Physical therapy is a health profession involved in prevention, evaluation, and treatment of limited physical activity and injury. The practice is based in movement sciences. Physical therapists aid patients from pediatrics to geriatrics in the best methods of restoring an optimum quality of life. Physical therapists practice in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes, school systems, pediatric clinics burn centers, wellness facilities, and in private practice.

The University of St. Augustine offers an alternative way to obtain the DPT degree through the Flex DPT program. This program combines distance education and weekend labs on campus in a first professional DPT program designed for the student who needs flexibility in scheduling. By substituting asynchronous online education for most standard classroom participation and holding weekend labs on campus, an individual can earn a DPT degree in 12 trimesters (4 years).

The model represents an expansion of the first professional DPT  campus-based program currently in place at the University of St. Augustine. The same mission and curriculum used in the campus-based program is utilized in the Flex program with the only differences being a reduction in the number of credits taken per term and the delivery format. The Flex program prerequisites, admission requirements, academic calendar, total tuition, and policies are the same as the campus-based program. Students in the Flex program complete three full-time clinical internships in the second half of the program. That portion of the curriculum will require full-time attendance by the Flex DPT student.

There are two cohort groups of students admitted per year, in St. Augustine, Florida and San Marcos, California, starting in September and January; in Austin, Texas, starting in May and September, all cohorts with a maximum of 30 students per group and a minimum of eight students. If the number of Flex cohort students drops below eight, the University reserves the right to hold the cohort group back a trimester to combine with the following group.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University’s DPT program is to graduate competent, versatile, reflective, empathetic, and autonomous practitioners who by virtue of their critical thinking and active learning skills, clinical experience, diagnostic proficiency, ethical and behavioral standards, and commitment to professionalism will be prepared to assist and direct the patient or client in achieving optimum function. These practitioners will contribute to their practice and society through continued professional growth and personal example of a healthy and productive lifestyle.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the DPT program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to

• engage in personal and professional development and lifelong learning activities;
• practice physical therapy in a manner that supports cooperative relationships with patients/clients, other health care providers, and the community;
• perform evidence-informed physical therapist practice based on foundational knowledge and professional clinical skills;
• interact in a professional manner that demonstrates effective communication for various audiences and purposes;
• implement principles of ethical and professional behavior in physical therapist practice;
• display qualities of leadership in physical therapist practice to advance the profession of physical therapy; and
• apply critical thinking to evidence-informed decision making in physical therapist practice.

Program Prerequisites

Required prerequisite coursework (must be completed with a grade of C or better) is as follows:

• 6 credits of general college chemistry
• 6 credits of general college physics, biomechanics, or anatomical kinesiology
• 6 credits of general college biology
• 6 credits of anatomy and physiology
• 3 credits of human growth and development across the lifespan
• 1 credit of medical terminology
• 12 credits of social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, or anthropology)
• Unless candidates have current work experience in a health sciences field, it is recommended that their prerequisites be no more than 5 years old—especially anatomy and physiology.

Note: Prerequisite substitutions can be considered with approval by the Program Director.

Delivery of Coursework

The Flexible DPT program is 131 credits and is offered over 12 trimesters. More than 50% of the coursework is delivered online to the student. The online courses consist of Web-based text with extensive graphics, videos, and audio clips. There are opportunities provided for faculty-to-student and student-to-student synchronous and asynchronous interactive collaboration. Assessment of online learning outcomes includes a wide variety of evaluation tools depending on the course outcomes, such as (1) quizzes completed online, (2) graded discussion assignments, (3) case reports, (4) group projects, (5) research papers, and (6) article critiques.

In courses with a lab component, students come together on campus for 16 hours of laboratory classes per weekend for no more than 7 weekends per 15-week trimester. The lab sessions provide an avenue for teaching activities not well suited for online delivery, such as the hands-on learning that is vital to physical therapy education, in addition to oral presentations, proctored written examinations, lab practical testing, and socialization activities. Currently these lab activities are located on the St. Augustine, Florida, Austin, Texas, and San Marcos, California, campuses.

California PT Licensure

As of July 2019, in order to be eligible for professional  licensure as a Physical Therapist in California, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program graduates must hold a degree from an accredited Physical Therapy program.  DPT graduates that are applying for licensure in the state of California are required to submit an Application of Examination and/or Licensure and all other required documentation, Certificate of Completion Form (P1E) completed by the registrar, application fee, and passing licensure exam score from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to the Physical Therapy Board of California.