School of Physical Therapy

The School of Physical Therapy prepares physical therapists who are clinical experts in the evaluation and treatment of conditions that affect the human movement system, as well as advocates for healthy living and physical wellness. Our graduates will also be prepared to be scholar-practitioners who advance the practice of physical therapy.

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) now requires all physical therapy education programs in the U.S. to award the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. To be eligible for licensure, physical therapists must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program or its equivalent. Physical therapists work with patients to reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.

As a physical therapist, you might find yourself working with anyone from an older adult recovering from a stroke to a child with a developmental disability to an athlete rebounding from a sports injury. You could assist with everything from recuperation to preventive care, working in hospitals, schools, long-term rehabilitation facilities, retirement communities, manufacturing plants, outpatient clinics, or patients’ homes.

Why Anderson University?

Anderson University is known for the individualized attention students receive. You’ll enjoy small class sizes with an emphasis on professional integrity and Christian values. The School of Physical Therapy believes in serving Him by serving others. You will have numerous opportunities to put those words into practice through service learning.

AU’s 125 credit-hour physical therapy curriculum is organized around five themes:

1. Knowing: We synthesize scientific knowledge to better understand human movement.
2. Applying: We solve problems of movement dysfunction via diagnosis and treatment.
3. Promoting: We seek ways to advance physical therapy practice and optimize societal health.
4. Modeling: We strive to reflect professional and Christian values in our daily lives and health care practice.
5. Serving: We seize opportunities to enhance the quality of life for all God’s people.

Hands-on experience

You’ll have 32 weeks of full-time clinical opportunities in a variety of settings:

• Inpatient care
• Outpatient care
• Specialty area of student’s choice

In addition, students participate in several part-time, clinical experiences. During your clinical experiences, you will gain hands-on experience under the direct supervision of a licensed PT, applying classroom and lab knowledge and skills to patients and clients of all ages and needs.

AU enjoys clinical affiliations with public and private hospital systems, clinics and agencies throughout South Carolina and around the U.S., providing you with real-world, real-time knowledge of best practices and advancements.

State-of-the-art facilities

During your first semester, you will travel once a week to the Anderson campus, which is home to the Center for Medical Simulations and features a cadaver lab and more than a dozen simulators in a clinical setting.

The rest of your classwork and lab work will take place at the University Center of Greenville. The center includes two teaching labs and a research lab.

Collaborative research

As an AU DPT student, you’ll complete a faculty-supervised Capstone project. Formal dissemination of these projects occurs just prior to graduation.

Eight-semester program

At eight semesters, AU’s program is one to two semesters shorter than other DPT programs in South Carolina, getting you into the job market sooner. Tuition is competitive with other programs in South Carolina.

Your future as a physical therapist

Whether you have been drawn to physical therapy from personal experience, a calling to work closely with those in need, or a desire for more career flexibility, here you’ll be prepared for a rapidly expanding field that is nationally recognized for job satisfaction and earning potential. Nationwide, the average salary for a physical therapist is $86,520 per year, while the average starting salary for a new physical therapy graduate in South Carolina is $66,000.

You must complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at a CAPTE-accredited program before you can sit for the national physical therapy exam. Licensure is administered by the state(s) in which you’ll practice.

Student Handbook