Physical Therapy, DPT

Special Status Student

Occasionally, practicing licensed physical therapists are interested in completing courses offered by the graduate program but do not wish to pursue graduate degrees. The physical therapy program encourages physical therapists to increase or review their areas of knowledge and training. Therefore, students who are not matriculated in the DPT program are permitted to enroll in graduate courses at the 700 or 800 level. It is not necessary for a special status student to provide letters of recommendation or pay the required application fee for admission into the graduate division. Priority for enrollment for all courses goes to those students who are officially admitted into the graduate division. Students may enroll only with written permission of the associate dean.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy, the candidate must:

• Comply with all general requirements of Widener University relating to the governance of graduate programs.
• Complete all the degree requirements within a total of three calendar years from the date of matriculation, unless otherwise given permission by the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee to extend the time.
• Complete at least 120 credits of approved graduate course work (including transfer credit and advanced standing credit).
• Successfully complete all clinical practice courses.
• Have a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or better.
• Pass all laboratory exercises and examinations.
• Pass the comprehensive examination.

Please note that a waiver of any requirement for the degree must be approved in writing by the associate dean.

Transfer Credit

Students who are admitted to the DPT program may request to transfer a maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate course work completed in a related discipline for advanced standing in the program. Fifteen credits of equivalent work in another CAPTE accredited program may be transferable after review by the faculty and the associate dean. To be accepted for transfer credit, graduate courses must be recent (within two calendar years) and indicate a high degree of scholarship (grades of A or B). Students wishing to transfer credit must first apply in the usual cycle of admissions and must meet all other requirements for admission. An evaluation for transfer credit will not be done prior to the applicant being offered a position in the incoming class through the regular admissions process.