Doctor of Physical Therapy

Why a DPT?

Augustana University’s hybrid, accelerated Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program prepares graduates with the core skills needed to advance and lead within the physical therapy profession.

Students will graduate in two years ready to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and serve their diverse communities. Graduates will be prepared to innovate, integrate career and service, devise novel solutions to critical problems, embrace lifelong learning and professional development, and improve the human experience in a diverse world.

DPT at AU

DPT at AU

DPT Academics

DPT Admission

Licensure, Reciprocity & Complaints

Course Descriptions

Tuition & Fees

Faculty

Contact Us

Doctor of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions

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Latest News

The Augustana University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program — the university’s first doctorate program — welcomed its inaugural cohort in June and exceeded its enrollment goal by five students. The DPT program enrolled 85 students into the Class of 2025, and an additional six chose to defer to the cohort beginning in 2024.

Augustana University is excited to announce that its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has achieved ”candidate for accreditation” status from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Augustana University is excited to announce the launch of its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program within its School of Health Professions. The university’s first-ever doctorate program will welcome its inaugural cohort in June of 2023. 

Highlights

DPT Highlights

The hybrid DPT program continues Augustana University’s rich history of meeting people where they are, connecting students and faculty from diverse communities and making DPT education accessible to students all around the country.

Careers

Physical therapists are innovative movement experts empowered to integrate career and service, devise novel solutions to critical problems, and embrace lifelong learning to improve the human experience in a diverse world. Visit the American Physical Therapy Association’s careers page to find out more about becoming a physical therapist. To get a detailed career description of the essential tasks and abilities that a physical therapist must possess, visit O*NET Online.

Program Goals

  • Demonstrate a commitment to service and leadership in the institution, community and profession.
  • Enroll a student body that results in graduates who support the demand for physical therapists and rehabilitation services at the local, state and national levels.
  • Efficiently develop competent, career-focused physical therapists through innovative academic and clinical learning experiences.

Faculty Goals

  • Role model meaningful service and professional responsibility to the institution, community and professional organizations.
  • Integrate innovative teaching strategies and technologies that support the program’s mission, enhance student learning and optimize outcomes.
  • The collective faculty demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship and clinical practice.

Student Goals

  • Students and graduates demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and professional growth through lifelong learning, critical inquiry and mindful practice.
  • Function in a professional, caring, ethical and culturally competent manner with a demonstrated advocacy toward the patient, community and profession.
  • Provide feedback in support of the program’s mission, enhancement of student learning, innovative technologies and optimization of outcomes.

DPT Program Vision

Faculty, staff and students of the Augustana DPT program are dedicated to the university’s Core Values and the Core Values of the physical therapy profession and reflect these in word and action. They seek to promote academic, personal and moral growth within a safe, challenging and responsive community. Their professional actions are rooted in science and open to the undiscovered opportunities for improvement of the health of a diverse population.

As part of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU), a common calling can be found in “Rooted and Open” to equip graduates who are “Called and Empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish.”

Augustana’s principles serve as the foundation for assessing the quality of the program and individual performance in achieving the program’s mission.