Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
School of Physical Therapy
Location: Worcester
Start Term: Fall
Develop the advanced knowledge and skills required for a competitive career in physical therapy practice.
Maximize Movement. Improve Quality of Life.
Your Three-Year Journey
Work closely with expert faculty and put your new knowledge and skills to the test at field placements in hospitals, clinics, schools, and community-based settings. All students become members of the American Physical Therapy Association while enrolled in the program.
First-Year Experience
- gain foundational knowledge in anatomy and acute care
- begin providing physical therapy to members of the community
- build on classroom learning with integrated clinical experiences
Second-Year Experience
- learn to improve patients’ strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and overall wellness through classes that focus on patients’ individual needs
- gain hands-on experience working in specialty clinics, post-surgical management, and intensive care settings
- provide care to real patients in our on-campus, pro-bono Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center
Third-Year Experience
- participate in three full-time, off-campus clinical education experiences
- spend 10 weeks each in an outpatient orthopedic setting and a complex medical setting
- devote another 10 weeks to a setting of personal interest to you
Learn more about undergraduate pathways to a career in Physical Therapy.
Explore Research Opportunities
Treat Injuries and Optimize Movement
Diagnose and treat the wide variety of physical conditions you will encounter in today’s intense clinical settings.
MCPHS Community Voices
The lived experiences of MCPHS students, partners, and faculty tell an eloquent story. They illustrate just how our student-centered, teaching-first approach keeps us in the top tier of the country’s “most transformative colleges.” (Money magazine 2020).
Keelin McSweeney, ’20
| DPT“When I visited the Boston campus, I got the feeling that everyone was eventually going to know who I was. When I got there, my professors knew my name, and they knew what exams I had going on.”
What’s the difference between PT and OT?
Undergraduate Pathways to a Career in Physical Therapy
A doctoral degree is necessary to be licensed as a physical therapist, but if you have not yet earned your undergraduate degree, we offer accelerated pathways that enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a doctoral degree in six years.
Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology — Physical Therapy Pathway (BS/DPT)
Six-year, full-time program—three at the Boston campus and three in Worcester.
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences — Physical Therapy Pathway (BS/DPT)
Six-year, full-time program—three at the Boston campus and three in Worcester.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health — Physical Therapy Pathway (BS/DPT)
Six-year, full-time program—three at the Boston campus and three in Worcester.
Download a Program Fact Sheet
Download a program fact sheet for a snapshot of the Doctor of Physical Therapy.