PP-DPT Shenandoah University is committed to meeting the needs of practicing physical therapists who wish to practice at a doctoral level. Shenandoah’s online Post-Professional (transitional) DPT program (PP-DPT) is designed to complement the knowledge and skills of the practicing physical therapist with an entry-level Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy or Master’s of Physical Therapy degree (or Master’s degree in a related health care field) with advanced education through implementation of evidence in practice and advanced clinical reasoning.  We endeavor to prepare physical therapist clinicians for the responsibilities and expectations associated with doctoral-level practice. As members of a doctoring profession, physical therapists must be self-directed life-long collaborative learners who possess evidence-based clinical decision-making skills to provide optimal patient care and achieve expected outcomes.

The program is designed to integrate sophisticated technologies by offering courses in an online teaching and learning format. There is one half-day orientation session required of incoming students to attend to prepare them for a successful and enriching experience as an online student. This also serves as an opportunity for incoming students to meet faculty and begin networking relationships with their peers.

One half-day final seminar is required of graduating students, and is followed by a doctoral Hooding (graduation) ceremony onsite.

Both sessions are held on the Health Professions Campus in beautiful historic Winchester, Virginia in mid-August of the first and final years of study, respectively. The option for virtual attendance will be granted by request.  

Program Philosophy

At Shenandoah University, we believe that physical therapists have an integral role in the interprofessional health care team in meeting the ever-evolving health care needs of society.

A Shenandoah University education is distinguished by providing opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills in a collaborative, personalized environment, employing an ongoing interpretive and reflective process that intertwines prior and current experiences into the adult learning process. This takes place within the established community of inquiry that continually strives for excellence and professionalism among faculty and students.

Graduates of the Shenandoah University Post-Professional program will be prepared to be critical, reflective thinkers; self-directed lifelong learners; culturally competent practitioners; and ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation, and the world.  

Mission of the SU PP-DPT Program

The Shenandoah University Post-Professional DPT program prepares physical therapists to become doctoral level clinicians who are reflective, collaborative practitioners; are adaptable and responsive to meeting evolving societal health needs in current and future practice; and are recognized as outstanding clinicians and leaders in the field.

Degree Requirements

Doctoral level graduation requires a total of 30 credits. The curriculum may be taken in one of three tracks; Track I (3 sequential terms), Track II (6 sequential terms) and Track III (7 sequential terms). Tracks I and II are for individuals who have completed a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy or for those Baccalaureate-trained (BSPT) individuals who have completed an advanced Master’s degree in a health-related field. Track I and II students are required to complete 16 credits in the SU PP-DPT program, with 14 graduate level credit hours transferred in from their previous degree. Track III is for BSPT trained individuals who do not have an advanced health-related graduate degree. Track III students are required to complete 20 credits in the SU TDPT program, with 10 graduate level credit hours transferred in from their previous degree. Only courses in which the student has earned the equivalent of a “B-” or higher will be considered for transfer credit.

For all tracks, in order to be retained in the curriculum and receive the DPT degree, all courses must be passed with a grade of 80% or higher. All coursework must be successfully completed within three years of the start date of the program.

In addition to policies and procedures of Shenandoah University identified in this catalog, students enrolled in the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to the policies and procedures found in the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Handbook.

Admission Requirements for All Tracks

Application materials are reviewed as they are received. Applicants must meet and submit the following:

1. Completed Shenandoah University graduate application and $30 non-refundable application fee
2. Unofficial transcripts for initial admission and official transcripts from all institutions where a degree or applicable credit was earned after admission. For foreign-trained licensed and practicing physical therapists, a course-by-course academic credential evaluation by an approved NACES member, AICE member, or FCCPT is required.
3. Employer Verification Letter: all students must submit verification of at least 1 year of current employment as a physical therapist.
4. Language Proficiency requirements must be met. Submission of TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test may be required. See our policy for full details: https://www.su.edu/admissions/international-students. 

In order to sit for the U.S. National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for licensure, most U.S. states require a passing TOEFL score. If applicants hold a license in one of those states, the applicant’s copy of current licensure will fulfill the English proficiency requirement. If an applicant is licensed outside of one of those U.S. states, the applicant must demonstrate English Language Proficiency per the university policy when applying.

   5. Copy of current physical therapy license.

All transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must have been submitted for an academic credential evaluation by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member organization to obtain equivalency information regarding courses, credits, grades and degrees earned. SU requires a copy of the full evaluation to be submitted. Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is acceptable for academic credential evaluations.