Graduate Programs

Overview

Physical Therapy is a hands-on profession based on relationships. The University of Toledo's accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program focuses on practical skills as well what it takes to thrive in a professional healthcare environment.

• Gain 36 weeks of comprehensive clinical experiences.
• Learn to treat all kinds of clients — from babies and aging adults to people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
• Develop clinical, communication and interprofessional skills as you attend class and collaborate with other healthcare students in a high-tech, realistic learning environment.
• Study at a University with a teaching hospital and cutting-edge medical facilities.

UToledo Physical Therapy graduates have a nearly-perfect pass rate on the national licensure exam. We also have excellent student outcomes for graduation and employment. 

Our D.P.T. graduates are well prepared to enter the job market, which is expected to grow 34% within the next decade (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The mission of the D.P.T. program is through education, scholarship, and service, that the program's mission focuses on preparing students to be leaders in contemporary practice and improving the human condition and profession.

Top Reasons to Study physical therapy at UToledo

1. Maximum value.

   UToledo’s accredited Physical Therapy graduate program can be completed in just three years or eight semesters, including summers. Enhance your education with: 

   • Specialties in pediatrics, sports or other areas. Choose electives and tailor your specialty, clinical internship to focus on your area of interest.  
2. Comprehensive, cutting-edge facilities.

   UToledo doctoral students learn in classrooms and labs on Main Campus, as well as our Health Science Campus just 10 minutes away. They study with clinicians and scientists active in research and advanced patient care. 

   Physical Therapy students have access to: 

   • The University of Toledo Medical Center and its outpatient rehabilitation clinics 
   • UToledo’s Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center 
   • UToledo’s Ruth M. Hillebrand Clinical Skills Center 
3. Highly qualified faculty.

   All faculty members are licensed physical therapists with advanced degrees or board-certified clinical specializations. Some provide clinical services on the Health Science Campus. Others lead research projects in a variety of areas, from diabetes and glucose metabolism to orthopaedics and neurology. 
4. Professional preparation.

   D.P.T. graduate students complete a professional development plan portfolio that requires them to join the American Physical Therapy Association, attend professional conferences, provide community service and more.
5. Collaborate with other healthcare students.

   All first-year D.P.T. graduate students participate in UToledo’s interprofessional education program. They work on teams with students from nine other healthcare professional programs — occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, public health, physician assistant studies, social work and respiratory care. 
6. Professional and extracurricular activities.

   Our Doctor of Physical Therapy students win awards for their volunteer efforts and often log more community service hours than other D.P.T. program in Ohio.

   • Student Physical Therapy Organization members travel to conferences, network with other D.P.T. students, attend seminars and present scholarly work. 
   • Interprofessional teams of Doctor of Physical Therapy students and healthcare professionals have participated in missions across the globe.
   • Doctor of Physical Therapy students are active in the community, such as participating in the student-run, University-sponsored, pro-bono Community Care Clinic.

Faculty members in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program have clinical, teaching and/or research expertise in areas such as: 

• Diabetes and glucose metabolism 
• Orthopaedics 
• Management of headaches 
• Pediatrics 
• Neurology 

What jobs can I get with a physical therapy degree?

UToledo D.P.T. alumni are well-prepared for management and leadership roles. The majority of D.P.T. graduates who pass the national licensure exam enter clinical practice, in facilities such as:  

• Hospitals 
• Outpatient clinics 
• Home-health agencies 
• Skilled-nursing facilities 
• Rehabilitation centers 

Graduates also become private-practice owners, business partners and entrepreneurs. 

If you're interested in neurologic physical therapy, The University of Toledo Medical Center offers an accredited neurologic physical therapy residency for licensed physical therapists. 

Internship Opportunities For Physical Therapy Doctorate

UToledo D.P.T. students are required to complete 36 weeks of clinical education experiences in a variety of practice settings. They also must travel outside Toledo for at least one of those experiences.  

We have more than 150 clinical sites at local and national companies in almost all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.