The DPT curriculum is constructed to meet the needs of the health care community by producing graduates who are readily able to diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.
To accomplish this purpose, the curriculum contains components of didactic and clinical education, leading the entry-level clinician to an understanding and demonstration of competence in his/her ability to engage in specific and complex cognitive, psychomotor, and affective behaviors when providing professional service to patients/clients, families, and caregivers.
The DPT curriculum is a rigorous and progressive course of study, comprised first of foundational sciences and followed by study in the clinical sciences.
Clinical education experiences allow students to practice and incorporate information learned through didactic instruction and to further develop the skills necessary to become an efficient and effective practitioner. The clinical aspect of the curriculum integrates a total of 40 weeks of clinical practice in various patient/client management venues, culminating in a 16-week clinical experience. The student then returns to campus for the remainder of their course work and preparation for the National Physical Therapy Exam.
The entire curriculum has been designed with the learner in mind, with each course carefully designed to accomplish the mission of the DPT program: to educate entry-level physical therapists to assume the role of health care practitioner through the provision of competent, evidence-based practice in a variety of clinical settings; and to promote active participation and effective leadership in all aspects of personal and professional life.
2022-23 Curriculum
Ability and Accommodation
The DPT program at University of Lynchburg, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. A person qualified for the DPT program is one who has met academic standards and is able, with or without reasonable accommodations, to meet the Essential Functions of a Physical Therapist.
The Essential Functions are the activities that a student physical therapist must be able to perform, with or without accommodations, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for successful completion of the professional curriculum. They are applicable in the classroom, laboratories, simulated clinical settings, and on clinical education assignments. University of Lynchburg uses independent clinical education sites that may or may not be able to offer the same reasonable accommodations made available by the College.
The Essential Functions of a Physical Therapist document will help students interested in the DPT program to make an informed decision about career choice. Other specific requirements and competencies are outlined in course syllabi and clinical performance tools.