Doctor of Physical Therapy
Overview
Move toward a fulfilling career in the unique Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Our DPT program is dedicated to the development of autonomous practitioners, motivated through faith, who can effect change toward healthy outcomes for the individual, and the local, regional, national and global community through service, leadership, advocacy and exemplary, evidence-based clinical practice. The PT field is projected to grow 22% through 2028, which means high demand for PTs and for the developed clinical skills you’ll gain through this program.
As with all Health Sciences programs at IWU, the DPT program will be congruent with the Mission and Vision of the School of Health Science and Indiana Wesleyan University, “committed to developing compassionate graduates that are clinically, professionally, and culturally competent for careers in Public Health, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and related health professions.”
Career Data
- $84,609 - Mean Market Salary for Physical Therapists in the US, 2018 (Economic Modeling Specialists, Intl.)
Student Outcomes have been determined through a coordinated, Christ-centered lens that encompasses the mission and vision of the University, the School of Health Sciences, the Department of Physical Therapy and the ethical principles delineated by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).3 Therefore, upon completion of the DPT program, the graduate will demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:
- Servant leadership and advocacy – Graduates of the DPT program will be adept at advocating for their patients’ needs and the profession’s behalf through servant leadership within their community, the profession and the interprofessional healthcare team.
- Integrity and moral character – Graduates of the DPT program will reflect a Christ-likeness in their relationships with patients, families, colleagues, students, research participants, other healthcare providers and the public with pervasive veracity of moral character.
- Trustworthy, compassionate, and respectful care - Graduates of the DPT program will provide holistic care to patients and others that incorporate cultural, spiritual and individual differences with effective and sensitive verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
- Evidence-based, innovative practice with sound, reflective professional judgements- Graduates of the DPT program will provide exemplary clinical practice based on responsible, life-long assimilation of professional standards and evidence, expertise, patient values, and resources. Graduates will work collaboratively within an interprofessional team for optimal patient outcomes and health.
- Scholarship and research – Graduates of the DPT program will advance the body of knowledge for best clinical practice through collaborative research and critical analysis of current evidence.
- Global perspective – Graduates of the DPT program will embrace global initiatives that address healthcare needs of worldwide communities, and advocate and serve on their behalf.
- Responsible practice management – Graduates of the DPT program will execute their professional duty, while being fiscally responsible stewards to benefit patients and society.
Due to our strength as the largest private University in the state of Indiana, IWU has access to classroom and lab resources that are unrivaled in our region. At Indiana Wesleyan University, students learn in unique state-of-the-art facilities and lab spaces, including a well-equipped sensory-based pediatric lab, and an anatomy and neuroanatomy cadaver lab outfitted with media-based technologies. Our human motion and musculoskeletal labs include XSensor® pressure mapping technology utilized for assessing and managing seating systems and a Dynavision2® machine to evaluate and treat visual motor integration. Additionally, we have an entire three-bedroom “ADL House” offering students hands-on, realistic opportunities to develop assessment and training skills in environmental modifications, functional mobility and transfers, adaptive equipment, and improving skills to perform activities of daily living. We have the only lab in an OT educational program in Indiana with a Bertec® computerized dynamic posturography machine for evaluating and addressing balance and mobility issues. Finally, we have a state-of-the-art human motion capture laboratory utilizing 14 interconnected high-speed cameras which produces three-dimensional models of human movement patterns.
The DPT program is privileged to be part of the School of Health Sciences at Indiana Wesleyan University. As the largest private University in the state of Indiana as well as the largest institution in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), IWU’s classroom and laboratory resources are outstanding. DPT students will learn in unique state-of-the-art facilities and lab spaces, including an anatomy cadaver lab outfitted with media-based technologies. Along with OTD students, our students will utilize human motion and musculoskeletal labs include XSensor® pressure mapping technology utilized for assessing and managing seating systems and a Dynavision2® machine to evaluate and treat visual motor integration. The state-of-the-art human motion capture laboratory with 14 interconnected high-speed cameras to produces three-dimensional models of human movement patterns.will be used in coursework and research. Further, we have one of a very few Bertec® computerized dynamic posturography systems in Indiana for evaluating and addressing balance and mobility issues. Finally, we have an entire three-bedroom “ADL House” offering students hands-on, realistic opportunities to develop assessment and training skills in environmental modifications, functional mobility and transfers, adaptive equipment, and improving skills to facilitate patient performance of activities of daily living.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Registration for Open House begins - May 30, 2022
- PTCAS Application portal opens - June 15, 2022
- Application deadline for early processing - October 31, 2022
- Final Application deadline – February 15, 2023
- Interviews - November 2022, January 2023, March 2023 (unconfirmed)
Upcoming 2022 Virtual Open House Events - 6:30-8pm ET
-
June 9th
- July 14th
- August 11th
- September 8th
- October 13th
- November 10th
- December 8th
Please contact physical.therapy@indwes.edu with any questions and/or if interested in receiving email updates regarding program progress.
Cost of Attendance
|
|
DPT Program Spring Trimester |
DPT Program Summer Trimester |
DPT Program Fall Trimester |
Total Cost of Program Academic Year |
Total Cost of Program (3-year program cost, 2021-2023) |
|
Tuition |
$11,000 |
$11,000 |
$11,000 |
$33,000 |
$99,000.00 |
|
Educational Resource Fee |
$31.50 |
$31.50 |
$31.50 |
$94.50 |
$283.50 |
|
Books and Supplies |
$4,000.00 |
||||
|
Parking Fee |
$25.00 |
$25.00 |
$50.00 |
$100.00 |
|
|
Background Check |
$135.60 |
||||
|
Graduation Fee |
$100.00 |
||||
|
Total |
$103,619.10 |
Accreditation
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
Tuition & Financial Aid
| Program | Credit Hours | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | 124 Total | $11,000 / trimester |
*Effective July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
Payment for each term is due by April 30th for Summer, August 15th for Fall, and December 15th for Spring. Course textbooks, parking fees and fees for background checks and immunizations required to start the program are not included in the costs listed above.
The total credit hours and per-credit-hour costs listed above are effective for the required core program. Costs may change if you withdraw from the program and restart in a future program at a later date.
Financial Aid
For information about financial aid, call 866-498-4968, visit our financial aid website, or email IWUfinaid@indwes.edu.
Published tuition and fees are subject to change.
Courses
Year One
Year 1, Trimester 1 SUMMER
Total 14 credit hours
Year 1, Trimester 2 FALL
Total 12 credit hours
Year 1, Trimester 3 SPRING
Total 16 credit hours
Total for Year One 42 credit hours
Year Two
Year 2, Trimester 4 SUMMER
Total 17 credit hours
Year 2, Trimester 5 FALL
Total 16 credit hours
Year 2, Trimester 6 SPRING
Total 15 credit hours
Total Credits for Year Two 48 credit hours
Year Three
Year 3, Trimester 7 SUMMER
Total 13 credit hours
Year 3, Trimester 8 FALL
Total 12 credit hours
Year 3, Trimester 9 SPRING
Total 9 credit hours
Total Credits for Year Three 34 credit hours
Total Overall Credits: 124 Credit Hours
Requirements
Below are the lists of requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Click on each link to expand the requirements. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives at 1-866-498-4968 or email physical.therapy@indwes.edu.
Admission Requirements
- An earned undergraduate baccalaureate degree of any kind from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale documented with official transcripts. The degree need not be completed at the time of application but must be completed prior to program enrollment.
- Completion of the following prerequisite coursework from an accredited institution with a grade of “C” or better, prior to the start of DPT coursework.
- Sciences – Science GPA must be >3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Courses may not be > 5 years old. Two-thirds of Science prerequisites (approximately 21 credit hours – see prerequisite table below) must be completed to be considered for the application process. Only completed and transcripted courses will be considered. Therefore, fall semester courses from the year of application will not be considered in the application. Courses must be one year (two semesters or three quarters) each with a laboratory component for the following:
- Anatomy and Physiology – one semester each or a combined two semester series. (Human preferred; mammalian acceptable. Exercise Physiology does not count toward this requirement.)
- Physics (either algebra/trigonometry based or calculus based)
- Chemistry (general, organic, biochemistry all acceptable)
- Biology (Cellular. Botany excluded. )
- Humanities and Social Sciences- one course in each of the following areas:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics – one course
- Sciences – Science GPA must be >3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Courses may not be > 5 years old. Two-thirds of Science prerequisites (approximately 21 credit hours – see prerequisite table below) must be completed to be considered for the application process. Only completed and transcripted courses will be considered. Therefore, fall semester courses from the year of application will not be considered in the application. Courses must be one year (two semesters or three quarters) each with a laboratory component for the following:
- Completion of at least 80 verifiable clinical observation hours completed with a licensed physical therapist. At least 20 hours each are required to take place in an in-patient setting and in an outpatient setting.
- Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) < 5 years prior to application. Since admission is a competitive process, combined verbal/quantitative scores above 300 are recommended as well as an analytical score of 4.0 or above. Scores will be “supersized” when the GRE has been taken repeatedly, selecting the highest score from each category regardless of the attempt. The IWU DPT program’s GRE code through PTCAS is 3099.
- Three Letters of Recommendation, one from:
- A professor who is qualified to assess your academic performance.
- A licensed physical therapist.
- A non-family member. A pastoral reference is highly recommended.
- On-site interview.
Graduation Requirements
- All credits required in the program of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.
- Minimum grade in each course of “B-“ or higher or a “pass” in pass/fail courses.
- Successful completion of all Clinical Education courses to include site assessment documentation.
- Payment of all program tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
Start Dates
Below are the program locations, upcoming dates, and meeting times for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This list is updated regularly as new classes are added.
Classes begin May 2021
Staff
Dominique Stover
Administrative Assistant
Faculty
phyllis rowland - PT, PhD, PCS, C/NDT
Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Education
phyllis.rowland@indwes.edu
robert friberg - PT; Ph.D.; M.Ed.; L.P.C.; CFMT
Professor and DPT Program Director
robert.friberg@indwes.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Specifics:
When did the program start?
- The inaugural cohort started mid May, 2021.
How many students per cohort?
- Up to 36 students will be admitted per cohort. A new cohort will start at the beginning of each summer trimester, in mid-May.
How long is the program?
- The program is 9-trimesters and will take just under 3 years to complete including summers.
How does a trimester differ from a regular semester?
- A trimester takes the calendar year and divides it up into three equal terms. Semesters have long fall and spring terms with a short summer term. Using trimesters allows us to avoid accelerated summer coursework. A trimester is approximately 12 weeks in length.
Is there an opportunity for global experiences?
- Yes, there is a required global or transcultural experience that is interprofessional with OTD students. The cost for this trip is included in your tuition.
When will the program be fully accredited?
- Effective April 27, 2021, Indiana Wesleyan University DPT program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org
- Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.
- Per CAPTE, "accreditation is a process used in the US to assure the quality of the education that students receive. It is a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-review process that occurs on a regular basis. Prior to graduation of the first cohort of students, the program completes the Accreditation Process." Please view CAPTE’s website for further details.
What is the total cost?
- The tuition cost is $11,000 per term with 3 terms a year and 9 terms total, bringing the total tuition cost to $99,000.
Will scholarships and financial aid be available?
- The office of financial aid works individually with students to procure appropriate student loans and aid based on their needs.
Are students able to work while in the program?
- The Physical Therapy Program curriculum is rigorous, with a heavy study load. Successful completion will require the full attention of each student. Students are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled in the Program. No accommodations will be made in the didactic schedule or in clinical rotations for students who choose to work.
Admissions:
When does the admission process start?
- The application process generally opens July 1st of the year preceding desired acceptance. The program uses PTCAS, the Physical Therapy Centralized Application System for all admission processes.
What are your minimum required GPA?
- A cumulative and Science GPA of 3.0 out of 4.) is required. All prerequisite coursework must be at least a grade of “C”.
Is a specific major required?
- No, a specific major is not required as long as all the prerequisite requirements are met. This allows for a diverse cohort with different perspectives. Common majors include Exercise Science, Biology, Neuroscience, Health and Wellness, Psychology though majors in Business, Graphic Design and others have also occurred.
May I apply while in the process of completing my observation hours?
- No, observation hours completed up to the application submission must be verified by a licensed physical therapist.
- Due to constraints on clinical sites allowance of observation hours during COVID 19, you may request that required in-patient observation hours be reduced if you have not been able to complete them during your application process. This will be a question on the additional application forms within the PTCAS application. You may contact us at the PT mailbox: physical.therapy@indwes.edu to discuss your specific situation.
May I apply while in the process of completing my prerequisites?
- Yes. Two-thirds of the Science prerequisites must be completed and verified by transcripts prior to application. All coursework must be completed and evidence of graduation from an accredited institution with a baccalaureate degree must be complete prior to enrollment in the program.
Some of my courses are old? Is there a time limit on prerequisites?
- Ten years on completed prerequisites is a good figure to keep in mind. However, this will be considered on an individual basis dependent on the applicant’s degree major and work history since then. Bear in mind that the more recent completed Science prerequisites may be helpful in application to DPT foundational coursework. For example, an accepted student who completed the undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology requirement ten years prior may find the DPT Anatomy course particularly challenging when compared to a student who took an undergraduate course the year prior to enrolling in the DPT program.
What is the minimum GRE score accepted?
- No minimum scores are required, however, acceptance into the program is a competitive process. Applicants with lower GRE scores relative to the applicant pool will not be accepted. Generally, competitive applications will have both verbal and quantitative scores of 150 or higher and analytical writing of 4 or greater. If an accepted student’s GRE analytical writing score is less than 4, that student may be required to take an IWU on-line writing course prior to starting in the program.
Do you superscore the GRE?
- Yes! This means that the top scores for each GRE section will be taken regardless of GRE attempt.
How many recommendations? Who should write them?
- Three letters of recommendation are required:
- A professor who is qualified to assess your academic performance.
- A licensed physical therapist.
- A non-family member. A pastoral reference is highly recommended.
Do you require an interview?
- Yes, an on-campus interview is required.It is possible that interviews will be held electronically should the pandemic situation require it. . The interview session is an opportunity for you to experience IWU and will include a program overview and lab demonstrations and is done in a group context. Individual interview sessions will not be accommodated.
Do you accept transfer credit?
- No transfer credit from other DPT programs will be accepted.
Does the program require a background check prior to admission?
- Yes. Most clinical sites will not allow students to do clinical experiences there without a background check. Additionally, certain findings on a background check may prevent a person from becoming a licensed physical therapist.
Can I be admitted if I left or was dismissed from another DPT program?
- Yes, so long as the applicant meets all admission standards. No advance standing will be given.
Clinical Experiences:
When in the program of study do students get to go into the clinic?
- Students start time in the clinic during the first trimester through our Early Integrated Clinical Experiences.
- Full-time Early Clinical Experiences are a four-week experience at the end of Year 1.
- Three Terminal Clinical Experiences of 8, 10 and 12 weeks duration in the 3rd program year.
Are there required practice settings to complete clinical experiences?
- Yes, Early Clinical Experiences at the end of Year 1 will be 4 weeks in either an out-patient or an in-patient setting.
Can I have a clinical experience close to my home or at a location not yet established?
- Yes. The DPT program has a policy and process in place to work with the Director of Clinical Education in setting up clinical placements for facilities that we do not have a contract with. Every effort will be made to set up final clinical experience close to where students plan to practice after graduation and licensure.