Format: In person on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah Credit Hours: 134 Entry Terms: Fall
Are you passionate about helping others recover, regain mobility, and lead healthy lives?
The Physical Therapy program at Georgia Southern University is your gateway to a rewarding career in physical therapy. This full-time doctoral program is located on the Armstrong Campus in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. With an exclusive admission of only 36 students per class, you can expect personalized attention and a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and success.
The program consists of nine semesters of academic coursework, including three full-time clinical affiliations (with a minimum of 30 weeks of full-time clinical practice) and several additional clinical experiences.
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for state licensure in any jurisdiction.
Our comprehensive professional curriculum consists of two phases: “systems” and “life span”. In the first year, you’ll tackle intriguing case studies, focusing on musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular, and integumentary physical therapy. Courses are coordinated as closely as possible so that students are instructed in the anatomy, pathology and diagnosis related to specific joints or systems of the body at the same time.
As you progress into the third semester, you’ll have the opportunity to refine your professional skills in a simulated clinic course, Case Management. This unique experiential learning technique, which has garnered international attention, allows you to practice and integrate your newfound expertise in a controlled environment. To truly solidify your knowledge, you’ll embark on an 8-week, full-time clinical experience after completing your first year. This immersive hands-on training will provide invaluable insights into the realities of the clinical setting and reinforce your classroom learning.
In the second and early third years, you’ll delve deeper into the intricacies of physical therapy across the lifespan. From childhood diseases to age-related impairments, you’ll explore diverse practice topics, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to address a wide range of conditions. These advanced courses will expand your expertise and prepare you for the challenges of real-world practice in two final full-time 11-week clinical experiences, with a return to campus for final coursework at the end of the program.
To foster a collaborative mindset, our faculty use team teaching throughout the curriculum. This approach not only strengthens the connections between courses but also exemplifies the advantages of working together as a team. You’ll learn from experienced professionals who serve as role models, inspiring you to embrace the power of collaboration and cooperation in your future career.
PHTH 7101: Functional Anatomy of the Cardiopulmonary System
5
PHTH 7111: Introduction to Pathophysiology I
2
PHTH 7131: Basic Cardiopulmonary Patient Care
6
PHTH 7161: Physical Therapy Practice Issues I
1
PHTH 7181: Clinical Practicum I
1
YEAR 1, FALL
PHTH 7202: Functional Anatomy of Axial and Appendicular Regions
6
PHTH 7212: Introduction to Pathophysiology II
2
PHTH 7232: Basic Orthopedic Patient Care
4
PHTH 7232L: Basic Orthopedic Patient Care Lab
4
PHTH 7262: Evidence-based Practice 1
1
PHTH 7282: Clinical Practicum II
1
YEAR 1, SPRING
PHTH 7303: Functional Anatomy of the Nervous System
4
PHTH 7313: Intro Pathophysiology 3
2
PHTH 7333: Basic Neurologic and Integumentary Patient Care
8
PHTH 7363: Evidence-based Practice 2
1
PHTH 7383: Clinical Practicum III
1
PHTH 7390: Phys Ther Case Management
3
YEAR 2, SUMMER
PHTH 8400: Evidence-based Practice 3
2
PHTH 8481: Supervised Clinical Educ 1
8
PHTH 8491: Patient Care Synthesis 1
2
YEAR 2, FALL
PHTH 8501: Clinical Medicine I
3
PHTH 8531: Advanced Patient Care 1: Geriatrics
8
PHTH 8561: Implmt Life Concpts Phy Ther 1
2
PHTH 9551: Therapeutic Exercise 1
1
PHTH 9001: Special Topics in Physical Therapy
1
YEAR 2, SPRING
PHTH 8602: Clinical Medicine II
3
PHTH 8632: Advanced Patient Care 2: Adults
8
PHTH 8662: Implemt of Lifespan Concepts 2
2
PHTH 9562: Therapeutic Exercise 2
1
PHTH 9001: Special Topics in Physical Therapy
1
YEAR 3, SUMMER
PHTH 9703: Clinical Medicine III
3
PHTH 9733: Advanced Patient Care 3: Pediatrics
6
PHTH 9763: Life span Concepts III
2
PHTH 9500: Leadership & Management in Physical Therapy 1
2
YEAR 3, FALL
PHTH 9804: Clinical Medicine IV
1
PHTH 9834: Advanced Patient Care 4: Complex Patients
2
PHTH 9882: Supervised Clinical Education II
10
YEAR 3, SPRING
PHTH 9501: Leadership and Management in Physical Therapy 2
1
PHTH 9983: Supervised Clinical Education III
10
PHTH 9992: Patient Care Synthesis 2
3
Core Performance Standards
All potential and enrolled students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must meet intellectual, physical, and social competencies in order to provide safe patient care and successfully complete the program.
SKILL
STANDARD
EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITIES
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.
Transfer knowledge from one situation to another. Process information, evaluate outcomes, problem-solve, and prioritize.
Use long and short-term memory, identify cause-effect relationships.
Plan activities for others.
Synthesize knowledge and skills.
Sequence information.
Analytical Thinking
Ability to process information, evaluate outcomes, and problem solve.
Transfer knowledge from one situation to another. Prioritize tasks.
Use long and short-term memory
Reading
Ability to read and understand written documents.
Reading policies and protocols.
Arithmetic Competence
Measuring, counting, computing.
Reading and understanding charts, digital displays, graphs.
Measure time, count rates, use measuring tools.
Interpersonal
Interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
Negotiate interpersonal conflict. Respect cultural diversity in patients. Establish rapport with patients and co-workers.
Communication
Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form as measured by the Doctor of Physical Therapy program professional behavior evaluation, CPI, and course instructors.
Explain health conditions, diagnostic and treatment procedures and initiate health teaching.
Interpret and document patient responses to health status.
Convey information through written and oral reports.
Interact with others (patients, family members, health care workers) in person, on the phone, and in writing.
Physical Endurance
Physical abilities sufficient to stand for multiple hours, sustain repeated movements, and maintain physical tolerance for entire work shift.
Standing multiple hours at a patient’s side during examination or therapy session
Physical Strength
Physical abilities sufficient to lift, support, and move heavy objects.
Exert 100 lbs. of force occasionally, 50 lbs. frequently, and 25 lbs. of force regularly. Support 25 lbs. of weight (e.g., ambulate patient). Lift 25 lbs. of weight (e.g., transfer patient). Move light and heavy objects.
Carry equipment/supplies.
Defend self against combative patient.
Mobility
Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, and maintain physical tolerance for repetitive movements and demands of the work shift. Sustained standing.
Move within confined spaces.
Sit or stand and maintain balance.
Reach above shoulders and below waist.
Twist, bend, stoop, or climb on stool or stairs, and move quickly in response to potential emergencies. Use upper and lower body strength.
Squeeze with hands and fingers.
Motor Skills
Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective examination and treatment of patients and complete documentation.
Grasp, pick up objects with hands.
Manipulate small objects with hands/fingers. Write with pen/pencil.
Sit and maintain balance. Maintain balance in a variety of postures.
Reach above shoulders, reach below waist.
Walk with and observe patient on a variety of surfaces and heights.
Reach, manipulate, and operate mechanisms such as lifts, treatment tables.
Self-mobility with capability of propelling wheelchairs, stretchers, heavy equipment for extended periods of time.
Type on computer keyboard.
Hearing
Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
Hear normal and faint voices.
Hear faint body sounds such as blood pressure, heart beat, etc.
Ability to receive spoken communication when not able to read lips.
Hear auditory alarms such as monitors, fire alarms, and call bells.
Visual Skills
Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for safe patient care.
Visualize objects from 20 inches to 20 feet away. Use depth perception and peripheral vision. Distinguish colors and color intensity.
Read and understand written documents.
Tactile
Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and equipment manipulation.
Feel vibrations to detect pulses, etc.
Detect temperature.
Feel differences in sizes and shapes and detect surface characteristics.
Smell
Detect environmental and patient odors.
Detect odors from patient (e.g. foul smelling drainage, alcohol on breath, etc.).
Detect smoke.
Detect gases or noxious smells.
Emotional Stability
Emotional stability sufficient to tolerate rapidly changing conditions and environmental stress.
Establish appropriate therapeutic interpersonal boundaries.
Provide patients with emotional support. Adapt to changing environment and stress. Deal with the unexpected.
Focus attention on task.
Monitor own emotions.
Perform multiple tasks concurrently.
Handle strong emotions.
Clinical Education and Resources
Clinical education experiences are designed to maximize the student’s abilities to apply newly acquired patient/client/client management skills in clinical settings. The educational institution depends upon the clinical sites to provide carefully supervised learning experiences through which the student has the opportunity to apply the principles learned in the classroom. The clinical site is also a highly conducive environment in which to develop professional attitudes, values, and ethics; seek practitioner role models; and to observe and participate in administrative, managerial, and clinical research spheres. The problem-solving approach should form the basis of these experiences.
The student, with the clinical instructor as guide, should have the opportunity to gather all relevant information about the patient/client through examination; make clinical judgments from the information gathered; organize these judgments into a physical therapy diagnosis; establish a prognosis and goals through this process; and plan an appropriate program of intervention to attain these goals. Inherent in this approach is concern for the individual student’s needs. The clinical instructor should evaluate the student and communicate recognized strengths and weaknesses, as the student strives for excellence in performance as a physical therapist.
The professional curriculum shall prepare the student to meet the following goals:
To develop safe, logical, and effective patient/client management skills in a variety of health care settings.
To develop effective skills for clinical teaching and lifelong learning.
To develop a strong sense of professional values which fosters an ethical approach to the practice of physical therapy.
Students are responsible for costs of transportation, housing, meals, uniforms and other expenses associated with each clinical education experience.
For more information regarding the clinical education component of the curriculum, please refer to the Student Handbook.
Meet Our Current DPT Students
Class of 2025
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Class of 2024
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Class of 2023
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Graduate Data
Physical therapy education at Georgia Southern’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program boasts impressive statistics. With a graduation rate of 100%, all students successfully complete their program and go on to become employed physical therapists within a year of licensure, supported by a remarkable licensure examination pass rate of 99%.
CLASS
2021
2022
2-Year Average
Graduation Rate
100%
100%
100%
Employed as physical therapists within one year of licensure
100%
100%
100%
Licensure Examination Pass Rate
100% passed the NPTE (93% on first attempt)
98% passed the NPTE (90% on the first attempt)
99% passed the NPTE (92% on first attempt)
Prospective Students
The DPT Program includes nine semesters of academic course work with three full-time clinical affiliations (totaling at least thirty weeks of full-time clinical practice), and numerous additional clinical experiences. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The bachelor’s degree is required for admission to the Physical Therapy program. Admission is limited to 36 students per class.
All applicants applying to the DPT Program at Georgia Southern University are required to complete an online suite of assessments, Altus Suite, to assist with our selection process for the 2023-2024 Application Cycle.
How to Complete Altus Suite
In order to take Altus Suite, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Altus Suite:
Government-issued photo ID
Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
Working webcam
Working microphone
Reliable high-speed internet connection
Please go to www.TakeAltus.com to sign up for Altus Suite for Physical Therapy (CSP-10101 – U.S. Professional Health Sciences), under your specific country, and register for a test date.
Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule.
Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timeline, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
September 13 is the last test date for Priority Deadline applicants.
October 27 is the last test date for Final Deadline applicants.
Ensure you have selected Georgia Southern University DPT Program for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up to date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times on TakeAltus.com.
You may complete Snapshot any time after you have registered for your Casper test at www.TakeAltus.com and up to 10 days after completing your Casper test. Snapshot must be completed by the deadline affiliated with your chosen deadline pool (either priority or final).
Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the takeAltus.com website.
Altus Suite consists of a two-part online assessment of non-cognitive skills, interpersonal characteristics, and personal values and priorities that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. Altus Suite will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing Altus Suite, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
Altus Suite consists of:
Casper: a 60-90 minute online situational judgment test (SJT)
Snapshot: a 10-minute one-way interview with standardized questions
About Casper
The Casper test comprises 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at TakeAltus.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment, but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test.
Casper test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
For a more detailed look at the Casper test, please see this video.
About Snapshot
Snapshot is a one-way interview tool that takes 15 minutes to complete. It is used to help programs get to know their applicants better by assessing verbal and non-verbal communication skills, as well as motivation for the profession. Snapshot includes 2 mandatory practice questions to allow applicants to get familiar with the format and to test their audio and video capabilities. After they complete the practice portion, they will move on to record responses to 3 standardized interview-style questions. Applicants have 2 minutes to record each response. They will have time to read and consider each question during a 30-second reflection period before they begin recording. All recorded responses will be submitted to the program for review.
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Program Tuition and Fees
Current tuition and fee charts can be found on the Georgia Southern University Bursar’s website. When reviewing tuition, click on a specific semester, then choose Armstrong Campus/Graduate Student to view the tuition rate for 12+ credit hours. The DPT Program consists of 9 full-time semesters that are all 12+ credit hours. The total amount for in-state and out-of-state students can be used to estimate the projected total cost of the program for nine semesters. Please note that tuition and fee rates are approved by the University System of Georgia and are subject to change.
For information about financial aid and scholarships, please visit Financial Aid.
Information Sessions
Information sessions will be led by DPT program faculty and include an overview of the program and the admissions process. Information sessions will be held on the following days:
July 28, 2023 at 6 p.m. (virtual)
August 14, 2023 at noon
If you are interested in attending one of the above sessions, please register at the link below. All in-person information sessions will be held on the Armstrong Campus. Once registered, you will receive a parking pass for in person sessions or a link for virtual sessions the week before the session.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apat.org; website: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 912-344-2580 or email pt_dept@georgiasouthern.edu.
Contact Us
Please contact the program office with any questions about admissions:
Those outside the DPT program who wish to report a concern or complaint or DPT students who wish to address concerns that are not addressed in the Georgia Southern University Student Handbook should reach out to the Department of Clinical Sciences Chair, Laurie Adams, Ed.D., at laadams@georgiasouthern.edu.
Those who wish to register a complaint about the program may contact the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305; telephone: 800-999-2782; email: accreditation@apat.org; website: https://www.capteonline.org.
The Department of Clinical Sciences anticipates that graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program will seek individual state licensure from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
The Department of Clinical Sciences has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the exam for a physical therapy license in the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
For required disclosures on whether this program satisfies the license requirements of all states and territories for Physical Therapy license, go to www.fsbpt.org to check the requirements of your state or territory.
