The George Washington University is a private institution, built upon a foundation of integrity, creativity, and openness to the exploration of new ideas. It is a dynamic, student-focused community stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is housed within the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and its mission is to prepare individuals to practice as highly skilled physical therapists who are able to practice in an evidence-based, and ethical manner, respectful of patients and clients from all backgrounds, across the lifespan, through the continuum of care, and at all levels of wellness and health. Graduates will be respected practitioners who are able to meet the multi-faceted role of a physical therapists with a commitment to service to the profession and the community and dedicated to life-long learning and scholarly inquiry.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), is committed to educating well-qualified and compassionate practitioners who demonstrate expert clinical skills and contribute significantly to the lives of their clients, the profession, and the health care enterprise. Key to our mission is the education of physical therapists who are reflective practitioners, who think critically and use best evidence to effectively solve problems, and who demonstrate respect for individual and cultural differences as well as the core values of the profession. 

The curriculum consists of 109 credits of professional course work requiring thirty-three months of full-time study beginning in the fall semester. It combines content from the foundational sciences, behavioral sciences, clinical sciences, professional practice expectations, practice management expectations, and critical inquiry. Students develop the skills needed to examine, evaluate, diagnose, prognose, develop a plan of care and implement and re-evaluate that plan of care for patients with dysfunction in the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromotor and integumentary systems across the lifespan.

The curriculum is built on the overarching principles of integration and application. Information is integrated and applied through a series of integrative units using standardized patients and Simulation Experiences. Clinical experiences are introduced early in the curriculum in the second and fourth semesters. Three full-time clinical internships occur in semesters six, seven, and eight for a total of 34 weeks of full time clinical experience. Internships are located regionally, nationally, and internationally providing depth and breadth to each student's unique educational experience. A comprehensive examination in the sixth semester validates the student's readiness for the full-time clinical internships, and helps the student begin to prepare for the national board examinations. In the past year, 100% of GW graduates who took the national licensure exam passed on the first attempt and 100% of the graduates seeking employment were employed. 

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is an exciting and vibrant community in which to live and learn. Students are involved in a variety of student centered organizations and participate in a multitude of volunteer experiences in and around the community. Access to the nation's capital is only one of many opportunities available to students who choose to attend GW. The University is within minutes of the headquarters of our national organization, The American Physical Therapy Association. Washington is an ideal location for sightseeing and cultural activities. The White House, the Kennedy Center and national monuments are all within walking distance of campus.

Interviews will be held in a hybrid format during the 2022-2023 PTCAS admissions cycle. Interviews are required for admission and are scheduled on a rolling basis throughout the fall and early spring. Applicants selected for an interview will receive an email invitation. There will be many opportunities to learn about our program and for us to learn about you as well.

The non-refundable $575.00 deposit is applied to tuition in the first semester of the program.

Our program's class profile represents a diverse range of undergraduate majors in the fields of exercise science and kinesiology, business, health sciences, biological sciences, athletic training, social sciences, and  the movement sciences.