Physical Therapy

Our Delivery Model: Accelerated + Hybrid

Accelerated Defined

This approach allows completion of the DPT degree requirements in seven semesters (versus the traditional three years, nine semesters) while meeting the established timing and content standards set by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Hybrid Defined

BGSU DPT students experience the benefit of living anywhere in the country while still being a part of the BGSU community. The accelerated, hybrid DPT program infuses contemporary learning technologies and experiences into modern professional training for aspiring physical therapists. By combining the best practices of distance learning with live, face-to-face immersive lab experiential sessions, the student is prepared to grow through clinical experiences both in their respective community as well as at nationally recognized centers of health care.

How Hybrid?
Students will come to campus to learn psychomotor skills in lab immersions, four times (two weeks each) the first year while concurrently engaging with faculty and classmates in virtual synchronous and asynchronous course activities. During the second-year students begin to participate in clinical education internship experiences and come to campus for four lab immersions. See our sample academic calendar. This learning style is highly collaborative, engaging, and rigorous; the accelerated, hybrid curriculum requires the student to be a self-starter, highly organized, motivated and open to learning in new ways.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Belonging

BGSU School of Physical and Occupational Therapy is committed to establishing and supporting a diverse community of students, educators, and staff to meet needs of the physical therapist workforce and patients they serve. We value all dimensions of diversity. We respect the values, beliefs, and opinions of all community members.  We believe that a diverse learning community is a stronger community for the public good. 

BGSU DPT and the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy recognize and support a very broad definition of diversity: Diversity can include, but is not limited to; race and ethnicity, culture, religious background, geography (rural, urban, regional), gender identity, sexual orientation, physical abilities, neurodivergence, backgrounds and experiences, age/generation, veteran status, and family structures. 

Our program is committed to addressing health disparities and social determinants of health. All BGSU DPT students will do at least one clinical education experience in a medically underserved area of the United States. Health disparities or social determinants of health can refer to but are not limited to-- a type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, educational, and/or, environmental disadvantage. 

Career Outlook

BGSU DPT graduates will have the opportunity to practice across a spectrum of settings: outpatient clinics, hospitals, critical care units, people’s homes, schools, sports and fitness facilities and workplaces, to name a few.

The physical therapy profession is set to grow 18% from 2019- 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – much faster than the average of 3% for all careers. An aging population and sedentary lifestyles are creating extra demand for qualified physical therapists. The median salary in the United States for a licensed physical therapist is $85,000. Salary and demand vary based on degree, location, position, years of experience and setting. Licensed physical therapists may choose to pursue a residency or fellowship program to enhance their knowledge and practice in a specialty practice area.

Curriculum

Our body-systems aligned DPT curriculum is delivered across seven semesters, 108 weeks over 28 months using an accelerated, hybrid learning delivery model. 

Approximately half of BGSU DPT’s curriculum is delivered online, with the remaining taking place in face-to-face lab immersion sessions and clinical education settings. Online instruction includes asynchronous multi-media content review, assignments and assessment learning activities combined with synchronous online classes and faculty office hours. Attendance is required at all online weekly sync sessions and face-to-face lab immersions. Given the 60+ hours/week demand of the graduate DPT accelerated delivery model, the program strongly discourages concurrent work beyond 10-12 hours/week.

More Information

• Health Information
• DPT Student Affairs
• Clinical Education
• School of Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Technical Standards and Essential Functions
• Technology Requirements and Recommendations
• Learning Outcomes
• Contact us for admissions questions