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The University of New England (UNE) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program offers students an outstanding, entry-level doctoral program that has earned a national reputation for excellence. Since its founding in 1980, the program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The department takes pride in its friendly, student-oriented, and personal approach. The DPT program is part of the Westbrook College of Health Professions, and shares UNE's Portland Campus with the Colleges of Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, and Graduate and Professional Studies.  

WHY UNE?

Our Student Outcomes are Excellent:

* 98% of graduates passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) on their first attempt (2019)
* 100% of graduates passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) (2018)
* 100% of UNE DPT graduates surveyed were employed within one year of graduation (2018-2019)
* 95% of enrolled students graduated from the DPT program (2019)

Our Faculty is Engaged:

The DPT faculty is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of teaching and learning. This is evidenced by the low student-to-faculty ratio, the use of collaborative teaching models which include the expertise of community clinicians, the participation of community volunteers in labs, and community outreach projects. Additionally, experienced physical therapists, physicians, and other health care practitioners serve as adjunct instructors in the program. DPT faculty members have an established record of teaching, scholarship, clinical practice, and professional involvement at state, national, and international levels. 

Our Curriculum is Dynamic:

The 3-year-long, 106-credit curriculum is comprised of 82 didactic credits and 24 credits earned during three, 12-week, full-time clinical placements. The DPT program is affiliated with clinical sites across the US and in all parts of the healthcare continuum: acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health organizations, ambulatory care centers, outpatient private practices, school/preschool programs, and other settings. The program is dedicated to providing students with unique learning experiences such as advanced elective courses, interprofessional team learning, rural health immersion experiences, community service opportunities, leadership opportunities, and short-term international opportunities. 

Our Campus is Focused on Interprofessional Education:

The Center for Excellence in Collaborative Education (The Collaborative) solidifies UNE's historic commitment to interprofessional academic and community-based programming that prepares the next generation of health care leaders for team-based practice. 

Our Students Can Be Scholars:

All students participate in some form of scholarly work. This includes conducting research with faculty or writing a case report. Students have the opportunity to work with faculty to disseminate their work at professional meetings or in professional journals. 

Our Facilities are Top Notch:

All learning activities are held in state-of-the-art classrooms and labs. Anatomy courses include a cadaver lab. Facilities also include a Motion Analysis Lab and a Human Sensory and a Motor Performance Lab, and a high-tech Simulation Lab. The Portland campus offers a full range of easy to access, outstanding student support services specific to graduate and professional students. 

Our Program Is Located in One Of The Best Small Cities In The Country:

UNE's Portland campus is designated a national historic district. The campus is quintessential New England, with a central green surrounded by classic brick buildings. As the state's largest city, Portland is a center for business, government, healthcare, and culture in Maine. Whether you're a sailor or a skier, a hiker or a biker, a golfer or a fisherman, Maine offers you four-season recreation. From its location on the Atlantic Ocean, and close proximity to beautiful fresh water lakes and great mountains, Portland has it all. Come check us out!

UNE PT Gait and Running Lab:

Experiential learning is prioritized in the DPT program.  This video highlights a laboratory session in the Musculoskeletal System course. This laboratory followed traditional lecture format that introduced students to gait and running analysis as well as expanding upon the motion analysis content that students were introduced to in their Kinesiology course the previous semester. Students rotated through stations that consisted of gait and running analyses in real time, documentation stations where findings were discussed and documented, and a motion analysis station that showcased data collected in our state of the art motion analysis laboratory. Faculty who led the stations were also experts in the content in their respective station.  Matt Somma, PT, DPT led the running station and conducts running analysis for recreational to elite runners at his outpatient private practice. Erin Hartigan, PT, DPT, ATC led the gait station and conducts gait analysis during research projects that include movement analysis for participants at risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, those who have undergone ACL rupture and/ or reconstruction, and women with stress urinary incontinence.  Mike Lawrence, UNE's Motion Analysis Lab Manager, led the motion analysis station and conducts research and teaches content about data related to human movement. Mike used graphs to summarize the benefits and limitations of data collected from three dimensional (3-D) cameras, force-plates, and electromyography to calculate precise measures of limb motion, joint forces, and muscle activity, respectively.

An initial non-refundable deposit of $1,000.00 is required to hold your seat with the program.  A second non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is due by March 1st.  These deposits are applied toward the first semester tuition if the student matriculates and will be forfeited if the student does not matriculate.