Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy (Ph.D.)
As one of six institutions in the nation and the only one in Texas to offer a Ph.D. in physical therapy, Texas Woman's University helped paved the way for physical therapists moving into academic and research roles.
The Ph.D. program is designed to develop future physical therapy educators and researchers with program emphasis on:
- Cultivating a deeper understanding of the scientific basis for clinical practice
- Working closely with a faculty mentor in the student’s area of clinical interest
TWU offers individualized programs for physical therapists looking to earn their Ph.D. in specialized areas. Working with students to accommodate specific clinical and/or research goals, TWU’s unique program offering includes:
- Hybrid model includes on-site and online courses. On-site courses typically meet one to three weekends during a given semester
- Ability to continue with clinical practice either part-time or full-time while in the Ph.D. program
- Specialized areas of concentration are individually tailored to the student’s needs and developed through practicum experiences, independent study, dissertation and elective coursework
- Outstanding faculty members with academic terminal degrees (Ph.D. or DSc) and many hold an advanced specialty clinical certifications from ABPTS
- On-site classes are offered at both the Dallas and Houston centers.
Program requirements
The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 60 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including six semester credit hours for dissertation (some coursework from other accredited DPT schools may be applied to this minimum). A full list of required courses can be found in the course catalog.
In addition to the required coursework and research, there is also a residency requirement as well as a qualifying exam and an oral final exam.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredits entry level Physical Therapy (DPT and PTA) programs only. CAPTE does not accredit post-professional programs.
Questions?
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about the Ph.D. program. If you have additional questions, please contact the appropriate program campus lead below.
Admission requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. in Physical Therapy
Program Contact
Mary Beth Daugherty
940-898-2460
PT@twu.edu / MDaugherty@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Applicants interested in the Ph.D. program may apply at any time.
Recommended/preferred deadlines:
Fall - January 15
Spring - August 1
Summer - January 15
Admission Requirements
- Proof of graduation from an approved Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited program or equivalent entry-level physical therapy program.
A license to practice physical therapy in the United States or a minimum of 24 months of full-time clinical practice (beyond that required for entry-level education) within the last 3 years preferred. - A master's degree or clinical doctorate (DPT) is required from accredited programs; however, the masters can be in a related area (not necessarily physical therapy). Degrees must be completed before beginning the Ph.D.
- A basic course in statistics within the last 10 years.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- All coursework from a foreign university must be evaluated by TWU’s International Education evaluator to establish U.S. equivalencies.
- International students or if your bachelor’s degree is from a country where the official language is other than English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English tests and achieve scores of at least 24-writing, 26-speaking, 21-reading comprehension, and 18-listening comprehension - Total 89. For a list of exempt countries and the TOEFL exemption form visit the TWU International Student Admission website.
How to Apply
- Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School. When completing the Apply Texas Application select:
- Campus: TWU Denton
- Major: Post Professional Ph.D. (DAL) or Post Professions Ph.D. (HOU)
- Have official TOEFL scores sent to TWU using Code 6826 (if applicable).
- Collect and submit the following documents as separate PDF files in ONE email to PT@twu.edu with the subject line (YOUR LAST NAME)-(YOUR FIRST NAME)-(Ph.D. in Physical Therapy). Please attach all items as PDFs.
- Copy of PT license.
- A written statement indicating the current focus of professional and research interests including an evaluation of personal strengths and weaknesses.
- Resume/curriculum vitae.
- Two recommenders, preferably from the latest employer and/or faculty from the last school attended, should directly submit letters of recommendation as PDFs on institutional or organization letterhead to PT@twu.edu. Recommenders should include student name and "Ph.D. in Physical Therapy" in the subject line.
- An interview is required. An interview by telephone or with technology may be arranged if circumstances preclude an on-site interview.
Opportunities for clinical research while at TWU are limited for students not licensed in Texas. However, research can be completed in another state or country. In addition, we can advise graduate students about seeking licensure in Texas.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredits entry-level Physical Therapy (DPT and PTA) programs only. CAPTE does not accredit post-professional programs.
Page last updated 4:30 PM, March 15, 2022