Curriculum
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.
(Photo courtesy of
Centra Health)
The DPT curriculum is a rigorous 120-semester hour progressive course of study, comprised first of foundational sciences and followed by study in the clinical sciences.
The curriculum includes integrated activities to maximize learning, allowing the student the best opportunity to understand and assimilate complex material.
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 a comprehensive examination.
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.
Course Sequence
Beginning in late May:
Year I (39 hours)
I-Summer (6 hours)
DPT 710 (4) Human Gross Anatomy
DPT 715 (2) Introduction to Clinical Practice
I-Fall (17 hours)
DPT 712 (3) Human Physiology of Systems
DPT 711 (4) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice I
DPT 714 (2) Professional Practice in Physical Therapy I
DPT 724 (3) Neuroanatomy
DPT 721 (4) Applied Kinesiology (with cadaver dissection)
DPT 820 (1) Physical Therapist and Community Action
I- Spring (16 hours)
DPT 722 (3) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice II
DPT 720 (3) Pathology of Body Systems
DPT 723 (2) Integrated Case Application Lab- Level I
DPT 818 (2) Prevention and Wellness in Physical Therapy Practice
DPT 713 (2) Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist
DPT 826 (4) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction
Year II (40 Hours)
II- Summer (6 hours)
DPT 839 (4) Clinical Internship I
DPT 811 (2) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice III
II- Fall (17 hours)
DPT 821 (2) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice IV
DPT 812 (4) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I
DPT 814 (4) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Dysfunction I
DPT 813 (2) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Integumentary Dysfunction
DPT 725 (3) Motor Development and Motor Behavior Across the Lifespan
DPT 730 (2) Professional Practice in Physical Therapy II
II- Spring (17 hours)
DPT 822 (3) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II
DPT 824 (4) Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Dysfunction II
DPT 823 (1) Integrated Case Application Lab- Level II
DPT 829 (3) Differential Diagnosis for the Physical Therapist Practitioner
DPT 918 (3) Client and Peer Teaching
DPT 815 (3) Physical Therapy with Special Populations I
Year III (41 Hours)
III- Summer (8 hours)
DPT 919 (4) Clinical Internship II
DPT 911 (2) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice V
DPT 817 (2) Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation I
III- Fall (17 hours)
DPT 917 (3) Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pathological Gait
DPT 915 (4) Physical Therapy with Special Populations II
DPT 928 (3) Therapist Practitioner- Diagnostic Imaging
DPT 929 (4) Clinical Internship III
DPT 927 (3) Administration in Physical Therapy
III- Spring (18 hours)
DPT 923 (2) Integrated Case Application Lab- Level III
DPT 921 (3) Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice VI
DPT 924 (3) Professional Practice III
DPT 939 (8) Clinical Internship IV
DPT 949 (2) Comprehensive Examination
Graduation: May
Ability and Accommodation
The doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program at Lynchburg College, 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.
These 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. Lynchburg College uses independent clinical education sites that may or may not be able to offer the same reasonable accommodations made available by the College.
The list of essential functions 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.
