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College of Health Professionals
The School of Physical Therapy
Mission & Vision
The mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Anderson University is to prepare physical therapists who are clinical experts in the diagnosis and treatment of movement dysfunction, advocates for healthy living and physical wellness, and scholar-practitioners who advance the practice of physical therapy. This mission is accomplished by engaging graduate students in learning and service activities that are grounded in Christian principles, guided by professional values and ethics, focused on quality outcomes, and driven by innovative thinking.
AU Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Pledge
We pledge to: accept responsibility, act with integrity, and aspire to excellence, as we acquire the knowledge and skills needed to alleviate movement dysfunction, advance practice through research and service, advocate for the health care needs of society, and adapt to an ever-changing world.
Accreditation and Approval
The School of Physical Therapy at Anderson University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. Jessica Jacobs at 864-622-6085 or email jjacobs@andersonuniversity.edu
If you want to share something about Anderson University’s School of Physical Therapy program, faculty or staff, please submit your comments here. We’d love to hear from you.
Steps to Enrollment
The application cycle for the next available cohort (Beginning summer 2025) will be open June 15, 2024 – October 1, 2024.
The School of Physical Therapy at Anderson University participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Early submissions are encouraged as it can take up to a month for them to be fully processed by PTCAS.
To lean more about PTCAS, visit ptcas.org. We admit 28-30 students per year, lower than the average physical therapy class size of 45. This is a reflection of AU’s more personalized educational experience. We are unable to accept applications from international students at this time.
Prerequisite Courses
Completion of the following prerequisites are required. You can have no more than 12 hours of prerequisites remaining at the time of application. We will not consider science courses that are more than 10 years old. For repeated courses, the higher grade is calculated into your prerequisite GPA, but the two grades are averaged when calculating your overall GPA.
2 biology courses, one lower level and one upper level (7-8 semester hours), with at least 1 lab course.
1 anatomy and 1 physiology course or 2 combined A&P courses with lab (8 semester hours)
2 chemistry courses with lab (8 semester hours)
2 physics courses with lab (8 semester hours)
1 statistics course (3 semester hours)
3 social science courses with a least 1 psychology course (9 semester hours)
1 medical terminology course or approved self-study course
1 composition or technical writing course (3 semester hours)
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline is required; however, most students find it easier to pursue their prerequisites by majoring in biology, exercise science, or kinesiology.
Minimum grade-point average of 3.0
GRE scores of: 150 verbal and 150 quantitative are preferred, but not minimum requirements.
Document at least 40 hours of observation, volunteer or paid work in two physical therapy settings in order to ensure your familiarity with the profession.
Record of involvement in service must be submitted along with two personal references: one from a teacher/professor addressing your academic aptitude and one from a physical therapist, former supervisor, coach, or service activity sponsor addressing your attitude and/or work ethic.
Sign up and take a personal competency assessment administered by CASPer: takealtus.com/casper/
Qualified applicants will be invited to campus to interview. Interview dates are typically scheduled at the end of October and the first part of November. At least one week prior to the interview date, applicants may be asked to submit an introductory video. For enrollment-related questions, contact enrollment@andersonuniversity.edu.
Why AU for Your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree?
Competitive Cost
Our program has a comparable cost to the publicly funded programs, and if you’re out-of-state, you won’t pay additional tuition fees
Shorter Program
AU’s program takes fewer semesters to complete than other DPT programs, so you get into the job market sooner
Early Clinical Exposure
You’ll be able to hit the ground running as you gain exposure to a variety of clinical sites and interact with other health care professionals.
Clinical Education Experiences
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy student, you’ll participate in part-time and full-time clinical experiences at healthcare facilities in South Carolina and selected out-of-state sites. Overall, you’ll complete 32 weeks of supervised, full-time clinical experiences in physical therapy facilities and another two weeks of part-time or service-learning experiences. These experiences will expose you to patient populations, from newborns to older adults, and give you the opportunity to interact with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds with a range of physical illnesses and disabilities.
During the first year of the program, you’ll be assigned to weekly, half-day experiences in local healthcare facilities and community agencies where you’ll observe and interact with other healthcare professionals and advocacy groups.
In year two, you’ll complete two clinical practicums in an outpatient setting, and a variety of other settings including inpatient.
During the final semester (fall of year 3), you’ll complete another eight-week experience. You will have the opportunity to identify a specialty practice area to complete for one of your final experience.
Graduate Outcomes
| Graduate Outcomes | Class of 2022 | Class of 2023 | 2 Year Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Employment Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| First-Time Licensure Pass Rate | 85% | 100% | 93% |
| Ultimate Licensure Pass Rate | 93% | 100% | 96% |
Estimated Program Cost
Program Costs (estimated):
Tuition = $770 per credit hour; total program $96,250 (125 credits)
Student fees = $500 per semester
Technology fees = $240 per semester
Books and other instructional materials = $500-600 per semester in first 2 years
Travel costs = variable depending on location of clinical practicums
Living expenses = approximately $20,000 in Greenville; may be less if commuting from nearby communities or sharing expenses with a roommate
Download the Financial Fact Sheet
Course Descriptions
Here you are able to see your credit hour load by semester. View our course catalog for a further breakdown of classes you will take while completing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Year 1 Summer Session – 16 hours total
Year 1 Fall Session – 18 hours total
Year 1 Spring Session – 17 hours total
Year 2 Summer Session – 16 hours total
Year 2 Fall Session – 17 hours total
Year 2 Spring Session – 15 hours total
Year 3 Summer Session – 13 hours total
Year 3 Fall Session – 13 hours total
Total Credit Hours: 125
Faculty Publications
Check out publications by Anderson University’s School of Physical Therapy Faculty
SPICE Mentorship Program
The term “spice of life” describes experiences that enrich/add flavor to our lives and make us more well-rounded. In the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, “SPICE” is an acronym: Senior Partners In Clinical Education. We pair each student in our Doctor of Physical Therapy program with an older adult in the community who will provide feedback to the student as they practice clinical skills, bring psychological and spiritual support throughout the program, and help celebrate our students’ success.
To apply to be a SPICE mentor or for more information, please email rhaulbrook@andersonuniversity.edu or call 864.231.2453
File a Complaint
Any individual or organization that is dissatisfied with his/her experience or encounter with any student, faculty, or staff member associated with the School of Physical Therapy may file a complaint against the offending party with the School of Physical Therapy Chair. The complaint must be made in writing to be considered bona fide. Complaints should be addressed as follows:
Jessica Jacobs, Chair
School of Physical Therapy
Anderson University
225 S. Pleasantburg Dr., Suite B-3
Greenville, SC 29607
Email: jjacobs@andersonuniversity.edu
Phone: 864.622.6085
Complaints about the School or University related to compliance with accreditation standards must be submitted in writing to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). These complaints should be addressed as follows:
Director of Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Email: Accreditation@apta.org
Phone: 800.999.2782
Complaints about the School of Physical Therapy or the School of Physical Therapy Chair may be submitted directly to the Dean of the College of Health Professions at the following address:
Dr. Don Peace, Dean
College of Health Professions
Anderson University
316 Boulevard
Anderson, SC 29621
Email: dpeace@andersuniversity.edu
Phone: 864.231.2134
