Thank you for considering the Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Georgia Southern University. Georgia Southern University is the state's largest and most comprehensive center of higher education south of Atlanta. With 141 degree programs at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, Georgia Southern is designated a Carnegie Doctoral/Research university and serves more than 27,000 students on three vibrant campuses: the Armstrong campus in Savannah (formerly Armstrong State University), the Statesboro campus, and the Liberty campus in Hinesville. The DPT Program is part of the Waters College of Health Professions and is offered on the Armstrong campus in Savannah. The mission of the DPT Program is to educate individuals whose physical therapy skills and knowledge meet the challenges of the rapidly changing healthcare system and the expanding need for physical therapy services. The program works collaboratively with the physical therapy community to improve the quality of physical therapy care and enhance the scientific basis of professional practice.

The Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus is a full-time program. The program consists of nine semesters of academic course work, including three full-time clinical affiliations (with a minimum of 31 weeks of full-time clinical practice) and several additional clinical experiences. Upon completion of the program, all students are awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. All program graduates are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for state licensure in all jurisdictions.

The professional curriculum is designed in two phases: systems and lifespan. Courses introduced during the first year use a systems approach with cases in musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular, and integumentary physical therapy. As closely as possible, courses are coordinated so that students are instructed in the anatomy, pathology and diagnosis related to specific joints or systems of the body at the same time. During the third semester, students are given the opportunity to practice and integrate their professional skills in a simulated clinic course, Case Management. Following the completion of the first year, students have an 8-week full-time clinical experience, allowing them to further solidify and integrate the classroom material in a clinical setting.

During the second year and early third year of study, students explore practice topics in greater depth within the context of a lifespan approach, covering content from diseases of children to impairments associated with aging. These advanced courses are followed by two final full-time 11-week clinical experiences, with a return to campus for final coursework at the end of the program.

An individual interview is required for admission. For the 2021-22 admissions cycle, interviews will be held online and are scheduled by invitation only. 

The seat deposit is fully refunded to admitted students upon matriculation into the program.  Please contact the DPT Program if additional information is needed.

The Priority Deadline for applications is September 1, 2021. If an applicant's PTCAS application, transcripts, and GRE scores are submitted by September 1, 2021, their application will be guaranteed full consideration. 

There is not a fixed percentage of in-state or out-of-state students for the incoming class.