged in service to the community and profession at the institutional, local, state and/or national levels on an annual basis.
Upon completion of the DPT program, graduates will be able to:
Practice in a manner that meets legal standards and demonstrates ethical action and decision-making.
Utilize best evidence in making sound clinical judgments, as well as create scholarly material through scientific inquiry.
Apply entry-level knowledge and skills in the examination and evaluation of patients and clients to formulate accurate physical therapy diagnoses.
Create effective, evidence-based intervention plans that optimize an individual’s physical and emotional well-being and participation in society.
Administer effective physical therapy services through communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, servant-leadership and sound business acumen as autonomous, reflective practitioners in an ever-changing healthcare environment.
Below are the total tuition costs for the physical therapy doctorate program:
Semester | Credit Hours | Tuition/Fees | Course Fees | Total |
1 | 17 | $17,062.35 | $575 | $17,637.35 |
2 | 18 | $17,010.00 | $30 | $17,040.00 |
3 | 11 | $10,929.75 | $15 | $10,944.75 |
4 | 18 | $17,010.00 | $357 | $17,367.00 |
5 | 17 | $17,062.35 | $15 | $17,077.35 |
6 | 4 | $4,510.20 | $358 | $4,868.20 |
7 | 8 | $8,372.40 | $0 | $8,372.40 |
8 | 7 | $7,556.85 | 0 | $7,556.85 |
*Total | 100 | $99,363.90 | $1,350 | $100,713.90 |
*Tuition costs do not include textbooks or any additional costs associated with this program.
DPT faculty members are highly-skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and a comprehensive blend of clinical practice, content expertise, and educational experience.
| Document Title | Type | File Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Title: DPT Core Performance Standards | Type: pdf | File Size: 151.109 KB | Download |
| Document Title: FranU DPT Observation Hours Evaluation Form | Type: pdf | File Size: 101.962 KB | Download |
| Document Title: DPT Program Handbook 2024-2025 | Type: pdf | File Size: 843.535 KB | Download |
| Document Title: FranU DPT Student Financial Fact Sheet 2024 | Type: pdf | File Size: 202.788 KB | Download |
For information about our SACSCOC accreditation, please visit our Institutional Accreditation page.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (225) 214-6965 or email dpt@franu.edu.
Note: Prospective students should visit the State Authorization page to verify that Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is authorized to offer online courses and programs in your respective state. Prior to enrollment, students are also encouraged to visit their state educational agency or licensing board to ascertain whether or not they can utilize their degree program for additional compensation, initial licensing or renewal, as well as any other benefits.
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| DPTH 7411 - Structural and Functional Anatomy I | 4 |
| DPTH 7313 - Human Physiology I | 3 |
| DPTH 7315 - Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| DPTH 7321 - Foundations of Clinical Science I | 3 |
| DPTH 7331 - Professionalism in Physical Therapy I | 3 |
| DPTH 7961 - Physical Therapy Seminar I | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 |
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| DPTH 7324 - Foundational Science of Human Movement | 3 |
| DPTH 7358 - Pediatric Physical Therapy | 3 |
| DPTH 7223 - Foundations of Clinical Sciences III | 2 |
| IPGC 6125 - Bioethics | 1 |
| 7225 - Physical Therapy Interventions I | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 11 |
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| DPTH 7791 - Professional Practice I | 3 |
| DPTH 7158 - Wellness in Physical Therapy Practice | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 4 |
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| DPTH 7792 - Professional Practice II | 5 |
| DPTH 7742 - Scholarly Project II | 1 |
| *Elective (hours may vary) | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 8 |
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| DPTH 7793 - Professional Practice III | 5 |
| *Elective (hours may vary) | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 7 |
Total Program | 100 Credit Hours |
*A minimum of 4 elective credit hours is required for graduation. Students choosing to enroll in more than the required 4 elective credit hours will incur additional tuition costs.
Prospective students should visit the State Authorization page to verify that Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is authorized to offer online courses and programs in your respective state.
Prior to enrollment, students are also encouraged to visit their state educational agency or licensing board to ascertain whether or not they can utilize their degree program for additional compensation, initial licensing or renewal or any other benefits.
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