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Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Program Description

Physical therapy is a dynamic health profession dedicated to the promotion of optimal health, prevention of disability, and the restoration and maintenance of physical activities that contribute to a successful life. Physical therapy services are provided in a variety of settings, including homes, schools, workplaces, outpatient clinics, and hospitals.

The professional program consists of 108 semester hours of sequenced and integrated didactic and clinical courses. All didactic coursework is offered on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. This program begins in the summer of every year. Clinical courses are completed within the state and region.

For further information about the profession of physical therapy, contact the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Graduates of the program receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and are eligible to sit for the national licensure examination upon meeting state licensure requirements.


The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Allied Health ensures that program expectations, learning objectives, and educational outcomes offered at the Oklahoma City campus and Tulsa campus are consistent.   Program outcomes between the Oklahoma City campus and Tulsa campus are evaluated yearly by course directors and reported to the Department Chairman and to the Dean of the College of Allied Health.     


Program Defined 

Physical therapy is a dynamic health profession dedicated to the promotion of optimal health, prevention of disability, and the restoration and maintenance of physical activities that contribute to a successful life. Physical therapy services are provided in a variety of settings, including homes, schools, one’s workplace, outpatient clinics, and hospitals.

Physical therapists provide direct patient service, consultation, education, and are often engaged in research. They also serve in administrative capacities, including supervising and delegating responsibilities to members of the physical therapy service. They work in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare settings. Physical therapists enter practice as generalists and may later become board-certified specialists. Physical therapists work closely with members of a patient’s team. Physical therapists are also engaged in the development of new approaches of intervention that will more effectively meet existing and emerging health needs in society, including health promotion and disability prevention programs.

Physical therapists are dedicated to improving the ability of an individual to function successfully regardless of the reason for disability: disease or trauma, developmental or acquired, acute in nature or chronic. They are effective working with people of any age with a wide variety of functional limitations. Physical therapists also contribute significantly to the development of standards of practice in physical therapy and to the development of relevant health policy.

Physical therapists are eligible to practice once they receive state licensure. One is eligible to sit for the state licensure examination upon graduation from a physical therapy curriculum approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

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