Explore at Marquette!

Physical Therapy

DumbbellsA basketball player with a torn ACL. A grandparent with arthritis. A child with a birth defect. A bricklayer with a back injury. The road to recovery for these people goes through physical therapists, who work with them to restore function, improve mobility, stretch the bounds of physical limitation and relieve their pain.

THE MARQUETTE ADVANTAGE

SPECIALIZE. Unlike many physical therapy programs, Marquette's gives you the latitude to develop your interest in a variety of areas - such as sports, orthopedics, neurological, cardiopulmonary, wellness and pediatrics - by offering advanced practice electives, specialty clinicals, projects and mentoring by top experts in those fields.

So you're a freshman

Smiling Freshman

We've got you covered:

Preview
Orientation
First-year reading
Your RA, GDL and friends along the way

 

GET OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. You'll enjoy 30 weeks of clinical experience in Milwaukee and throughout the country during the final two years of your professional phase. Using electrical stimulation, hot and cold compresses, ultrasound, traction, massage and adaptive devices like prosthetics and crutches, physical therapists work with other health care providers to devise the best remedy to improve each individual's function.

COMPETENCE AND COMPASSION. Marquette's program provides more than advanced technical training. The values-centered University Core of Common Studies will help equip you to make a difference in your patients' lives.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM. Unlike many physical therapy programs that limit your choices of undergraduate majors, Marquette gives you a wide variety of majors to choose from.

FLEXIBLE AND PROFITABLE. Physical therapists choose from traditional 9-to-5 careers to more flexible private practices, often combining part-time positions.

OH MY ACHING BACK! Promotion of good physical health has created popular demand for employers (and opened new opportunities for physical therapists) to provide employee training in safe work habits to reduce workplace injuries.

THE SIX-YEAR DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM

Marquette's program consists of a three-year pre-professional phase and a three-year professional phase. Students graduate with a bachelor's degree in an academic area of choice and a doctor of physical therapy degree. You may enter Marquette's physical therapy program in one of two ways: direct freshman admission to the six-year program or separate admission to the three-year professional phase.

DIRECT FRESHMAN ADMISSION (HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ONLY)

Strong candidates for this program typically rank in the top quarter of their high school classes (when applicable), have comparable ACT or SAT scores and have done well in science and math courses. Completion of the following high school courses is required for admission to the physical therapy program:

  • 1 year of biology
  • 1 year of chemistry
  • 3 years of college-preparatory math (algebra, geometry, advanced algebra and/or trigonometry)
  • 1 year of physics is recommended

SEPARATE ADMISSION TO THE THREE YEAR PHASE

If you aren't offered direct freshman admission, you may still enroll at Marquette and match the program's academic requirements. We reserve a minimum of 10 places in the professional phase for Marquette students to enter through separate admission. You need to complete at least 12 credits of physical therapy prerequisites at Marquette to apply to the professional phase. Admission is not guaranteed, and competition for these spots is keen. Transfer students are also welcome to apply.

D.P.T. Prerequisites Course Credits
Biology 3
Chemistry I & II 8
Physics I & II 8
Statistics 3
Introduction to Physical Therapy* 1
*optional for transfer students

Visit the department that offers this major.

Please expand to view Suggested Curriculum and Where Our Graduates Go

Suggested curriculum

Your major courses blue.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PHASE:

Completed during first three years

PROFESSIONAL PHASE:

YEAR FOUR

  • Culture and Disability
  • General Pathology
  • Health Policy
  • Human Gross Anatomy
  • Kinesiology I
  • Pain Mechanism and Treatmen
  • Pathophysiology and Aging
  • Patient Management I
  • Pharmacology
  • Tests and Measures
  • Human Physiology
  • Medical Ethics
  • Pain Mechanisms

SUMMER SESSION

  • Diagnostic Imaging and Testing
  • Differential Diagnosis of Disease
  • Introduction to Evidence-based Decision Making
  • Patient Management II
  • Physical Technologies/Electrotherapy
  • Electrophysiological Testing
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

YEAR FIVE

  • Clinical I (12 weeks in classroom/4 weeks in clinic)
  • Evidence Based Decision Making
  • Kinesiology II
  • Lifespan Development
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Orthopedics I & II
  • Patient Management III
  • Physiology of Activity
  • Wound Management/Integumentary Physical Therapy
  • Advanced Topics in Biomechanics and Kinesiology

SUMMER SESSION

  • Clinical II

YEAR SIX

  • Clinical III & IV
  • Clinical Issues and Decision Making
  • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
  • Critically Appraising and Contribuitng to the Evidence for Clinical Practice
  • Neurological Rehabilitation I & II
  • Pediatric Disorders and Intervention
  • Strategies
  • Advanced Elective

WHERE OUR GRADUATES GO

One hundred percent of our graduates are employed within six months of graduation. Many work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports medicine settings, school systems and rehabilitation centers around the country.