PT-ankle

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Blended

Physical Therapy

Bowling Green State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is Ohio’s first and only public, accelerated, hybrid (online and in-person) DPT program.

In this blended learning program, you’ll earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in two years. After passing the NPTE licensure exam, you will emerge as a clinician with a strong foundation in clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice and be a valuable contributor to the interprofessional health care team.

BGSU offers a holistic approach to admissions and recruitment, reducing barriers to the physical therapy profession. Because of this approach, the GRE is not currently an admission requirement, and no interview is required. We value diversity in our student body, and our faculty support every student’s academic and career success. Our two-year DPT model means our graduates can enter the workforce and earn an income sooner than students in a traditional three-year DPT program.

The mission of BGSU’s DPT program is to develop Doctors of Physical Therapy who create positive change in the lives of their patients and communities. We achieve this by teaching competence, innovation, application, research, inclusion and collaboration.

Our faculty, all renowned members of the physical therapy profession with a commitment to the education of the next generation of physical therapy professionals, have passionately and ardently created a two-year intensive curriculum designed to challenge and empower BGSU DPT students.

Our Delivery Model: Accelerated + Hybrid

Accelerated Defined

This approach allows completion of the DPT degree requirements in two years (versus the traditional three) while still meeting the established timing and content standards set by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Hybrid Defined

BGSU DPT students experience the benefit of living anywhere in the country while still being a part of the BGSU community. The accelerated, hybrid DPT program infuses contemporary learning technologies and experiences into modern professional training for aspiring physical therapists. By combining the best practices of distance learning with live, face-to-face immersive lab experiential sessions, the student is prepared to grow through clinical experiences both in their respective community as well as at nationally recognized centers of health care.

How Hybrid?
Students come to campus to learn psychomotor skills in lab immersions, six times (two weeks each) the first year while concurrently engaging with faculty and classmates in virtual synchronous and asynchronous course activities. During the second-year students begin to participate in clinical education internship experiences and come to campus for two lab immersions. See our sample academic calendar. This learning style is highly collaborative, engaging, and rigorous; the accelerated, hybrid curriculum requires the student to be a self-starter, highly organized, motivated and open to learning in new ways.

DPT Informational Webinars

Learn about our two-year, accelerated, hybrid curriculum, as well as admissions requirements and accreditation standards for our program via one of our free monthly webinars from 6:30-7:30 p.m. EDT/EST. Find upcoming dates on the registration page.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Belonging

BGSU School of Physical Therapy is committed to establishing and supporting a diverse community of students, educators, and staff to meet needs of the physical therapist workforce and patients they serve. We value all dimensions of diversity. We respect the values, beliefs, and opinions of all community members.  We believe that a diverse learning community is a stronger community for the public good. 

BGSU DPT and the School of Physical Therapy recognize and support a very broad definition of diversity: Diversity can include, but is not limited to; race and ethnicity, culture, religious background, geography (rural, urban, regional), gender identity, sexual orientation, physical abilities, neurodivergence, backgrounds and experiences, age/generation, veteran status, and family structures. 

Our program is committed to addressing health disparities and social determinants of health. All BGSU DPT students will do at least one clinical education experience in a medically underserved area of the United States. Health disparities or social determinants of health can refer to but are not limited to-- a type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, educational, and/or, environmental disadvantage. 

Career Outlook

BGSU DPT graduates will have the opportunity to practice across a spectrum of settings: outpatient clinics, hospitals, critical care units, people’s homes, schools, sports and fitness facilities and workplaces, to name a few.

The physical therapy profession is set to grow 18% from 2019- 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – much faster than the average of 3% for all careers. An aging population and sedentary lifestyles are creating extra demand for qualified physical therapists. The median salary in the United States for a licensed physical therapist is $85,000. Salary and demand vary based on degree, location, position, years of experience and setting. Licensed physical therapists may choose to pursue a residency or fellowship program to enhance their knowledge and practice in a specialty practice area.

Career paths

  • Neurological physical therapist
  • Pediatric physical therapist
  • Private practice PT
  • Home services
  • Geriatric PT
  • Sports medicine 
  • Women’s health
  • Cardiac rehabilitation

Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

View Average Salaries

Curriculum

Our program uses a body-systems aligned curricular model infused with case-applied strategies. The DPT curriculum is delivered across 6 semesters, 92 weeks in 2 calendar years using an accelerated, hybrid learning delivery model. This includes 62 weeks of academic semesters, with the remaining 30 weeks dedicated to full-time clinical education.

Approximately half of our curriculum takes place online, with the remaining taking place in face-to-face lab immersion sessions. Attendance is required at weekly sync sessions. Given the demands of the accelerated delivery model, the program strongly recommends that students work no more than 10-12 hours/week.

Required courses

physical therapy ankle leg

Sample courses

  • Clinical Neuroscience for the PT
  • Pharmacology for the PT
  • Movement Science
  • Therapeutic Interventions
  • Musculoskeletal Practice
  • Mindful Patient Management

The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is a service of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). PTCAS allows applicants to use a single application and one set of materials to apply to multiple DPT programs. 

Learn more about pursuing your doctor of physical therapy at BGSU

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BGSU College of Heath and Human Services 

The Doctorate of Physical Therapy program is part of the BGSU Graduate College and BGSU College of Health and Human Services

Updated: 12/20/2023 08:57AM