DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT)

Welcome to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program! We’re thrilled that you’re considering joining our forward-thinking and collaborative community.

Our program is dedicated to enhancing the abilities and potential of all individuals by fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in physical therapy. We emphasize interprofessional education, preparing our students to become leaders who apply the best evidence to improve healthcare practices. Our commitment to research drives us to advance rehabilitation sciences, ensuring that new insights are seamlessly integrated into patient care.

We believe in empowering our students to lead and advocate for changes that promote health and wellness in society. Our focus is not just on developing skilled practitioners but on nurturing compassionate, ethical professionals who are ready to make a significant impact in their communities.

At OUHSC, you’ll be part of a vibrant learning environment where you’ll be challenged to think critically, engage deeply, and innovate confidently. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa provide an ideal setting for you to explore the diverse opportunities in physical therapy. I invite you to visit us, connect with our students, and see how our program can guide you from a novice learner to a leader in the field.
We look forward to helping you embark on a journey where you can make a meaningful difference in the world. Explore our website to learn more about what we offer, and we hope to welcome you to our community soon.

Holly Jonely, PT, MPT, ScD, FAAOMPT, AT-ret
Director, Physical Therapy Program

What is Physical Therapy?

   
“I am completely in awe of the incredible professors in Rehabilitation Sciences. From day one, they were already calling us ‘future colleagues’ and instilled confidence in each of us that we were selected to be a part of this program for a reason, that we were meant to be here– they believed in us throughout the program and did everything in their power to support our growth and development into health care practitioners.  I appreciate that our classes are taught by professionals who have extensive experience in the courses they are teaching and have perfected their teaching approach to encourage information retention and thorough understanding as opposed to memorization. In addition to simply teaching the material, our professors challenge us to explore various topics via lab practicals, research papers, and group projects.”

Bayan Abdallat – Physical Therapy Class of 2021, Oklahoma City Campus
©Photos courtesy of PartyPics

“I chose the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Rehabilitation Sciences because I wanted a program where I could be challenged to grow not only as a student but as a person and future clinician. I was so excited by all the opportunities offered here! The Department has a wonderful, group of students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life. I love learning from their experiences and gaining knowledge to incorporate into my future clinical practice.  Our faculty have a true passion for education and student learning. They are knowledgeable in their fields and instill confidence in students who are just starting out. I feel that my program has many who are ‘practicing at the top’ of their license.”


Hartley Bowman – Physical Therapy Class of 2022, Tulsa Campus, Albert Schweitzer Fellow
©Photos courtesy of PartyPics

The OU Program in Physical Therapy has a long history of being fully accredited since 1955. Our current accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education expires 6/30/2025 and we will undergo normal 10-year periodic review in Fall 2024.

The Physical Therapy program at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Ste. 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone:  703-706-3245; Email; Website.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 405-271-6588 or email alliedhealth-info@ouhsc.edu.

Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination for the physical therapist administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). After successful completion of this examination, the individual will be a registered Physical Therapist (PT).

Any arrest, charge, or conviction for a felony or a misdemeanor may not only affect a student's ability to attend certain clinical sites for clinical education and fieldwork, but it may also affect a graduate's ability to sit for the certification examination or obtain state licensure.

Click here to access the CAPTE Student Financial Fact Sheet of the most recent graduating class.

Click here to access the policies and procedures in the Student Handbook for the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.

CAPTE Required Public Disclosure of Student Outcomes: 

• Graduation Rate: 98.5% (two-year average as calculated in the 2024 CAPTE Annual Accreditation Report using 2023 and 2024 graduates)
• Licensure Examination Pass Rate (reflecting graduate performance in 2022 & 2023): 128 students attempted the national licensure exam with a 83% first-time pass rate and a 100% ultimate pass rate (as published by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy)
• Employment rate 12 months after passing the board exam (reflecting a two-year average from 2023-2024 graduates): 97%
  
  

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.

“The faculty provides a wide range of expertise from multiple settings and disciplines within Physical Therapy, including orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, oncology, sports, electrophysiology, and wound care. They provide current scientific literature to support examination, evaluation, and intervention procedures and are involved in numerous research projects including those related to new technology, pediatrics, supporting mental health, oncology and COVID-19. They demonstrate mastery of existing knowledge and a desire to contribute to the growing body of literature and they seek to impart this onto their students.” 

Jarren Thomas, Physical Therapy Class of 2021, Tulsa Campus, Captain, United States Army
©Photos courtesy of PartyPics

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).

Additional Resources:

• American Physical Therapy Association
• Move Forward Physical Therapy
• Physical Therapist Job Outlook

If after reviewing the below qualifications for this program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact ahinfo@ouhsc.edu.  We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences.

2024-2025 Cycle Deadlines

PTCAS Application Opens June 17, 2024

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Application Opens July 15, 2024

Application Closes February 3rd, 2025

All application components outlined in the Application Procedure section must be completed on or before February 3rd in order to be considered. Incomplete applications will be automatically denied.

Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for admission, an applicant must:

1. Meet the following degree requirements:
   1. Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program. There is no preference given to a specific major, applicants should choose a major of interest;
2. AND meet the following GPA requirements:
   1. At a minimum, earn a 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale as calculated by PTCAS; 
   2. At minimum, earn a 2.75 science grade point average on a 4.0 scale as calculated by PTCAS. This may include pre-requisites but also factors in all science courses taken, as determined by PTCAS;
   3. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs;
   4. Be in good standing with the college or university last or currently attending;
   5. While a 2.75 is the minimum eligibility requirement, please review our admission statistics from the previous year to ensure that you are a competitive applicant.
3. AND have completed, or are in the process of completing the required pre-requisites:
   1. Successfully complete all departmental prerequisite courses with grades of C or better prior to beginning our program the first week of June.
   2. Courses taken during the spring 2020 semester may have a “P” for passing or “S” for satisfactory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that the required 2.75 cumulative grade point average still applies;
   3. If your prerequisites are from a college or university other than the University of Oklahoma, please refer to the Transfer Equivalency Database to find out if your courses transfer.
4. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required as part of the application process.
5. If English is a second language, submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Applicants must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based) within two years prior to application. The PTCAS TOEFL Designated Institution Code for the DPT program at OUHSC is 7426. The department may waive TOEFL scores if the applicant provides evidence of graduation from a U.S. High School or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution. Click here to review additional information regarding the TOEFL and TOEFL waiver;
6. Observation hours are not required, only recommended for applicants to better understand the profession and expectations for a career in Physical Therapy.
7. Be able to meet all Technical Standards of the profession during the program.

Application Procedure

1. Complete an application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS);
   1. Applicants will have the opportunity to provide their campus preference but sometimes a student spot is only available on one campus. Students are required to attend all classes on the campus to which they are admitted.
2. As part of the application process through PTCAS, you will complete an online asynchronous interview/assessment through Kira Talent;
3. Complete an online application through the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Office of Admissions and Records;
4. Submit official, sealed transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended directly to PTCAS:
   1. Transcripts sent directly to the OUHS Admissions and Records will not be considered for the application as they must be assessed by PTCAS
   2. If previous coursework is from colleges or universities outside of the US, have all transcripts/mark sheets processed through World Education Services (WES);
5. Selection
   1. Once an application is complete, including the PTCAS application, Kira Talent Assessment, Official Transcripts, and OUHSC Application, it will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning October 1st.
      1. Decisions may include admitted, waitlisted, or denied. We do not publish our waitlist and will continue to admit students until the class is filled, which may continue through April 2025. 
      2. Admitted applicants will be notified via an electronic letter sent by OU Health Sciences Admissions and Records. Waitlisted or Denied students will be notified via PTCAS of their status.
      3. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have provided a correct email address in both PTCAS and the OU application systems and be monitoring their email for updates.
6. Admitted applicants must accept their position according to the timeline communicated on their electronic letter received through OU Health Sciences Admissions and Records, or the position will be considered declined. If admitted, applicants must accept their position by paying a non-refundable deposit, which will be applied toward tuition and fees during the first term.
7. Students are required to attend a mandatory orientation the week before the start of their first semester beginning in June 2025 as well as meet all university compliance and eligibility requirements. Admission is conditional based on meeting all requirements and the college reserves the right to rescind admission offers up until the start of the first week of school.

Course numbers are those of the University of Oklahoma.  Approved prerequisite courses are offered at many institutions.  It is extremely important that you look up every course you have taken, plan to take, and/or are currently enrolled in to verify that they are equivalent courses. The responsibility is yours to enroll in equivalent courses and we provide the tools to make sure you do. Check the Transfer Equivalencies Database or with your school advisor regarding equivalent courses.  There are instructions on that page on how to request a transcript evaluation for particular courses if your courses are not listed in the database.

Students may expect additional costs that include, but are not limited to, a personal computer, textbooks, lab fees, insurance, and supplies. Students are required to assume financial responsibilities for expenses associated with clinical requirements. For financial aid information, contact the Financial Aid Office at (405) 271-2118.

Additional cost information:
Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees
Student Financial Aid

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty

Year 1

Spring Semester

Year 2

Summer Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Year 3

Summer Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Last reviewed:  May 10, 2024

Course Descriptions
The OUHSC Academic Calendar can be found at https://admissions.ouhsc.edu/academic-calendar. Students in the Physical Therapy program may have alternate start/end dates during the program that differ from the normal academic calendar. You can find any alternate dates for the 2025-2026 Academic Year based on your year in the program here.

Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Phone:  (405) 271-6588
Email the Office of Academic and Student Affairs

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Allied Health
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1200 N Stonewall Avenue, Room 3092
Oklahoma City, OK  73117-1215

Click here to schedule a virtual, phone, or in-person prospective student appointment with one of our Advisors.

Click here to schedule a virtual or in-person recruitment event or presentation for your class, club, career fair, etc.

Click here to Submit an Anonymous Concern for the OU Tulsa Schusterman Center.

Click here to Submit an Anonymous Concern for The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.

Students pursuing graduate degrees through the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences can simultaneously explore the wide variety of opportunities offered through the University of Oklahoma to enhance professional development, leadership, business innovation, and interprofessional collaboration.  Students can take advantage of these unique opportunities through formal certificate programs or through immersive experiences to build skill sets that will be highly marketable for future career opportunities in occupational therapy and physical therapy.  

Enhance Your Degree (more information about certificates and opportunities)

Prospective students are encouraged to review the Technical Standards which are the academic, clinical, and interpersonal aptitudes and abilities that allow OT and PT students to complete the professional curriculum.   Students are also encouraged to visit the prospective student's page to find resources such as the transfer equivalency tables, admission statistics, job shadowing, gpa calculation, tuition cost, scholarships, student life, campus resources, etc.

2024 Student Handbook