Transitional Physical Therapy Program (tDPT)

Program in Physical Therapy
Application for Admission to the
Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT)

Program Overview

The Program in Physical Therapy began in 1941 as a one-year course resulting in a Certificate in Physical Therapy.  In 1946, the Program received its initial accreditation to award the Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy. While the professional (BS) degree program continued, a Master of Science (MS) degree program was added to meet the postprofessional needs for scholarly advancement of clinicians seeking clinical research skill or faculty appointments. In 1997, the BS professional degree program was replaced with a Master of Science degree program. In 2001, the program advanced to the professional doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT) supported by the 2020 vision of the American Physical Therapy Association.

In 2005, the Program will implement the transitional professional degree program (tDPT). The tDPT program provides the opportunity for experienced physical therapists to return to school to earn their professional doctorate. The transitional doctorate curriculum was formed to reflect the most recent courses developed in the Program, courses with the most rapidly changing areas of content and practice, and courses representing current or leading-edge physical therapy practice.

Curriculum Design

The number of credits to earn the tDPT degree will vary dependent on the student’s level of education and experience, as determined by the admissions committee review of the applicant’s portfolio. There is a 30-credit requirement for the tDPT, although students are able to waive up to 15 credits based on their portfolio.

As a result of the individuality of the portfolio process, each applicant’s plan of study will draw from the entire curriculum with only one required core course. All students are required to complete a capstone project as part of their degree program. This course integrates the student’s level of academic competency and scholarship with their ability to apply clinical reasoning, decision making, and professional experience to the areas of concentration in their plan of study.

Course content may be delivered through lecture, on-line, or laboratory format, and current literature seminars or a combination of all three methods.

Our program is geared for the part-time student who is most likely working part- or full-time in a clinical setting.  It is designed to meet the needs of these students by offering coursework early or late in the day, on weekends, or via the web when possible.

Students will have up to four years for completion of the tDPT program. In the case of special circumstances, students will have the option to petition to increase the program completion time requirement.

Admissions Operational Standards

Operational Standards for Admission

Graduate of CAPTE accredited program
Professional Portfolio (Curriculum Vitae, documentation of professional activity)
Graduate School Application
2 letters of reference
Official transcripts
Current state professional license
Competency in E-mail and internet use
An operational standard GPA of 3.0 for the professional physical therapy degree is the preferred minimum

Competency Evidence Guidelines

Students who wish to receive transfer or waiver credit for past graduate coursework and professional activities are required to submit the following documents to support competency in those areas.

Scholarship

Publication: name of journal/publication, title, author(s), dates, volumes, etc.
Scientific presentation: name of the meeting, dates, abstract/presentation content.

Academic Experience

Courses: areas of content, syllabi-course outlines including objectives, institution, course dates, and teaching evaluation performance summary.

Coursework

Provide official transcripts: identifying area of course content, dates of activity, institution and degree if applicable.  Provide written document detailing teaching responsibilities: academic institution/organization, course outlines, and additional educational activities.

Clinical specialization

Provide proof of certification
Identify area of specialization

E-mail and internet use

Each student will complete a short essay on the application identifying their proficiency with electronic communication.

Applicants must submit a written request for waiver or transfer credit for each course or content being petitioned for competency credit. This document should include a thorough explanation of why the applicant feels they should receive credit. Approval of waiver or transfer credit will not be granted unless all of the required documents have been submitted for review.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rate is the University of Minnesota Graduate School rate (www.grad.umn.edu).
Application fee $100.00

Portfolio Process

The admissions process is competitive and based on academic records, narrative responses, letters of recommendation, and professional experience. Curriculum requirements will be determined through a portfolio review process and tailored to each individual based on previous education and professional competencies. The portfolio process is initiated by the Chair of the tDPT Program reviewing the submitted documentation and evidence provided by the applicant. If it is determined that the applicant meets the operational admission standards of the program, the portfolio will then progress to the tDPT Admissions Committee for final review and admission decision.

The Program in Physical Therapy would require all students to demonstrate competency in basic and applied science skills, neuroanatomy/motor control, orthopedics/biomechanics, cardiopulmonary, integument, pharmacology, ethics, and scholarship at the completion of the tDPT degree. Competency will be measured by a final written capstone project administered to each student and advised by one of the participating tDPT faculty.

Students may receive a credit reduction of coursework through admissions committee consensus. Students who have taken graduate coursework at the University of Minnesota or at another university may also submit documentation for consideration of possible credit transfer. Graduate coursework must be related to content offered in the tDPT program in order to be considered for credit transfer.

The following sample tDPT Plans of Study were based on fictitious professional portfolios and are to be used as an informational tool only. These Plans of Study samples are not all inclusive and are not representative of all individual professional portfolio possibilities. Click here to see the sample Plans of Study.

Graduate School Commitment to Diversity

The Graduate School embraces the University of Minnesota’s position that promoting and supporting diversity among the student body is central to the academic mission of the University. We define diversity to encompass many characteristics including economic disadvantage, special talents, evidence of leadership qualities, race or ethnicity, a strong work record, and disability. A diverse student body enriches graduate education by providing a multiplicity of views and perspectives that enhance research, teaching, and the development of new knowledge. A diverse mix of students promotes respect for, and opportunities to learn from, others with the broad range of backgrounds and experiences that constitute modern society. Higher education trains the next generation of leaders of academia and society in general, and such opportunities for leadership should be accessible to all members of society. The Graduate School and its constituent graduate programs are therefore committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities through recruitment, admission, and support programs that promote diversity, foster successful academic experiences, and cultivate the leaders of the next generation.

Technical Standards

The Program in Physical Therapy is mindful of the unique nature of the physical therapy curriculum.  Applicants must possess the skills and abilities that will allow them to successfully complete the course of study and receive the full benefit of the education. In the process, the student is required to direct or perform treatment on the patients throughout the University of Minnesota Program in Physical Therapy curriculum and its clinical affiliates. This includes the completion of treatment safely and within an acceptable amount of time.  With this in mind, the student must be able to meet the Program’s technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation. For more information click here to see the Program in Physical Therapy Technical Standards.

Admissions deadlines:

Summer enrollment:  May 1, 2007
Fall enrollment:  August 1, 2007
Spring enrollment:  December 1, 2007

Application Tips

• Review your file for accuracy and completion prior to submission; incomplete files will not be considered

• Please provide complete and grammatically correct narrative statements

• Don’t forget to complete your application to the Graduate School

• SAVE! SAVE! SAVE the application material frequently throughout the process

• Complete the application checklist after you have submitted your application

For more information contact:

Lisa Dorsey, PT, MBA, PhD
Assistant Director
Transitional DPT Program Chair
Program in Physical Therapy
University of Minnesota
MMC 388
420 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
phone: 612-625-2177
fax:  612-625-4274
dorse015@umn.edu

Thank you for considering the University of Minnesota Transitional Physical Therapy program. To apply online click here.