Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

About the Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Division of Physical Therapy (housed within the School of Allied Health Sciences) at FAMU was established in 1981, becoming the third physical therapy program in the State University System (SUS) of Florida. The first class of students was admitted to the baccalaureate program in 1982; the last baccalaureate class graduated in August 2001. Currently, all Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students must have completed a bachelor's degree. Consistent with other SUS physical therapy programs, applicants accepted into the FAMU program are admitted as graduate students in the professional curriculum.

Physical therapy involves the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement disorders, disabilities, injuries caused by a variety of problems, such as musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular disorders and aging. Physical therapists treat individuals of all ages (across the lifespan) restoring function and promoting independence. To learn more about the profession, please visit the American Physical Therapy Association Website: www.apta.org

The DPT Program at FAMU is a full-time, campus-based program which takes 34 months to complete. Students are admitted in the fall semester annually and graduate at the end of the 3rd year Spring semester. The program includes 32 weeks of full time clinical practice. Graduates are awarded the DPT degree upon satisfactory completion of all curricular requirements.

Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy (EDPT) Program Mission Statement

The mission of the FAMU EDPT Program is to become a premier provider of Doctor of PT graduates who contribute to abolishing health care disparities and access in existing and emerging health care arenas by developing doctorally prepared practitioners who will increase the availability of health care to medically underserved populations in Florida. The physical therapy program fosters clinical reasoning, reflective practice, life-long learning, and critical inquiry that integrate both evidence and practice as reflected in the tenets espoused in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.

Entry-Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Vision Statement
To be recognized in the region, state and nation as a premier provider of Doctor of PT graduates who contribute to abolishing health care disparities and access in existing and emerging health care arenas.

DPT Curriculum and FAQs

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The DPT curriculum is a lock-step curriculum that is built upon a broad foundation of liberal arts, social sciences, basic and clinical sciences.

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Frequently Asked Questions about our program and admissions process.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Florida A & M 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 [850-412-7866] or email [physicaltherapy@famu.edu].

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Process for Filing a Complaint with CAPTE

CAPTE will take action only when it believes that practices or conditions indicate that the program may not be in compliance with the Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation, CAPTE’s Statement on Academic Integrity Related to Program Closure, or CAPTE’s Statement on Academic Integrity in Accreditation. A copy of these documents may be attained by contacting the Department of Accreditation. A formal written, complaint may be filed with CAPTE at the address above. The complaint must be in the format provided by the Department of Accreditation. Complaints may not be submitted anonymously.

CAPTE

More Detail Information

Course Or Named Substitute

Credits

Biological Sciences (Must be courses for science majors. Anatomy and physiology may be combined or separate)

 

Biology I w/Lab        

4

Biology II w/Lab       

4

Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab

(Vertebrate Physiology or Chordate, Comparative or Human Physiology course)

4

Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab

(Vertebrate Physiology or Chordate, Comparative or Human Physiology course)

4

Chemistry (Must be courses for science majors)

 

Chemistry I w/Lab

4

Chemistry II w/Lab  

4

Physics (Must be courses for science majors)

 

College Physics I w/Lab

4

Physics II w/Lab

4

Mathematics (Upper level)

 

Statistics

3

Psychology/Sociology

 

A General Psychology + an additional Developmental Psychology or equivalent or sociology

6

TOTAL

41

Note: A grade of C (not C-) is the minimum grade considered as acceptable for any one of the prerequisite courses. However, the "average" grade required across all prerequisite science courses is B (3.0).

The following courses are NOT required, but are recommended as electives to provide a strong base for the DPT curriculum:

  • Management
  • Neuroscience
  • Exercise Physiology 
  • Medical Terminology
  • English Composition or writing

Students must have prior competency in computer skills such as word processing, spread sheets, and presentation software and a working knowledge of medical terminology.

OUTCOMES

NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE EXAMINATION (NPTE) FIRST TIME PASS RATE (%)

NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE EXAMINATION (NPTE) ULTIMATE PASS RATE (%)

EMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

GRADUATION RATE (%)

2020

88

92

100

100

2019

86

100

100

92

2019-2020 Averages

87

96

100

96

 

If you need a specific contact, browse a list of Division of Physical Therapy faculty and staff.

 

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Division of Physical Therapy



P:
(850)412-7866
E:
physicaltherapy@famu.edu