Physical Therapy (DPT)

Helping Everyone Move Forward

Physical therapists transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. The Physical Therapy Program at Seton Hill is dedicated to helping you move forward in this rapidly growing field. As a Seton Hill Physical Therapy Program student, you will enjoy an academic experience - designed by educators and physical therapists - that includes in-depth hands-on clinical practice. At Seton Hill, we educate students to become clinically competent physical therapists who care for the whole patient, and uphold the profession’s core values of accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, professional duty and social responsibility.

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Why Choose Seton Hill’s DPT Program?

Integrated Classroom & Clinical Experience

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Seton Hill University is a 33-month program that integrates clinical experience with classroom learning, service learning and professional development.

Topic-Based Study

You will graduate from Seton Hill with the confidence that comes from knowing you are prepared for success in any type of physical therapy setting. Each term is devoted to a specific theme (the musculoskeletal system, geriatrics, etc.) For each term theme you will delve into the specifics of:

Clinical Reasoning
- Medical and clinical histories, interviewing patients, identifying risks, interpreting relevant tests, diagnosis.
Foundational Science
- Anatomy, physiology & pathophysiology.
Physical Therapy Skills
- Hands-on techniques employed by physical therapists.
Professional Responsibilities
- Ethical, legal & professional considerations & requirements.

Through this method of study, you will create a comprehensive knowledge base and skill set. Plus, you will learn how to identify patterns and connections, think on your feet, and make sound, patient-centered clinical decisions.

Enhanced Clinical Experiences

At Seton Hill, you will participate in frequent clinical education experiences, beginning in your second term. This gives you the unique opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills as you learn them in a variety of supported clinical settings, including:

Hospitals
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Rehabilitation Centers
Outpatient Clinics
Pediatrics
Women’s Health
Sports

Exceptional Facilities & Technology

An Apple Distinguished School, Seton Hill prepares faculty to incorporate the latest technological advances into classroom clinical environments. Small class sizes allow for individualized instruction with state-of-the-art equipment. Doctor of Physical Therapy Program students are provided with a MacBook Air laptop.

Professors with Practical Experience

Physical Therapy faculty are licensed physical therapists and clinical researchers with advanced degrees in the sciences, education and rehabilitation. They have dedicated their professional careers to the education of students in physical therapy.

A Community of Students & Faculty Dedicated to the Health Sciences

Seton Hill is nationally recognized for the strength of its natural and health sciences programs, and for its history of supporting women in the sciences. Here, you will become part of a supportive community that fosters interprofessional collaboration among healthcare providers.

Peer Mentoring, Professional Development & Service Learning

Your learning and professional development will be bolstered by three levels of service activities embedded in the DPT Program at Seton Hill. You will serve:

The physical therapy profession through participation in professional organizations such as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Your fellow students by serving as an academic mentor after you have progressed in your studies
The community through service learning trips in the U.S., Jamaica and Peru.

Strong Career Opportunities

Learn More About Seton Hill's Career Services for Students According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual salary for physical therapists in 2023 was $99,710.

Becoming Licensed

To practice as a physical therapist in the US, you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE- accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.

Accreditation Status

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Seton Hill University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org ; website: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 724-552-4450 or email: DPTProgram@setonhill.edu.