DPT to Ph.D. Fast Track
Texas Woman’s University offers one of the few entry-level DPT to Ph.D. fast track programs in Texas, helping to meet the need for qualified physical therapy faculty.
![PT student working on correcting alignment of patient](https://pxl-twuedu.terminalfour.net/filters:format(webp)/prod01/twu-cdn-pxl/media/images/physical-therapy/15-08-27-HOU-DPT-web.jpg)
It is expected that over the next five to ten years, physical therapy faculty from schools across the nation will enter retirement, leaving a demand for new faculty with both clinical skills and academic knowledge in order to prepare future PT professionals. To help meet this demand, TWU has developed a fast track Ph.D. program that includes:
- A three-plus-three year format for earning both the DPT and Ph.D. degrees
- Entry-level courses dedicated to projects related to proposal development, IRB approval or the collection of pilot data
- A final DPT clinical rotation (internship) that may be completed concurrently with an advanced practicum (required Ph.D. course) in research, scholarship or teaching (other Ph.D.-level courses also are available in the DPT program)
- A minimum of 38 credit hours for the Ph.D. program following the DPT degree
- Additional 90 post-baccalaureate semester credit hours for the Ph.D., which includes approved credits transferred from DPT coursework
Admission requirements
This program is only open to internal candidates currently enrolled in our entry-level DPT program. Current students may apply in either semester two or in semester five.
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 the dissertation. A full listing of required courses for graduation is available 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.
Take the next step.
For additional information including how to apply, please contact:
- Dallas campus: Sharon Wang-Price, PhD
- Houston campus: Wayne Brewer, PhD
Page last updated 3:06 PM, February 13, 2024