Sacred Heart University

Program Information

Degree Offered

DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy

Format: Campus

Program Description:

Sacred Heart University offers a 3-year, full-time program in Physical Therapy that prepares graduates for professional practice in physical therapy as general practitioners who demonstrate self-directed, ongoing learning, an understanding of self in the context of professional role, competency in clinical practice, a commitment to the application of professional skills, knowledge of self in service to others, and a commitment to effect positive change within the greater community.

The DPT program utilizes a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) design through tutorials, mentorships and group projects. PBL places emphasis on the development of a reflective practitioner by teaching students to learn from and solve clinical problems. Curriculum content is organized around carefully designed patient or professional practice problems that students study, discuss, and research in small groups called tutorials. Students develop the ability to identify, organize and synthesize materials relevant to each case in a self-directed manner that indicates responsibility for one’s own learning as well as the learning of the group. The tutorial group work develops reasonable interdependence among students and supports the use of peers in learning and problem solving.

The graduate program is a 3-year (6 semester) course of study available on a full-time basis only, in order to allow for professional socialization and the integration of course work. Full-time clinical education occurs during the summers between the first and second year (8 weeks), between the second and third years (10 weeks) and during the final semester of study.

Sacred Heart's DPTprogram was ranked the #1 PT program in Connecticut, one of the top 5 programs in New England, and among the top 25% of programs in the nation according to the most recent U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools.

Accreditation:

Sacred Heart University's physical therapy program is fully accredited at both the state (Connecticut Department of Higher Education) and national (Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education) levels. As a result, students are prepared to sit for physical therapist licensing examinations throughout the United States.

Eligibility Requirements:

Admission is open only for Fall semesters and applicants are required to have the appropriate prerequisite course work in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and psychology.
Applicants should complete the common application at www.PTCAS.org

# of Credits Required:

106

International Student Requirements:

International graduate student applicants must complete an Application Supplement for International Graduate Students provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Foreign students holding an undergraduate degree from outside of the United States must have their academic credentials evaluated by an independent organization. Currently, Sacred Heart University only accepts course-by-course evaluations from the World Education Service (WES). You can review their procedure and download the necessary documents from: http://www.wes.org All international graduate applicants for whom English is not their native language are required to submit an official test score reprot for one of the following exams: TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, PTE or iTEP exam. Sacred Heart University requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the TOEFL iBT; minimum score of 6 on the IELTS required; minimum score of 80 on the MELAB required; minimum score of 5 on the iTEP.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition In-State Full Time:

30190 USD

Tuition Out of State Full Time:

30190 USD

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities I

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large Suburb

Size & Settings: 5,000 - 9,999