The Northeastern University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a comprehensive and rigorous graduate-level program.  Applicants must complete all prerequisites and earn their undergraduate degree before starting the program in the summer semester. A hallmark of our program is experiential learning and we offer students a variety of educational opportunities including lectures, labs, cadaveric anatomy labs within multiple courses, service learning, interprofessional education and clinical education.  Students participate in several simulated patient encounters with people living in the community, representing a variety of health conditions, as well as standardized patients in our interprofessional, state of the art high-fidelity simulation center. Embedded within our 38 month program is a unique and valuable cooperative (co-op) education experience, a six month paid work opportunity in a physical therapy setting.  

Our DPT program builds on the university's core values of interdisciplinary education, urban engagement, and cutting-edge research. Our exceptional faculty and staff are dedicated to promoting excellence in interprofessional practice, education, scholarship, and service. All students in the DPT program at Northeastern University gain valuable research education through multiple courses culminating in the participation in research with a faculty mentor and presentation at the annual NU Research and Innovation Exposition. Many students also disseminate research findings with faculty through scientific publications and professional conferences.

UNIQUE PROGRAM FEATURES
 

Insight Cadaveric Anatomy Lab:

Students participate in cadaveric anatomy in three courses within the curriculum in our on sight three lab suite within the Behrakis Health Science building. 

Interprofessional Opportunities: 

At Bouve College of Health Sciences, interprofessional simulation-learning takes place in the Arnold S. Goldstein Laboratory Suite. Our faculty considers simulation-learning a vital component of experiential education and critical to interprofessional education, collaborative practice and promoting a team-based approach to health care delivery. In addition, in a variety of courses you will have the opportunity to engage with health professional students at Northeastern and other institutions. 

Global: 

We offer multiple global academic and service-oriented experiences including but not limited to PT academic exchange programs to Switzerland, PT service programs to Ecuador and clinical education opportunities. *All opportunities are dependent on university guidelines and in accordance with public health policies. 

Concentration Options: 

Sports Performance Concentration

Sports Performance Concentration enhances a graduates ability to work with athletes collaboratively across all setting with multi-disciplinary teams including physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning and sports performance specialists. This concentration prepares physical therapy students to sit for the National strength and conditioning association ceritifed strength and conditioning specialist exam. 

Pediatric Concentration 

The concentration in Pediatric Physical Therapy will enhance the entry-level Physical Therapy (PT) graduates ability to engage in interprofessional, family-centered services with children from infancy through young adulthood in a variety of settings.

Research Opportunities: 
1. Neuromotor Systems Lab 

2. Lab for Locomotion Research, The ReGameVR Lab 

3. Movement Neuroscience Lab 

4. Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomics Lab 

5. Neurophysiology Lab 

6. Teaching and Learning Innovation Lab

7. Musculoskeletal Epidemiology and Biomechanics Lab 

8. Cadaver Lab 

9. Neuroscience Wet Lab and Human Cadaver Lab

10. Simulation Education 

Cooperative Education: 

Our physical therapy program is one of the only schools where cooperative education is an integral component of the curriculum. This experiential requirement affords students six months of employment within a physical therapy setting. Additional information is available at https://careers.northeastern.edu/cooperative-education/.

Applicants must respond to the PTMRS department before indicated deadline in admissions letter, notifying that they will or will not attend Northeastern's DPT program

The size of the most recent entering class is 100.