Shenandoah University is committed to meeting the needs of practicing clinicians who wish to be a part of the vision of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) to become a doctoring profession by obtaining the Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree (DPT). Shenandoah’s distance education based Transitional DPT program (TDPT) bridges the gap between Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT) and Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree programs and entry-level DPT education. The Shenandoah University TDPT program offers an opportunity to complement current knowledge and skills with advanced content designed to prepare clinicians for autonomous practice in a direct access environment. Graduates of the TDPT program will be versed in the importance and implementation of evidence-based practice in physical therapy and will be instructed in the latest in physical therapy diagnostics across a variety of content areas.

Mission of the SU TDPT Program

Shenandoah University prepares individuals to be critical, reflective thinkers; lifelong learners; and ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world. Shenandoah distinguishes itself by providing opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills in a collaborative, personalized environment that intertwines professional and liberal learning. A Shenandoah education incorporates scholarship, experiential learning and sophisticated technologies, as well as practical wisdom.

Therefore, it is the mission of the SU TDPT program to enhance the ability of the practicing physical therapist to think critically, to value evidence-based practice and to demonstrate compassionate and ethical clinical practice as a doctoring professional. The program is designed to integrate sophisticated technologies by offering courses in a distance education format along with requiring  one day orientation session and one day residency seminar on campus mid-August in the first and final years of study, respectively All travel, lodging and expenses associated with the on-site seminars are at the expense of the student. 

Degree Requirements

Doctoral level graduation requires a total of 30 credits. The curriculum may be taken in one of three tracks. Track I (one-year plan) and Track II (two-year plan) are for individuals who have completed an MPT degree or for those BSPT-trained individuals who have completed an advanced master’s degree in a health-related field. Track I and II students will transfer 14 graduate level credit hours from their previous degree. Track III is for BSPT trained individuals who do not have an advanced health-related graduate degree. Track III students will transfer 10 graduate level credit hours 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 TDPT degree, all courses must be passed with a grade equivalent of “B” (80%) or higher. All coursework must be successfully completed within three years of the start date of the program. Remediation of a grade of less than 80 percent may be considered at the discretion of the program’s associate director. If a student earns a failing grade, the student will have one additional year to retake the course (at the current per credit tuition rate as set forth by the university at that time) during the next regularly scheduled course offering. In the event the student is not successful upon the second course attempt, the student will be dismissed from the TDPT Program. All students are eligible to reapply for admission to the program at the next enrollment period. No exceptions to this policy will be considered.

Admission Requirements for All Tracks

1. Application materials are reviewed as they are received. Applicants must meet and submit the following:
2. Completed Shenandoah University graduate school application including the $30 application fee.
3. All official higher education transcripts.
4. Copy of current U.S. licensure as a physical therapist.
5. Completed Program Information Form indicating desired track to follow.
6. Foreign-educated students must submit above information as well as verification of full-time employment for at least six months in the U.S. as a physical therapist.

In order to have received U.S. PT licensure, 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.