Curriculum

The doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program is a three year professional graduate program with classes beginning in June and continuing year-round. Students must complete undergraduate prerequisites before acceptance into this competitive program.

Students take approximately five classes per traditional semester. Each course covers specific areas of physical therapy. “Grand rounds” with professional physical therapists, as well as clinical seminars enable students to gain practical experience. Four clinical experiences in total are required during the second and third summers, plus the final semester of study.

Click here to see the specific curriculum.

Clinical Experiences

Clinical experiences are embedded in the physical therapy curriculum and provide essential application for students. Students are required to complete 34 weeks full-time in clinicals; this generally breaks down to four, 8-week experiences. Clinical experiences are managed and arranged by the director of Clinical Education in consideration of curricular requirements, contracted clinical sites and student learning objectives.

Clinical sites are located throughout the United States, but are predominately in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. The physical therapy program has fully executed contracts with more than 500 clinical sites across the United States.

Trips to hospitals and rehabilitation centers provide additional hands-on learning. Students observe at acute care hospitals; at rehab laboratories, they work with patients who have experienced strokes, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, or amputation of lower extremities.

Students also interact in class with guest lecturers with expertise in vital areas — oncology, women’s health, pediatrics or prosthetics, for example.

Students who pursue a health profession such as physical therapy are driven by a desire to help others. Through The University of Scranton’s program, students may participate in service and cultural immersion opportunities as they are working toward their degrees.

For example, Drs. Peter Leininger and Janette Scardillo run an annual service trip with the Hearts in Motion (HIM) organization to Guatemala in Central America. A team of DPT students and faculty provide physical therapy services to underserved people in the community. To learn more about service in the PT department, click here.

Additionally, yearly cultural immersion trips to underserved countries (e.g. Peru, Costa Rica) led by Dr. Renee Hakim are attended by students in conjunction with other colleges/universities from across the country.

Many students work with faculty in The University of Scranton’s Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Clinic for the Uninsured. The pro bono PT clinic is run by a team of DPT student administrators with a peer mentorship model. This University program demonstrates the Jesuit ideology and reinforces the value of service to others. The Clinic has recently expanded with an extensive addition of rehabilitation and research equipment.