Curriculum & Degree Requirements
See course and clinical experience requirements in KU's three-year, doctorate program in physical therapy hybrid pathway.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy hybrid pathway has the same overall curriculum as the on-campus pathway. The schedule of when and where you complete the coursework is what distinguishes the two.
The hybrid pathway features synchronous and asynchronous online instruction combined with up to two intensive, on-campus lab immersions at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kansas, during each of the first seven semesters of the program. During on-campus lab immersions, students in the hybrid pathway have access to the same state-of-the-art facilities as students in the on-campus pathway.
Like the traditional on-campus program, the hybrid doctorate in physical therapy is a full-time program requiring 50-60 hours per week and completed over nince consecutive academic semesters.
Schedule for On-Campus Lab Immersions
Here is the approximate number of days you'll spend in lab on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kansas:
Semester | Approx. Time on Campus | Approx. Dates |
---|---|---|
Semester 1 (Summer) | 1 trip to campus for 7 days of labs | July 11-July 17 |
Semester 2 (Fall) | 1st trip to campus for 4 days of labs 2nd trip to campus for 3 days of labs |
Mid-October, Early December |
Semester 3 (Spring) | 1st trip to campus for 4 days of labs 2nd trip to campus for 4 days of labs |
Mid-March, First Half of May |
Semester 4 (Summer) | No labs, no campus visit required | No Labs |
Semester 5 (Fall) | 1st trip to campus for 4 days of labs 2nd trip to campus for 4 days of labs |
Mid-October, Mid-December |
Semester 6 (Spring) | 1st trip to campus for 3 days of labs 2nd trip to campus for 3 days of labs |
Mid-March, First Half of May |
Semester 7 (Summer) | 1 trip to campus for 3 days of labs | Late July |
Semester 8 (Fall) | No labs, no campus visit required | No Labs |
Semester 9 (Spring) | No labs, no campus visit required | No Labs |
This schedule does not include time needed to travel to campus, and is subject to change at any time without notice.
The program requires a minimum 110 credit hours. Regardless of whether you enroll in the on-campus or hybrid pathway, you'll complete the same curriculum in the same sequence, with the same degree requirements.
The curriculum is provided below. You must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU graduate coursework. For more information, view the curriculum schedule (PDF) and see the academic calendar provided by the Office of the Registrar.
PTRS 702 | Physical Therapy Documentation and Health Informatics | 1 |
PTRS 703 | Applied Anatomy | 1 |
PTRS 704 | Physical Therapy Interventions I | 3 |
PTRS 705 | Physical Therapy Interventions II | 4 |
PTRS 710 | Advanced Topics in Human Anatomy* | 6 |
PTRS 711 | Applied Kinesiology and Biomechanics | 4 |
PTRS 720 | Integrated Clinical Experience I | 1 |
PTRS 730 | Integrated Clinical Experience II | 1 |
PTRS 745 | Orthopedic Physical Therapy I | 6 |
PTRS 746 | Musculoskeletal Conditions and Management | 3 |
PTRS 750 | Research in Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice | 3 |
PTRS 817 | Ethics in Health Care | 2 |
PTRS 825 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
PTRS 826 | Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy | 5 |
PTRS 828 | Medical Imaging | 1 |
PTRS 830 | Integrated Clinical Experience III | 2 |
PTRS 833 | Pediatric Physical Therapy | 4 |
PTRS 840 | Integrated Clinical Experience IV | 2 |
PTRS 845 | Orthopedic Physical Therapy II | 6 |
PTRS 846 | Orthopedic Physical Therapy III | 3 |
PTRS 852 | Neurologic Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation I | 6 |
PTRS 853 | Neurologic Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation II | 5 |
PTRS 855 | Pharmacology for Physical Therapists | 2 |
PTRS 860 | Evidence-Based Research Practicum I | 1 |
PTRS 861 | Evidence-Based Research Practicum II | 1 |
PTRS 877 | Administration in Physical Therapy | 2 |
PTRS 882 | Pathophysiology and Physical Therapist Screens | 6 |
PTRS 890 | Specialties in Physical Therapy Practice | 2 |
PTRS 920-923 | Full-time Clinical Experiences (option 1 or 2 below) | 24 |
TOTAL HOURS | 110 |
* For students in the hybrid pathway, the only opportunity for activity with human cadavers is during the in-person immersion experience in July, and there will be no dissection involved.
During the program, you'll participate in 36 weeks of full-time clinical experience for a total of 24 credit hours. During this time, you'll be assigned to one of two scenarios, to fulfill your full-time clinical experiences requirement.
- Scenario 1: Three 12-week full-time clinical experiences across the fall and spring semesters of your third year. You will enroll in two of these experiences in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. The second 12-week clinical experience will bridge across the fall and spring semesters.
- Scenario 2: Four 9-week full-time clinical experiences across the fall and spring semesters of your third year. You will enroll in two of these experiences in the fall semester and two in the spring semester.
International Clinical Experiences
You may also choose an international clinical experience option. Those who elect to pursue an international clinical experience will enroll in PTRS 924 Specialized Clinical Experience as an elective 1-6 credit hour course. You will enroll during the semester you participate in the international clinical experience. The number of credit hours (1-6) for the course is clinic specific and varies by location.
The requirement for 24 total credit hours of full-time clinical experience remains the same for those completing an international clinical experience; however, the total credit hours for either PTRS 920 Full-time Clinical Experience I, PTRS 921 Full-time Clinical Experience II, or PTRS 922 Full-time Clinical Experience III will be decreased by the number of credit hours you are enrolled in PTRS 924 during the semester of the international clinical experience.
The DPT program also requires you to complete a research practicum via PTRS 860 Evidence-Based Research Practicum I and PTRS 861 Evidence-Based Research Practicum II courses.
You must complete the university’s research skills and responsible scholarship requirement prior to the semester you complete your research practicum.
- PTRS 750 Research in Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice, PTRS 860 Evidence-Based Research Practicum I, and PTRS 861 Evidence-Based Research Practicum II meet the research skills requirement.
- PTRS 817 Ethics in Health Care meets the responsible scholarship requirement.
** Course schedules are provided for reference only. For complete, current information about courses and requirements in our doctorate program in physical therapy, please visit the KU Academic Catalog.
Vaccines and Clinical Site Requirements
The University of Kansas Medical Center requires various immunizations for its students. For a detailed list please visit the student health forms webpage or speak with Student Health Services. These immunization requirements help promote health and safety and facilitate clinical placement.
Many, if not all, clinical sites who partner with the University of Kansas Medical Center require proof of these vaccines for students engaged in training or other programmatic experiences at clinical sites. Not being vaccinated may preclude students from participating in activities, potentially impeding their ability to complete all program requirements for degree completion. Applicants with questions should speak with a representative from the academic program to which they intend to apply.
Connect with us!
We're here to answer questions and provide assistance as you prepare for an exciting career in health care.
Thinking about applying?
Please send a message to Robert Bagley, senior academic program specialist using the form on this page.
We also offer on-campus and online visits with our program.
Looking for more information?
High school students and college students in their early undergraduate years of study may contact Alex Lopez, our school's outreach and recruitment specialist, at alopez12@kumc.edu or 913-588-1743 (711 TTY).