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Curriculum and Degree Requirements

See course and clinical experience requirements in KU's three-year, full-time Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Over a three-year period in KU's doctoral program in physical therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center, you'll prepare to be a physical therapy practitioner through experiences in the classroom, lab and clinical settings. Explore all the degree requirements below.

The program requires you to complete a minimum 110 credit hours. See coursework details below. You must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU graduate coursework. View the curriculum schedule (PDF) and visit the Registrar's site to see the academic calendar.

Curriculum

The following core courses (86 credit hours) and full-time clinical experiences are required for completion of KU's doctor of physical therapy degree program.

PTRS 702 Physical Therapy Documentation and Health Informatics 1
PTRS 703 Applied Anatomy 1
PTRS 704 Physical Therapy Interventions I 3
PTRS 705 Physical Therapy Interventions II 4
PTRS 710 Advanced Topics in Human Anatomy 6
PTRS 711 Applied Kinesiology and Biomechanics 4
PTRS 720 Integrated Clinical Experience I 1
PTRS 730 Integrated Clinical Experience II 1
PTRS 745 Orthopedic Physical Therapy I 6
PTRS 746 Musculoskeletal Conditions and Management 3
PTRS 750 Research in Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice 3
PTRS 817 Ethics in Health Care 2
PTRS 825 Exercise Physiology 3
PTRS 826 Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy 5
PTRS 828 Medical Imaging 1
PTRS 830 Integrated Clinical Experience III 2
PTRS 833 Pediatric Physical Therapy 3
PTRS 840 Integrated Clinical Experience IV 2
PTRS 845 Orthopedic Physical Therapy II 6
PTRS 846 Orthopedic Physical Therapy III 3
PTRS 852 Neurologic Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation I 6
PTRS 853 Neurologic Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation II 6
PTRS 855 Pharmacology for Physical Therapists 2
PTRS 860 Evidence-Based Research Practicum I 1
PTRS 861 Evidence-Based Research Practicum II 1
PTRS 877 Administration in Physical Therapy 2
PTRS 882 Pathophysiology and Physical Therapist Screens 6
PTRS 890 Specialties in Physical Therapy Practice 2
PTRS 920-923 Full-time Clinical Experiences (option 1 or 2 below) 24
TOTAL HOURS 110

Within the program, you'll be required to participate in 36 weeks of full-time clinical experience. During this time, you will be assigned to one of two scenarios, each 24 credit hours, to fulfill your full-time clinical experiences requirement.

  • Scenario 1: Three 12-week full-time clinical experiences across the fall and spring semesters of your third year.
  • Scenario 2: Four 9-week full-time clinical experiences across the fall and spring semesters of your third year

International Clinical Experience

You can also choose an international clinical experience option. Those who elect to pursue an international clinical experience will enroll in PTRS 924 Specialized Clinical Experience as an elective 2-6 credit hour course. You will enroll during the semester you participate in the international clinical experience. The number of credit hours (2-6) for the course is clinic-specific.

The total number of credit hours for the full-time clinical experience requirement (24) will remain the same for those completing an international clinical experience; however, the total hours of either PTRS 920 Full-time Clinical Experience I, PTRS 921 Full-time Clinical Experience II, or PTRS 922 Full-time Clinical Experience III will be decreased the semester of the international clinical experience by the number of credit hours the student enrolls in for PTRS 924.

The DPT program also requires you to complete a research practicum via PTRS 860 Evidence-Based Research Practicum I and PTRS 861 Evidence-Based Research Practicum II courses.

You must complete the university’s research skills and responsible scholarship requirement prior to the semester you complete your research practicum.

  • PTRS 750 Research in Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice, PTRS 860 Evidence-Based Research Practicum I, and PTRS 861 Evidence-Based Research Practicum II meet the research skills requirement.
  • PTRS 817 Ethics in Health Care meets the responsible scholarship requirement.

** Course schedules are provided for reference only. For complete, current information about courses and requirements in our doctor of physical therapy program, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Vaccines and Clinical Site Requirements

The University of Kansas Medical Center requires various immunizations for its students. For a detailed list please visit the student health forms webpage or speak with Student Health Services. These immunization requirements help promote health and safety and facilitate clinical placement.

Many, if not all, clinical sites who partner with the University of Kansas Medical Center require proof of these vaccines for students engaged in training or other programmatic experiences at clinical sites. Not being vaccinated may preclude students from participating in activities, potentially impeding their ability to complete all program requirements for degree completion. Applicants with questions should speak with a representative from the academic program to which they intend to apply.

KU School of Health Professions

Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
University of Kansas Medical Center
Mail Stop 2002
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
ptrsat@kumc.edu

913-588-6799