Doctor of Physical Therapy Course Requirements

DPT Curriculum

Wilson College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is designed to prepare learners for contemporary, entry-level physical therapist practice through an accelerated hybrid format that integrates foundational sciences, clinical reasoning, hands-on skill development, primary care principles, and full-time clinical education experiences. The sequence progresses from foundational knowledge and patient-care skills to advanced examination, differential diagnosis, intervention, and clinical practice across diverse healthcare settings.

Curriculum at a Glance

Feature	Wilson DPT Curriculum
Total Credits	108
Program Format	Accelerated hybrid
Curriculum Length	2 years / 6 semesters
Clinical Education	Three full-time clinical practice experiences
Key Threads	Clinical reasoning, primary care, evidence-informed practice, health promotion, professional formation
Final Preparation	Capstone and practice-readiness coursework

Hands-on Support in a Hybrid Environment

The hybrid format combines structured asynchronous learning, live synchronous sessions, and in-person lab immersions. Students complete guided online preparation before applying concepts through faculty-led discussion, case-based learning, psychomotor skill practice, and hands-on laboratory experiences. The 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports individualized feedback, mentoring, and clinical skill development throughout the curriculum.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements include successful completion of all required coursework, clinical education experiences, program assessments, and professional requirements as outlined in the Wilson College catalog and DPT student handbook.

To graduate from the Wilson DPT program, students must maintain good academic and professional standing, demonstrate consistent progress throughout the program, and successfully meet all academic, clinical, capstone, and institutional requirements. The following criteria must be fulfilled:

Graduation Standards Required for Degree Conferral
To be eligible for degree conferral, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

Academic Completion

Successfully earn a final passing grade in every required DPT Program course. All required courses may not be excluded, waived, or substituted.
Achieve a cumulative DPT Program GPA of 3.00 or higher at the time of graduation clearance.

Clinical Education Completion

Successfully complete all three required clinical education experiences (DPT-670, DPT-675, DPT-680), earning a satisfactory (Pass) performance evaluation in each, confirmed by the Director of Clinical Education.
Receive a determination of entry-level clinical readiness on the CIET final clinical performance instrument for each required clinical placement.

Professional Development

Complete all required elements of the Academic and Clinical Requirements as defined in the DPT Curricular Map and approved by the Coordinator of Student Affairs.
Demonstrate satisfactory attainment of the professional behaviors, values, and dispositions expected of an entry-level physical therapy practitioner.

Institutional & Administrative Requirements

Complete all WC institutional processes associated with degree conferral, including formal application for graduation and clearance of all outstanding financial obligations.
Satisfy all requirements under WC institutional policy governing degree conferral as published in the current WC Academic Catalog.
Have no pending, unresolved Joint Honor Council actions or disciplinary proceedings at the time of graduation clearance.
Good Financial Standing having fulfilled all tuition, fees, and financial obligations to Wilson College prior to degree conferral.

Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in delayed graduation or ineligibility for degree conferral. Students are responsible for ensuring that all academic, professional, and financial obligations are satisfied within the designated timeframe.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national board examination for physical therapists, administered by The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be a Physical Therapist. In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, each state license are usually based on the results of the FSBPT board examination.

Integrated Curriculum Threads

Throughout the program, learners revisit and apply key professional themes with increasing complexity:

Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Readiness
Students develop the ability to gather, interpret, and synthesize patient information to guide safe and effective decision-making.

Primary Care Physical Therapy
Students learn to screen for medical concerns, recognize red and yellow flags, determine when referral is appropriate, and understand the physical therapist’s role in the broader healthcare system.

Evidence-Informed Practice
Students learn to ask clinical questions, appraise literature, integrate evidence with patient values, and apply findings to patient care.

Professional Formation and Leadership
Students develop communication, ethical reasoning, reflective practice, accountability, and leadership behaviors expected of doctoring-level professionals.

Hands-On Psychomotor Skill Development
Students progress from foundational patient-care skills to advanced examination, intervention, and clinical performance through lab practice, feedback, and clinical education.

Clinical Experiences

Clinical education experiences allow students to apply knowledge and skills developed throughout the curriculum in authentic patient-care environments. Students progress from foundational coursework and integrated lab experiences into full-time clinical practice experiences designed to support development of entry-level clinical performance, professional communication, clinical reasoning, patient management, and interprofessional collaboration.

Outpatient orthopedics
Outpatient neurological
Outpatient pediatrics
Acute care hospital
Inpatient rehabilitation facility
Sub-acute/skilled nursing facility
School-based pediatrics
Home health
Sports rehabilitation

Wilson College provides the opportunity for transformative education, which is why U.S. News named the institution among the Top Performers on Social Mobility in the North.

Our liberal arts emphasis creates respectful disruptors and agents of change who fuel meaningful outcomes for the human experience. Our online programs honor Wilson’s rich history of providing accessible and inclusive education.

You belong at Wilson College, no matter your background.

YEAR 1
Semester 1	Course #	Course Title	Credit
1.1 / 1.2	DPT-600	Human Anatomy	7
1.1 / 1.2	DPT-601	Physical Therapy Fundamentals	3
1.1 / 1.2	DPT-602	Human Physiology	3
1.1	DPT-605	Evidenced Informed Practice	2
1.1	DPT-611	Health Promotion & Wellness	2.5
1.2	DPT-608	Professional Competencies	1
1.2	DPT-614	Therapeutic Interventions 1	2.5
Total Semester Credits			21
Semester 2	Course #	Course Title	Credit
2.1 / 2.2	DPT-629	Clinical Neuroscience	3.5
2.1	DPT-615	Movement Science	2.5
2.1	DPT-620	Musculoskeletal Practice 1	4
2.1	DPT-622	Integrative Pain Science	2
2.2	DPT-623	Musculoskeletal Practice 2	3
2.2	DPT-625	Evidence Informed Practice 2	2
2.2	DPT-627	Therapeutic Interventions 2	1.5
Total Semester Credits			18.5
Semester 3	Course #	Course Title	Credit
3.1 / 3.2	DPT-640	Cardiopulmonary Practice	3.5
3.1	DPT-630	Musculoskeletal Practice 3	4
3.1	DPT-632	Management of the Aging Adult	3.5
3.1	DPT-633	Neuromuscular Practice 1	2.5
3.2	DPT-635	Musculoskeletal Practice 4	3
3.2	DPT-637	Neuromuscular Practice 2	2.5
Total Semester Credits			19

YEAR 2
Semester 4	Course #	Course Title	Credit
4.1	DPT-670	Physical Therapy Practice 1	8
4.2	DPT-644	Management of the Complex Patient	2.5
4.2	DPT-645	Management of the Pediatric Patient	2.5
4.2	DPT-647	Advanced Diagnostics	2
4.2	DPT-649	Pharmacology	2
Total Semester Credits			17
Semester 5	Course #	Course Title	Credit
5.1	DPT-650	Business Management & Leadership	2
5.1	DPT-653	Bracing, Prosthetics, & Orthotics	1.5
5.1	DPT-655	Advanced Therapeutic Interventions	2
5.1	DPT-657	Primary Care Physical Therapy	2
5.2	DPT-675	Physical Therapy Practice 2	8
5.2	DPT-690	Capstone 1	1
Total Semester Credits			16.5
Semester 6	Course #	Course Title	Credit
6.1 / 6.2	DPT-680	Physical Therapy Practice 3	14
6.1 / 6.2	DPT-695	Capstone 2	2
Total Semester Credits			16
Total Curriculum Credits			108

Withdrawal From the Wilson College DPT Program

The process for withdrawal from the DPT program is listed in the Wilson College Course catalog and can be found under the Withdrawal from the College. Depending on the timing of the student’s withdrawal a refund of tuition monies paid may be due to the student. The Wilson College Business Office Refund Policies can be found in the WC Blue Book and the Course Catalog.