Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

The UMass Lowell Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares students to diagnose and treat movement dysfunction to help people live healthier lives. Supporting the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) core values as demonstrated throughout the curriculum, our program aligns with the vision of the APTA to transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. 

The curriculum includes 95 credits of coursework and 34 weeks of clinical education experience. It provides a comprehensive foundation in the art and science of physical therapy. Methods of instruction include classroom lecture and discussion, small group/problem-based learning, and skill development during laboratory and clinical experiences. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical decision-making and critical inquiry skills across the curriculum.

The clinical education program consists of three extended clinical education experiences, of 10, 12, and 12 weeks duration respectively, for a total of 34 weeks. Students experience a variety of practice settings, including acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedic, as well as other more specialized settings, e.g. pediatric, geriatric, sports medicine, women's health, and home care.

1. View the DPT Degree Pathway (curriculum)
2. View the Program Outcomes
3. View the course descriptions in the Academic Catalog

Get ready for an exciting career as a physical therapist. UMass Lowell's fully accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program requires a baccalaureate degree for admission and a three-year full-time commitment, including each summer. Matriculation begins the summer immediately subsequent to acceptance. The UMass Lowell DPT program does not offer deferred acceptance.

Application Deadline

• See more information in the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog: Admission Requirements
• The completed application deadline is Nov. 1 for admission into the subsequent (summer) matriculating class. Please note: Applications will be accepted starting mid-June. (The specific date varies year to year and is determined by PTCAS).
• Applications deemed incomplete at the application deadline will be ineligible for review.

ApplicationDocuments Application Documents

• Certification of Hours (pdf)
• Letter of Recommendation form (pdf)

We admit qualified baccalaureate degree recipients directly into the doctoral program with a 2-Year Average of 49.2% of the applicants admitted into the program (2021-2022).

Note: The DPT Program at UMass Lowell participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Applicants applying to the DPT Program for the November 1st, 2024 deadline will apply online using the PTCAS application. 

PTCAS Apply Online

For additional information regarding DPT admission requirements, please contact:

Keith Hallbourg, Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Call 978-934-4402 or email: keith_hallbourg@uml.edu.

The Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program is also a member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.

Community involvement is an integral component of the mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program of preparing clinicians to practice in today's complex healthcare environment. The program has community-based outreach relationships with many organizations in the region to facilitate rehabilitation, disease/injury prevention, wellness enhancement in the community. Additionally, the Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology is committed to providing community access to interprofessional educational programs that promote clinical expertise among practicing clinicians in the region and the nation.

Department-sponsored annual events include:

• National Physical Therapy Month (October)
• Annual Wheelchair Benefit Basketball Game

Service Learning

Service learning is a teaching and learning method that upholds a commitment to appreciating the assets of and serving the needs to a community partner while enhancing student learning and academic rigor through the practice of intentional reflective thinking and responsible civic action. Service Learning in Physical Therapy is a capstone course that facilitates these methods within the DPT Program. This course brings services to the community with special interest in working within underserved communities. Students use experiential learning to complement and enrich traditional didactic classroom activities and pedagogies, and will have opportunities to learn about particular populations and social issues within the community. The courses also provides students with an opportunity to design and implement educational and training programs in an effort to meet the needs of the populations in that community. As such, students work collaboratively with diverse populations to strengthen the listening and communication skills that are essential to a practicing physical therapist.

Organizations

The DPT Program has been, and/or is currently, involved with the following local organizations:

• Anne Sullivan Center
• Chelmsford Community Center
• Chelmsford Senior Center
• D'Youville Rehabilitation
• Elder Services of Merrimack Valley, Lawrence
• Emerson Hospital, Westford
• Hanscom Military and Airforce Base
• HEAD Start Program, Lowell
• Ironstone Farm
• Life Links
• Littleton Council on Aging
• Lowell Community Health Center
• Lowell Council on Aging
• Lowell Middlesex Charter School
• Northeast Rehab
• Newbury Court Parkinsons Rock Steady Program
• UMass Lowell Recreation Center
• UMass Lowell Club Sports Teams
• Winchester Hospital/Orthopaedics Plus, Woburn
• Women's Health Awareness with Pelvic Floor PTs
• YMCA of Lowell
• YMCA of Nashua