University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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The physical therapy department, within the School of Integrated Health Sciences, offers a doctorate of physical therapy degree designed to prepare students for entry into the profession. The program comprises intense academic and clinical work spread out during six semesters and three summers as well as 112 credit hours of graduate course work divided among classroom, clinical, and research activities. Students are prepared as generalists but then have an opportunity to investigate the orthopedic, pediatric, and geriatric specializations of physical therapy through clinical exposures and student research opportunities.

The department, formed in 1998, originally was a master’s program. The master’s in physical therapy program transitioned to a doctorate program in 2007.

The curriculum provides a comprehensive background in the art and science of physical therapy and prepares graduates to sit for the national physical therapy exam (NPTE®). The UNLV Doctor of Physical Therapy program data page contains the program’s first-time and overall pass rates among students taking the NPTE, as well as graduation and employment rates.