Six-Year Clinical Doctorate Program

Seeking intelligent, motivated individuals who want to learn to help people with injuries or physically disabling illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain.
girl jumping with Vicon sensors
Adam Baker

Program Overview

Our program is structured for entry as a first year student. This means that once you are accepted into the program you will remain with us for six years earning both a bachelors degree in clinical health studies as well as a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT).Accepted students are guaranteed eligibility for the graduate portion of the DPTcurriculum, provided academic and essential functions for physical therapy practice requirements are met. An additional application or GRE exam are not needed.

To be considered for admission, you must completea minimum of three years of high school mathematics and one year each of biology and chemistry. In addition, one year of physics is strongly recommended. We also strongly recommend that you demonstratesome knowledge of the physical therapy profession, such as volunteer experience, shadowing, or employment.

Please familiarize yourself with both the academicpolicies and essential functions for physical therapy practice requirements of the program before applying. These documents will help you understand our expectationsso that you can make an informed decisionregarding thepursuit of this profession. Students must be able to meet these standards throughout the six-year program. For copies of the academic policies or essential functions for physical therapy practice, please email icpt@ithaca.edu.

Our Educational Approach

Your first three years in the program will emphasize liberal arts to enhance intellectual flexibility and develop creative thinking skills. You will complete foundational coursework in the natural sciences - including biology, chemistry, and physics -as well as statistics. We will expect you to explore other disciplines through a required minor (of your choice) and fulfill the College'sgeneral education requirements.Study abroad is encouraged during the first three years.

The curriculum requires study during some summers:

  • 10 weeks of coursework (primarily a Human Anatomy dissection course in our Human Anatomy Lab) after the third year;
  • 8 weeks of clinical education following the fifthyear; and
  • 12 weeks of clinical education preceding Octobergraduation in the sixth year (third professional year).
Course Sequencing and Timeline

Interested in more specifics on the course sequencing and timeline for degree completion? Review the DPTcurriculumto better understand which courses you will take and when you will complete them during your time in the program.

student jumping
Adam Baker

Hands-On Practice and Research in Clinics and Labs

A distinctive element of your studies in the Ithaca College Physical Therapy Program will be your participation in a number of our on-campus clinics and labs. These opportunities will allow you to practice the skills that you are learning in the classroom on real clients in actual practice settings under the guidance of knowledgeable faculty. This will prepare you for the off-campus clinical education requirements that you will complete during the latter stages of the professional phase of the program.

Our clinics and labs are also a source of support for your budding research skills. These cutting-edge workspaces provide a space where you can collaborate with other students and faculty to advance scientific knowledge in a topic of interest. You will have an opportunity to present your research at the Clinical Research Showcase that is hosted each year following the completion of the Advanced Clinical Reasoning course.

National Rankings

Our program, along with many PT programs in the US, has agreed not to participate in rankings of PT education programs.

Applicants should be aware that all physical therapist professional education programs in the US are subject to accreditation "standards that assure quality and continuous improvement in the entry-level preparation of physical therapists, and reflect the evolving nature of education, research, and practice." While the Education Section of APTA recognizes that there are proprietary organizations that rank physical therapist education programs, the profession encourages prospective students to provide their own comparisons through careful examination of information on program and APTA websites, and visits to the campuses to talk with enrolled students and program faculty.

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Questions?

PT Department Office
407 Center for Health Sciences
Ithaca College • 953 Danby Road • Ithaca, NY 14850

(607) 274-3237