Program in Physical Therapy (Post Baccalaureate) Bouve College of Health Sciences Northeastern University

Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Northeastern University

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University is one of the oldest accredited programs of its kind in the United States. The program encompasses the university's core values of "interdisciplinary education, urban engagement, international knowledge, and cutting-edge research." It is designed to meet the needs of individuals from diverse educational and career backgrounds.

Co-op Education in the DPT Program

The physical therapy program at Northeastern University is the only program of its kind in the United States that provides DPT students with the opportunity to alternate periods of academic study with full-time employment in the field.

This cooperative education program allows students to acquire real-world experience at national and international facilities. The combination of theoretical and hands-on learning ensures that students graduate from the program ready to provide the highest quality of care to patients.

Cooperative educational experiences take place all over the world including Costa Rica, India, Peru, South Africa, and the United States.

Doctor of Physical Therapy -- Post-Baccalaureate Program

The DPT -- Post-baccalaureate is a full-time, 4-year program that trains students who have bachelor's or master's degrees in disciplines other than physical therapy for the field. It consists of 7 semesters of coursework, a 6-month cooperative education assignment, and 30 weeks of clinical education.

Students complete several prerequisite courses including anatomy and physiology with lab, general psychology, chemistry with lab, physics with lab, English, and math/statistics.

The program's curriculum includes courses in pathology, neuroscience, musculoskeletal management, assistive technology, pharmacology, and administration.

Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Northeastern University is designed for students who are entering college as freshmen. Students are accepted directly into the program and begin taking physical therapy courses during their first year of study.

Students take a comprehensive range of courses including gross anatomy, kinesiology, psychosocial management, motor control, therapeutic modalities, and health assessment.

In the final 2 years of the 6-year program, students complete 30 weeks of full-time clinical education that takes place at 3 different sites and in a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient, and specialty environments.

Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Northeastern University is an online program that was created for applicants who have earned baccalaureate or master's degrees in physical therapy. The program's curriculum includes core courses in differential diagnosis and medical screening, diagnostic imaging, pharmacology, nutrition, and motor control as well as elective courses in a wide range of areas.

Students also have the option to complete directed study programs on pre-approved topics and may choose specialties. Areas of concentration include nutrition, leadership, orthopedics, education, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, urban health, or independent track.

The Transitional DPT program also includes a comprehensive case analysis, research project, or doctoral level independent project that covers issues such as clinical investigation, community health, ethics, law, and urban health.

Accomplished Faculty Members

DPT students learn from and work with faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community service. They are active participants in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), prolific researchers, and outstanding practitioners.

Associate professor Meredith H. Harris, DPT, is just one of the program's accomplished faculty members. She is a licensed physical therapist who specializes in pediatric and adult neurologic physical therapy.

Dr. Harris conducts research on balance and postural control and is actively involved in public service. For instance, she is a member of the APTA cultural competence committee and the APTA Media Corps as well as a subcommittee reviewer for the National Institutes of Health.

DPT faculty members publish numerous articles in scholarly journals on a wide-variety of topics. For instance, Prudence Plummer-D'Amato recently published the article "Dual-task Effects of Spontaneous Speech and Executive Function on Gait in Aging: Exaggerated Effects in Slow Walkers" in the scholarly journal Gait & Posture. Her colleague Charrette A. Hayward published "A Model for Teaching and Assessing Core Values Development in Doctor of Physical Therapist Students" in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education.

Northeastern University

Established in 1898, Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the northeastern region of the United States. It is a private, research university that provides more than 90 undergraduate programs and over 160 graduate programs to 20,000 students.

Northeastern offers students excellent experiential learning opportunities that enrich their classroom education. In fact, its hundred year-old cooperative education program allows students to gain up to one-and-a-half years of professional experience.

Its commitment to providing an extensive range of academic programs and conducting groundbreaking research earned Northeastern University a ranking on the "U.S. News and World Report" 2011 list of the 100 top national universities in the United States.

About Boston

One of the oldest cities in the nation, Boston is an international hub for commerce, culture, and education. It offers NEU students an extensive range of professional opportunities and recreational options.

Points of interest include the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team), Prudential Center, and the Museum of Science.

More information is available regarding graduate applications and graduate studies at Northeastern University.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 100
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Not reported
• Evening/weekend programs available? Not reported
• Distance learning programs available? Not reported
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied112
• Accepted46
• Acceptance Rate41%
• Enrolled29
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline December 1st March 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitNot Reported
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableScholarship and/or loans