Expand your ability to transform lives, become a doctor of physical therapy
Join a diverse group of aspiring physical therapists in a deep and accelerated experiential learning journey. Our expert team has uniquely designed a well-rounded, hands-on PT curriculum geared towards treating patients beyond their disease to improve functional outcomes.
An integral part of your training will consist of 4, full-time clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings (hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine, pediatrics).
To complement your clinical knowledge, you will become well-versed in seeing beyond the patient’s impairment and see how their life circumstances can impact their recovery.
Quick facts
- Sharpen your technical and non-technical skills for healthcare practice
- Learn in a healthcare team-based model (interprofessional collaboration)
- Gain clinical experiences in Pittsburgh, around the U.S. and internationally
- Lock in your tuition for all 8 semesters*
*Lock in your tuition
Incoming (Fall 2025) PT students are eligible to lock in their per-credit tuition rate for their whole program duration as long as they are continually enrolled in the PT program.
▸ View tuition & fees [pdf]
Credits required:
115 credits
Cost per credit:
$969/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 8 semesters
Delivery:
On campus
Well-rounded, employable PT curriculum
Our physical therapy curriculum allows you to learn the many facets of the PT industry including team-based patient care (interprofessional collaboration), entrepreneurship, leadership, health informatics to guide clinical decision-making, understanding of healthcare policies, and economics.
Designed to give you the time you need to reflect and digest your new knowledge, each Fall and Spring semester is divided into two, eight-week sessions.
Curricular highlights
- Learn in a healthcare team model which provides you with the opportunity to learn and discuss with aspiring nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physician assistants and speech-language pathologists.
- Build confidence in your clinical skill through simulated hospital and ICU scenarios in our state-of-the-art simulation lab.
- Graduate with a competitive resume that will include pro-bono services at our community teaching/learning lab, opportunities throughout the Carlow campus community (early learning center, elementary school, Sisters of Mercy convent) and international clinical experiences.
At Carlow, we believe that the non-technical skills are equally essential to your health professional training as the technical skills. Your training will emphasize three important habits of healthcare practice:
Heart (professional formation/responsibilities)
Head (cognitive knowledge)
Hand (clinical skills)
It is the training in the habits of the heart that will allow you to act above and beyond your technical responsibilities and advocate for your patients.
It is the expectation that Carlow University physical therapy graduates will advocate for healthcare equity for all, serve their communities with empathy and compassion, and actively contribute to creating a just and merciful world.
Career opportunities for physical therapists
Understood as one of the most rewarding healthcare careers, physical therapists develop real relationships with their patients and help them live better lives through rehabilitative medicine. Located in Pittsburgh, our PT program is in the heart of physical therapy career opportunity.
#10
best healthcare jobs
21%
growth in the next 10 years
95k
median salary for PTs
To practice as a physical therapist in the U.S., you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE- accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply through PTCAS, and must submit the following materials:
- A completed application on PTCAS
- A bachelor’s degree (students can apply in their senior year but must graduate before the start of the DPT program).
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00+
- Prerequisites completed within 10 years and before matriculation
- C+ or better: One course in anatomy with Lab, one course in physiology with Lab, or two courses sequence in anatomy and physiology with lab.
- C or better: Two courses in biological sciences, one course in psychology/sociology, two courses in general chemistry with Lab, two courses in general physics with Lab, one course in statistics
- One page resume
- Two Letters of recommendation describing the following:
- From a licensed physical therapist that you observed describing your passion for physical therapy and how our profession is a right fit for you.
- From an undergraduate counselor or professor who can describe your personal and academic abilities to be successful in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and become a licensed practitioner
- No set number of observation hours is required. However, it is expected that interested students will have engaged in those opportunities to be able to articulate their interest in the physical therapy profession confidently and competently.
If you are an international student, additional items are required.
Apply
Priority deadline: Nov. 1
Final deadline: May 15
Start term:
Fall (August)
Early assurance (conditional admission) for High School students to apply in: View our helpful fact sheet [pdf] that offers guidance on the process and requirements.
Physical Therapy faculty: Learn from the experts
Navpreet Kaur, PT, PhD, DPT, Dip ACLM Associate Professor
Katie Shroyer PT,DPT, CBIS Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Chelsey Wojcik Larko, PT, DPT, NCS Assistant Professor
Mission statement
Our physical therapy program strives to develop evidence-informed, critically-thinking, skilled practitioners and leaders who advocate for healthcare equity for all, serve their communities with empathy and compassion, and actively contribute to creating a just and merciful world.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Accreditation
Effective 04/25/23, Carlow University, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please email: dptprogram@carlow.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/ professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Policies
- View or download the Program Complaint Policy and Procedure [pdf]
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Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.