Clinical Education

Each of the clinical rotations will be separated by time spent in the classroom. This learning experience allows you to put concepts from the classroom into practice, and to then bring real-world experience back into the classroom.

You will spend a full 52 weeks in clinical experiences—more time than nearly any other program in the nation—in a variety of settings, including at least:

• One acute care hospital
• One neurological rehabilitation, long-term care, sub-acute care or outpatient clinical setting
• One outpatient orthopedic clinic

Remaining clinicals may be in pediatrics, women’s health, sports medicine, hand therapy, wound/burn care or other specialty areas discussed with the director of clinical education.

• PT 512 Clinical Experience I, May-August after first DPT year,
  8 weeks minimum
  Focus is on sites classified as acute, sub-acute or long-term care
• PT 613 Clinical Experience II, January-February during second DPT year,
  8 weeks minimum
  Focus is on musculoskeletal and neuromuscular sites
• PT 614 Clinical Internship, May-August after second DPT year,
  12 weeks minimum
  Focus is on musculoskeletal and neuromuscular sites
• PT 712 Clinical Residency, November-January of third DPT year, 
  12 weeks minimum
  Focus is on rounding out your skills with multiple areas of clinical experiences
• PT 713 Clinical Residency, February-May of third DPT year,
  12 weeks minimum
  Culmination of clinical education experiences; focus is on interacting with patients, patients’ families and other related individuals through participating in direct patient care in a variety of settings

Our department maintains clinical affiliation agreements with 975 health care facilities throughout the United States. You will choose your clinical sites by a lottery system and in consultation with the director of clinical education.

To learn more about the clinical site selection process and other policies and procedures, review the DPT Clinical Education Manual.