Department of Physical Therapy           

Professional Program in Physical Therapy:

UNTHSC is currently offering a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program on its Fort Worth campus, classes began this July 2010. Become part of this exciting new DPT program. This 33-month program will prepare you to practice as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in one of today's fastest growing and most rewarding health professions.

Program Mission:

To produce highly qualified physical therapists who will enhance the health and functional abilities of the people of Texas with a distinctive focus on Tarrant county, rural areas, and beyond; to participate in research that impacts the practice of physical therapy; and to provide high level physical therapy clinical services.

Program Highlights:

• Well-rounded education in all aspects of contemporary physical therapy.
• Opportunity to enroll in a special Rural Track Program which prepares you to practice in a small community setting. 
• Learning in a research-intensive health science center environment.
• A low student-faculty ratio that ensures close contact with and continuous mentoring by physical therapy faculty.
• Interdisciplinary education experiences with students in medical school and physician assistant programs at the health science center.

Clinical Experiences:

You will have opportunities to learn at clinical sites across the DFW area and the nation, including opportunities to train in smaller communities throughout Texas. 

The Department and the Health Science Center:

The Department of Physical Therapy is the second academic department in the new School of Health Professions, joining the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. Both programs  prepare students for exciting and satisfying careers that are among the nation's top health professions. Additional health professions programs will be proposed in future years.

UNTHSC belongs to the three-campus University of North Texas System, is regionally accredited, and is recognized as one of the state's fastest growing health science centers. UNTHSC currently includes three schools - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Public Health - in addition to the School of Health Professions. With more than 1200 students and 300 full-time faculty, annual extramural research support totals approximately $30 million, and a new master plan is designed to double the size of the current campus. The health science center is poised to greatly enhance its already successful educational programs, fast-growing research initiatives and critically important health care service to the community and state.

Accreditation and State Approval:

UNTHSC has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). Candidacy is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation. The program also received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in July 2010 to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award master's and doctoral degrees. SACS approval to offer the DPT degree at UNTHSC was received October 15, 2009.

Feedback Welcome!

The Department of Physical Therapy values comments and complaints that relate to its curriculum, students, faculty, and graduates from parties outside the University. We strive to respond in a timely and appropriate manner. Comments may be directed to the following individual: Dr. Clayton Holmes, Chair, Department of Physical Therapy, 817-735-2510, pt@unthsc.edu.