Overview

Practicing physical therapists are invited to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree by completing on-line transition Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) coursework that adheres to the accreditation standards of current entry-level DPT curricula.  The program has been designed to respect the energy and commitment you have brought to your career, help you grow and improve your professional knowledge base, and immediately advance the application of your clinical skills. 

The tDPT curriculum is delivered using distance-based education format that eliminates your need for in-person travel to Philadelphia.  All coursework is conducted over the Internet using a platform that permits you, your classmates, and faculty members to post and share lecture materials and assignments, participate in group discussions.  Your only technical requirement to participate in the program will be a computer with Internet access, a DVD player, and Microsoft Office software.

In order to help you plan a curricular sequence that fits your clinical and family obligations, you will be required to complete between 12 and 24 graduate tDPT credits from an array of courses offered during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. A schedule of projected tDPT course offerings for the Academic Years 2009 - 2010 through 2011 - 2012 can help you choose your course sequence.  You may choose to follow the lead of many previous students who have taken 6 credits of coursework each during a fall and spring semester and complete the minimum 12 core credits in less than one academic year.  Students typically report a 5 - 6 hours/week commitment to complete the equivalence of each 3 credit graduate course. 

All courses will start at the beginning of the University semester start date and end on the University's semester calendar except for courses offered during the summer term, which may extend over both Summer Session I and Summer Session II. Official dates can be located at Temple Calendars.

Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the tDPT Program once they have initiated cousework.  An exception to this provision exists when a student must wait a semester to complete a final course due to the fact that the course may only be offered in a particular semester.  Should extenuating circumstances develop where a tDPT student may not be able to maintain continuous enrollment a particular semester when a required course is offered, the student MUST complete a Leave of Absence Form (Graduate School Policy 02.25.14) and pay the associated processing fee.