DPT Program
The Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares individuals to become licensed physical therapists. Following a selective admission process, a new class of 56 students is invited each fall semester to begin study in the three year Professional DPT Program . The curriculum includes 123 credits (graduate level) where students progress from foundational sciences and skills to application to patient care concluding with full-time clinical internship rotations at clinical education facilities in and out of the state. The DPT Curriculum Sequence (see below) outlines professional program courses for each semester; a description of those courses can be viewed in the UCA Graduate Bulletin (see Physical Therapy course description).
Frequently Asked Questions
See our FAQ UCA DPT sheet regarding the UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email:accreditation@apta.org; website:http://www.capteonline.org
Student Outcomes
Graduation rate (3 year average: 2010-2012): 97%
NPTE Pass rate (3-year average 2008-2010): 97.5%
Employment rate (3-year average 2010-2012): 100%
Requirements
The professional DPT program requires a Baccalaureate degree as well as specific prerequisite coursework. Students attending UCA for their undergraduate work may declare a BS Degree with a major in Health Sciences - Physical Therapy Emphasis. Other requirements for admission to the program include a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and GPA of 3.00 in sciences. At the time of application a minimum of 22 of 31 hours of required prerequisite sciences must be successfully completed (before the application deadline).The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) must also be completed as well as 45 hours of observation of a physical therapist at three different physical therapy clinics or facilities where students must use the clinical observation form (see below) for documentation. Students enrolled in the DPT program must perform certain essential functions in order to participate in and complete program requirements. A list of these essential functions and the departmental policy is provided below. The UCA DPT Program Brochure (below) provides a complete description.
Application
The UCA Department of Physical Therapy application deadline is October 1st each year. For 2014 Admissions, application to the Professional DPT Program requires completing an on-line application at the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) website. The UCA Supplemental Application WILL NOT BE necessary in addition to PTCAS for 2014 and beyond.
Documents and Links:
| DPT Brochure May 2012 | Program description and admission process, updated May 9, 2012. |
| UCA DPT Prerequisite Course List | List of DPT prerequisite courses (41 credits) required for admission. |
| Chart of Course Equivalencies Link | DPT prerequisites and equivalent courses at Arkansas Four Year Colleges & Universities for transfer credit. |
| Arkansas Course Transfer System Link | For UCA courses versus Arkansas two-year and four-year colleges and universities |
| PTCAS | Applications to the UCA DPT Program are processed on-line through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) |
| UCA Supplemental | NOT REQUIRED in addition to PTCAS for 2014 and beyond. |
| UCA DPT Program Essential Functions | |
| UCA DPT Sequence Fall2012 | Professional DPT Curriculum Sequence of Courses beginning Fall 2012 |
Estimated Cost of Program
As of the Fall 2012 semester, GRADUATE tuition and hourly fees for Arkansas residents AND residents of states contiguous to Arkansas (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas) total $278.02 per graduate semester hour. Out of state residents (of states non-contiguous to Arkansas) for Fall 2012 pay $503.82 per graduate semester hour. University fees paid per semester total $126.50. In addition, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Fee is $14.00 per credit hour and the Lab Fee is $5.00 per credit hour. In example, the first semester of the DPT Program totals 17 credit hours; combined tuition and fees for 2012 for an in-state graduate student totals $5,175.84. No lab fee is required during the full-time clinical work. Students seeking financial aid should make known in their application for aid the actual per semester hours in the DPT Program as noted in the curriculum sequence on page 7. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. Information on tuition and fees is available from the UCA Student Accounts office at http://uca.edu/studentaccounts.
International Students
All international students applying to the DPT program must also meet the requirements for international students (see below) and submit an application through the UCA International Affairs office (see below) in addition to their application to the DPT program through PTCAS.
Requirements for International Students
Pre-PT Academic Advisor:
Ms. Charlotte Fant
Email: cfant@uca.edu
Phone: (501) 450-3611.