Transitional DPT Program - Florida Gulf Coast University

Designed to meet the needs of the practicing physical therapist and allow physical therapists to augment their knowledge and skills to reflect contemporary physical therapy practice at the clinical doctoral level.

Students become proficient in employing current sources of information as they relate to learning and evidence-based practice. Students develop into self-directed learners through acquiring skills that aid them in being resourceful scholars and clinicians. The Guide to Online Schools rated FGCU tDPT program as one of the most affordable online tDPT programs.

2020 award

Eligible applicants must have graduated from a CAPTE accredited Masters or Baccalaureate degree program and hold a current license in the State of Florida. Interested applicants should contact tdpt@fgcu.edu, for an individualized plan of study. The tDPT Program is designed to be a distant learning format.

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Accreditation
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Institutional Accreditation
Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

Program Accreditation

The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) Program is a post-professional program, and as such, is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Admissions Information
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Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
Students are admitted to the Physical Therapy-Transitional D.P.T. program (also referred to as the t-DPT) in the fall and spring semesters of each year, dependent upon departmental review of an applicant's academic transcripts. For fall semester consideration, all application materials must be received by July 1. For spring semester consideration, all application materials must be received by November 1. Applicants will be notified of department's decision regarding start date following transcript review.

Admission to the t-DPT program is contingent on space availability. Applications will be processed, and admission decisions made based on the order in which complete applications are received. The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the t-DPT program.

All applicants must:
- Submit an application and fee through Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
- A baccalaureate or master's degree in physical therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
- An active physical therapy license in good standing issued by the State of Florida.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of the baccalaureate degree in physical therapy, or a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the master's degree in physical therapy. If the GPA is less than 3.0, then an applicant must have a minimum entrance score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
  
  A minimum score of 4.0 on the Analytical portion of the GRE.
  
  A minimum total Quantitative-Verbal GRE score of 1000, with a minimum score of 400 on both the Quantitative and Verbal portions of the GRE, if taken prior to August 2011 or Equivalent Quantitative-Verbal (combined and individual) scores for GRE tests taken after August 1, 2011.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must follow a Program of Study approved by the student's faculty advisor.
- Students must receive a grade of "B" ("S" if applicable) or better on all courses within the program curriculum.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all courses in the program.
- Submit an application for graduation by the semester deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- Satisfy all university and program graduation requirements as outlined in the catalog and the tD.P.T. Student Guidebook.
- Students entering program with a baccalaureate degree in physical therapy will complete all coursework listed below for a total of 30 credits. Transcripts of students entering the program with a master's degree in physical therapy will be evaluated for course equivalency, and students will be provided with an individualized program of study.
- Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
- Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits.
Program Requirements
Required Courses in the Major (30 credits):

PHT 5016 Prof Writing & Lit. Review (2)
PHT 5353 MDP I: Intro to Pharm & Imaging (2)
PHT 7070 MDP II: Diagnostic Imaging (3)
PHT 7352 MDP III: Applied Pharm for PT (3)
PHT 6009 MDP IV: Diagnostic Testing (3)
PHT 6507 PDS V: Medical Spanish for PT (1)
PHT 6606 APP PT Critical Inquiry (3)
PHT 6607 APP PT-Applied Crit Inquiry (3)
PHT 7500 Wellness and Health Promotion (3)
PHT 7533 Prof Issues of Doct Prof (3)
PHT 7951 Capstone I (2)
PHT 7952 Capstone II (2)
Total Credits Required: 30 HRS
Course Descriptions
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Supplemental Course Descriptions

The following course descriptions only provide information about the focus that an individual professor chooses to take for their course. These descriptions are not a replacement for the official course description. Use the Course Description Search page to find the official course description.

tDPT Courses as Continuing Education Credit

The tDPT graduate courses are eligible for continuing education credit in Florida. Continuing education credit will be the equivalent to the credit hours earned. Rule 64B17-9.001 (7a)
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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1. Model professional behaviors that are consistent with professional excellence and the expectations of the profession and the consumer.
2. Practice utilizing patient/client management skills consistent with contemporary practice.
3. Experience areas of personal growth necessary for the transition into becoming a professional.
4. Recognize the importance of and pursue community involvement as part of his/her professional responsibility and civic engagement.
5. Appropriately use and modify written, oral and non-verbal communication with clients, families and colleagues.
6. Practice effectively and are able to respond to change within a dynamic health care environment.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for the tDPT program total $532.78 per credit hour. This includes the standard per credit hour graduate tuition, including all fees and estimated cost of attendance (Office of the Bursar website) as well as an additional per credit hour fee. The Guide to Online Schools ranked FGCU DPT program as one of the most affordable online tDPT programs.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

tDPT Courses as Continuing Education Credit

The tDPT graduate courses are eligible for continuing education credit in Florida. Continuing education credit will be the equivalent to the credit hours earned. Rule 64B17-9.001 (7a)

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Marieb College of Health & Human Services

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

10501 FGCU Blvd. S.
Fort Myers, FL 33965

239-590-7530

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