Program
Drexel’s undergraduate Health Sciences program and graduate Physical Therapy (PT) program have partnered to offer a BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option available to high achieving students enrolled in the Health Sciences program.
The BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option is a concentrated academic track that enables students to complete their Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees in 6 years as opposed to the traditional 7 years. Students pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences during their first three years of study, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree during their final 3 years of study.
The Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences is awarded following completion of year four (first year of graduate study), and the Doctoral degree is awarded following completion of the Physical Therapy program.
A sample BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option schedule would span six years as follows:
- Year One: Undergraduate courses taken Fall Winter and Spring quarters
- Year Two: Undergraduate courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
- Year Three: Two quarters on CO-OP, two quarters Undergraduate Courses
- Year Four: DPT courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
- Year Five: DPT courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
- Year Six: DPT courses taken Fall Winter Spring and Summer quarters
History
Drexel’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program – the new standard in physical therapy education – is the successor to the former MCP Hahnemann University Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program, which was accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in 1981.
Career Options
Graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program are innovators who value life-long learning and assume leadership positions in the following areas of practice:
- Sports medicine
- Outpatient orthopedics
- Acute care hospitals
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Adult neurological rehabilitation
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option allows highly qualified students the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy in 6 years, as opposed to the traditional 7 years. Students meeting all BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy track requirements are granted an interview with the Drexel Physical Therapy program in the fall of their junior year. Students successfully completing the interview process enter the Physical Therapy program in the fall of their senior year.
Beginning in Fall of 2017, incoming freshmen may elect to enter the undergraduate BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option. To remain in the BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option, students must meet the following criteria:
Accelerated BS/DPT Physical Therapy Option Requirements:
- Be enrolled in the Drexel Health Sciences Program as a freshman and complete a minimum of 135 quarter credits by the end of junior year.
- Complete DPT program prerequisite courses at Drexel University unless Advanced Placement (AP) credit is granted upon admission.
- Earn a minimum grade of "C" in all DPT program prerequisite courses on the first attempt. Repeating courses to obtain a minimum grade is not feasible in the Bridge Program track. Prerequisite grades of INC or W must be approved by the Health Sciences Bridge Program track director and are only allowed for unforeseen extenuating circumstances.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.33 and science GPA of 3.25. Minimum GPA requirements must be achieved by the end of the junior year in the Health Sciences Program.
- Complete all current DPT program admission and application requirements found on the Drexel Physical Therapy Department Website. Applications are submitted through PTCAS and should include clinical hours, recommendation letters, a personal statement and any other requirements set by the DPT program.
- Complete a successful admissions interview with the Drexel DPT Program and be recommended for admission by the DPT Admissions Committee. BS/DPT Bridge Program students who meet all of the above criteria will be granted an interview in the fall of their junior year for a seat in the Drexel PT program. The interview is a critical part of the DPT program admission process and should not be considered lightly. Being granted an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the DPT program.
- Transfer students are not eligible for the BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option.
Health Sciences BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy students fulfilling all requirements begin the DPT program in the fall of their senior year. Students receive a BS degree in Health Sciences r (minimum 180 credits) after successful completion of all fall, winter, and spring term DPT program courses in their 4th year. Students not continuing in the BS/DPT Bridge Program for Physical Therapy Option will continue their studies in the traditional Health Sciences 4-year co-op Degree Program and have the opportunity to apply to the Drexel DPT program and other Physical Therapy programs the following year.
For Transfer Students
Transfer students are ineligible to apply.
Tuition and Fee Rates:
Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central
COMPLIANCE
The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.
Visit the Compliance pages for more information.
The Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Program Level Outcomes
At Drexel University we believe that a well-formulated set of Program Level Outcomes [PLO] that support and are consistent with the institutional mission and goals are the building blocks of an effective assessment program.
Click here
to view the College of Nursing and Health Professions Health Sciences Program Level Outcomes.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program are innovators who value life-long learning and assume leadership positions in the following areas of practice:
- Sports medicine
- Outpatient orthopedics
- Acute care hospitals
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Adult neurological rehabilitation