Doctor of Physical Therapy Quick Facts

  • The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has set a course towards practice without referral of a physician (direct access).
  • Direct access involves both legislative and reimbursement authority from third party payers to practice without a doctor's referral. The DPT will allow APTA to argue for direct access more effectively.
  • DPT is a clinical doctorate like that in dentistry (D.D.S.), podiatry (D.P.M.), osteopathy (D.O.), pharmacy (Pharm.D.), clinical psychology (Psych.D.), and medical doctor (M.D.).
  • DPT is not a research Ph.D. Thus, no doctoral dissertation is required.
  • With direct entry as a freshman, Marquette's DPT is 6 years including 2 summers.
  • Marquette freshman admission students earn a bachelor's degree of choice and DPT in the 6 year time frame, with guaranteed admission to the professional phase as long as minimum standards are met.
  • At Marquette, there is a variety of undergraduate majors that may be chosen (Biomedical Sciences,  Exercise Physiology, Spanish), and many other majors offer some additional marketability, dual certification, or dual skills in the 6 years.  Students may also choose the Masters in Athletic Training degree.
  • Marquette has both internal and external transfer windows.
  • For entry as a transfer student with an undergraduate degree, Marquette's DPT is 3 years including 2 summers.
  • Marquette's DPT program offers specialty areas of emphasis in sports medicine, orthopedics, neurologic PT, pediatrics, geriatrics, integumentary, pelvic floor, research, acute care, pediatric sports medicine, and management.