Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The objectives of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program are to provide to enrolled students a quality education that requires accumulation of scientific knowledge, acquisition of essential physical therapy skills and the development of professional attitudes and behaviors. Graduates of the program are qualified to sit for the National Physical Therapist Examination. A passing score on the examination is required for licensure as a physical therapist.

The Department of Physical Therapy is located within the College of Health Professions. The program is designed as a full time “4 + 3” program that leads to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Students complete four years of pre-professional coursework at other colleges or universities, and then complete three years of professional education on the Memphis campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Candidates are required to have a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. Students matriculate in the fall term and graduate at the end of the spring term (May), three years later, after completion of all academic and clinical internship requirements. Clinical internship sites are located in Memphis, throughout Tennessee, and in surrounding states (see section on State Authorizations for stipulations regarding out-of-state field experiences). Due to the limited number of clinical sites in Memphis and other urban areas, students should anticipate the financial impact of traveling and living out of town for the majority of their clinical internships. The intent of the clinical internships is to provide the student with broad exposure to physical therapy practice in a variety of settings and geographic locations. As a rule, no student will be allowed to complete all clinical internship experiences in any one geographic location.