Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Transition 
DPT Class Schedule

Tuition 

SAU PT Accreditation

Continuing Education

Frequently Asked Questions

PT Links

Faculty

Alumni Update Form

What is required to apply to the Transition DPT Program?
1. Completed application

• $50 Application processing fee (check payable to St. Ambrose University)

• Evidence of a minimum of six months clinical experience upon completion of professional training

• Two references (form available)

• Reflective essay

2. Official Transcripts from each academic institution attended. This should include evidence of graduation from an entry-level physical therapy education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

3. Copy of current US Physical Therapy License(s)

4. An on-site or phone interview may be requested by the program or applicant

5. Therapists applying from outside the US will also need to provide: 

• Therapists applying from outside the US will also need to provide:
  -International credential evaluation from an agency recognized by the State of Iowa Professional Licensure Board such as: the Foreign Credentialing Commission (FCC) on Physical Therapy. You may contact FCC at 703-684-8406.

• Official TOEFL score (minimum of 250 if taken on the computer or 600 if the written version is taken)

After all required application documents have arrived at the university, it takes approximately two weeks for the application to be processed.

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If I earned a bachelor's degree or a professional certificate as my entry-level physical therapy degree, am I eligible to apply to the Transition DPT program?
Yes, All physical therapists holding a current PT license and evidence of graduation from a CAPTE accredited professional, entry-level PT program are eligible to apply for admission to the Transition DPT program. As part of the application process, evidence of on-going post professional education will be required. In some cases, additional preparation and/or course work may be necessary. Regardless of the original degree earned, the program is designed to help practicing therapists develop their current knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to a level consistent with current professional education standards.

With evidence of on-going professional development, the SAU PT faculty believes that licensed therapists holding entry-level master's degrees, bachelor's degrees or post baccalaureate certificates, should be eligible for admission to this program. The program is expected to add value to any physical therapist's practice, regardless of experience or practice setting. Physical therapists already proficient in a specialized area of practice should strengthen their ability to recognize, evaluate, and provide interventions to address impairments in all practice patterns (i.e., musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary).

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When can I apply to the SAU Transition DPT?
Applications are available now and may be completed at any time.

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Can I take transition DPT courses before I actually apply for acceptance or before I am enrolled into the program?
Yes, while it is encouraged that you apply and be accepted into the Transition DPT Program, it is not a requirement to take a class. Some individuals may choose to take a course out of interest in the content or for professional development. Realize, however, that courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to students enrolled in the Transition DPT program.  You may not take / transfer more than six (6) credits before being accepted into the program.

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Since I am a St. Ambrose Physical Therapy Alumnus, do I still need to complete the entire application and submit transcripts?
All applicants need to complete the entire application. Transcripts that were submitted with your application to our entry-level program are still on file. You need to submit transcripts for any courses you have completed from other institutions since that the time of your entry-level application.

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How many credits will I need? Will you accept transfer credits?
The SAU Transition DPT Program is comprised of 8 courses and a total of 16 semester credits. Some SAU MPT alumni have already taken some of the required courses. Information on the specific course requirements may be found at www.sau.edu/pt/TDPTRequirements.htm. 

Students admitted to the Transition DPT will develop a plan of study with their respective advisor. Some students may be able to demonstrate evidence of equivalent courses and petition to be credited for that course work. This would require the student submitting evidence of the content of prior course work for approval.

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What do I do if I know I can NOT attend one of the scheduled class dates?
Attendance is expected for ALL class meeting times for the entire course. If you know you will miss at least one class, you should not register for the course.

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How long does the program take to complete?
We anticipate that most students will complete the Transition DPT in 2-3 years. The length of time required to complete the program will depend on the student. Students entering the program will need to take 8 courses. If one course were taken each session, it would take approximately 2-3 years to complete the degree.

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How long do I have to complete all of the required courses?
Once you matriculate into the transition DPT program at St. Ambrose, you will have five (5) years to complete all degree requirements without needing to request special permission for continuation.

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How many courses have to be completed each year?
There is no specific number of courses required. Courses are offered in concentrated time blocks in an attempt to minimize time away from employment.

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Is this program campus based or offered through distance education?
Courses are offered on campus during concentrated blocks of time. There are some aspects of the program that include web-assisted learning and CD ROM. The majority of prospective students surveyed indicated a desire for on-campus classes.

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Is the program full-time or part-time? Can I still work while I am taking classes?
This program is part-time. It is intended to allow students to take classes following a schedule that will allow them to continue to work full-time as they progress through the program. Courses are typically offered in a one-week format that is meant to be employment friendly.

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Is there prerequisite course work required for this program?
It is expected that therapists enrolling in the Transition DPT program will enter the program with the fundamental knowledge and skills described in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Although applicants may practice in a specialized setting, they should have at least basic understanding of the elements of patient/client management, tests and measures, and interventions that physical therapists frequently provide across the four main practice pattern categories. As part of the application process, students will address any deficiencies with a plan for reviewing and learning this information.

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How many core courses and elective courses are required?
Required courses are summarized at www.sau.edu/TDPTrequirements.htm The number of courses required for each individual varies for some SAU alumni as these students may have completed some of the requirements as components of their entry-level professional training.

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Is there a specific order in which I should take the classes?
It is recommended that students take the courses in numeric order, however, this is not required.  You are required to complete all other course work before taking the final two courses (DPT 830 and 850).

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Is there a laboratory component in these courses?
A number of courses have some lab components.

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How many students can enroll in each course?
Currently, each course enrollment depends on the location and time of the offering.  Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis with students enrolled in the program given priority over non-degree seeking students.

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Are the courses graded?
Yes, all courses are graded except DPT 850 - Integration Project, which is pass/ no-pass.

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Is there a research component to the Transition DPT?
This is a clinical doctorate. Evidence Based Practice is one course and a theme throughout the curriculum requiring students to locate supporting literature. As part of the integration project, students may choose to develop a case report, author a scholarly paper (annotated bibliography) or design an original project unique to the student's professional interest, that could include performing a clinical research project.

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Will I take classes with students from the entry-level DPT program? 
There are 5 courses that are common to both programs. Based upon when you take the course offering, there maybe students enrolled from both programs.

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What is the cost for each course?
Tuition is charged on a semester hours basis. As a part-time student, Transition DPT courses are billed per credit hour taken. Current tuition for the 2005-2006 academic year (including summer 2005) is $577 per credit hour. Some courses have a $20 course fee to cover costs of materials and handouts. Tuition and other university fees are subject to change.

St. Ambrose Master of Physical Therapy Program alumni qualify for tuition reduction for this program. For further information regarding this discount, contact the Physical Therapy Department office.

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Does the university have financial aid available?
Federal loans are available to qualified students who are enrolled in at least 4.5 credits per semester. Application for loans must be completed well in advance of course registration. Discuss details of financial aid with Julie Haack, Director of Financial Aid at 563/333-6414 (HaackJulieA@sau.edu).

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Is housing available on campus?
Limited housing is available on campus. To obtain more information, you should contact the PT department.

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Is the University accredited and is the degree accredited?
St. Ambrose University is accredited through The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University has degree authority to award the Doctor of Physical Therapy. The entry-level DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Post professional DPT programs are currently not accredited by CAPTE. The APTA has attempted to influence the quality of Transition DPT programs by providing Consensus-based Outcome Competencies and a Preferred Curriculum Guide for Transition DPT Programs. Both of these documents have been used in guiding the development of the St. Ambrose University Transition DPT Program.

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May I teach with a DPT degree?
When considering the qualifications of a faculty member, CAPTE recognizes the DPT as the first professional degreel. The DPT alone, regardless of when in one's career this was obtained, typically does not constitute sufficient qualification for physical therapy faculty. As with other entry-level degrees, therapists holding the DPT as a clinical practice credential may be qualified as a member of a physical therapy program faculty when they also demonstrate evidence of additional clinical experience, specialty expertise or advanced training in the content area(s) for which they have teaching responsibilities.

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Where can I find general information about Transition DPT programs?
Information about the Transition DPT degree, Transition DPT education programs, and related resources can be found on APTA's web site at www.apta.org, look under education, then DPT (Transition).

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Do I need computer skills?
It is recommended that students have basic knowledge of programs such as MS Word, PowerPoint and e-mail.  There are also components that require Internet access.