Doctor of
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Functional Movement to Improve Quality of Life
JUNE 2026 START • 30 MONTHS (8 SEMESTERS) • COHORT MODEL
Imagine helping a patient recover mobility after a stroke or rebound from a painful sports injury. Physical therapists (PTs) work collaboratively with doctors, surgeons and healthcare providers to develop treatment plans for preventive, rehabilitative and functional patient care. JWU Providence’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program trains the next generation for entry-level clinical practice in this growing field.
Building upon JWU’s expertise in healthcare, wellness and nutrition, this 8-semester, full-time program prepares graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and to practice as doctors of physical therapy. Over the course of the program, learn to effectively develop and implement a PT exam, diagnosis, prognosis and care plan.
With 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE), service work, and a research capstone, JWU’s DPT curriculum will help you gain a versatile skillset that can be applied to virtually all facets of PT, including outpatient therapy, inpatient rehabilitation and home health services.
Admissions is contingent upon meeting the technical standards for this program. Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. For more information, visit the Catalog’s Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.
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What Makes JWU’s Doctorate in Physical Therapy Unique?
As the second program in the state and the only program in northern RI, JWU’s DPT program takes advantage of Rhode Island’s economic strengths in health services and education.
The DPT program is housed in the Bowen Center for Science and Innovation, an applied learning hub where you will work collaboratively with students from the College of Health & Wellness (COHW), including those in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, dietetics and applied nutrition, exercise and sports science, health science and public health.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects this field to grow by 15% through 2032 (an average of 13,900 projected annual job openings). As of May 2024, the BLS reports $101,020 as the median pay for physical therapists.
Interdisciplinary work is built into the curriculum, including:
- Exploring the preventive benefits of nutrition with the College of Food Innovation & Technology (CFIT).
- Assessing movement and working conditions in CFIT kitchens as a way to reduce workplace injuries.
- Working with hospitality students to refine their ability to interpret communication cues.
- Providing adaptive sport exercise and recreation offerings to individuals with disabilities, including wheelchair rugby and sled hockey.
Physical Therapy Labs
Housed within JWU’s Bowen Center, the DPT program utilizes a range of customized labs and spaces, including:
- Two dedicated physical therapy labs
- Simulation labs:
Hospital room, ICU and emergency room
Labor and delivery rooms
Home setup with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom - Cadaver lab
- Pediatric lab
- Human performance lab with Olympic lifting platforms and Biodex isokinetic devices
- Assessment lab featuring human physiology testing equipment, including the BODPOD, a motion-capture system, Quark Metabolic Cart, Robotic Cycle Ergometer and a 25 mph/25° incline treadmill
SEMESTER 1
- Patient Safety & Mobility
- Exercise Physiology & Wellness
- Foundations for Physical Therapy Practice
- Foundations of Evidenced‐Based Medicine
- Anatomy
SEMESTER 2
- Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development I
- Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal System I
- Pathophysiology
- Pain Neuroscience
- Research Seminar I
SEMESTER 3
- Motor Control
- Musculoskeletal System II
- Psychosocial Theory & Practice
- Essentials of Rehabilitation Technology
- Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum I
- Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Integumentary Examination & Treatment
- Health Promotion & Wellness
SEMESTER 4
- Neuroanatomy for the Physical Therapist
- Service Learning
- Neurological Examination & Treatment
- Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum II
- Research Seminar II
SEMESTER 5
- Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development II
- Healthcare Management
- Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum III
- Physical Therapy for Genitourinary Health
- Comprehensive Skills Review & Qualifying Examination
- Professional Issues in Physical Therapy
SEMESTER 6
- Clinical Education Experience I
- Diagnostic Imaging
SEMESTER 7
- Clinical Education Experience II
- DPT Capstone
SEMESTER 8
- Clinical Education Experience III
- Licensure Review & PEAT
Review the full curriculum in the JWU Catalog:
Our Expert Faculty
Our highly-experienced DPT faculty have an average of two decades of clinical experience, as well as involvement in such organizations as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), among others.
Interim Program Director & Associate Professor
Schaumberg’s research has been accepted for presentation internationally and nationally. Her research interests focus on assessment practices when evaluating individuals with chronic pain, strategies for improving the pain and trauma literacy of physical therapists, and equity in PT admissions practices.
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education
In addition to more than 20 years of experience treating orthopedic and vestibular conditions, Clancy serves as an assistant professor and director of clinical education at JWU.
Associate Director and Associate Professor
Laferrier’s areas of academic expertise include biomechanics; poly-trauma and amputation rehabilitation; adaptive sport, exercise, and recreation (SER); Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS); and diagnostic imaging.
Johnson & Wales University is dedicated to recruiting students from local colleges and universities through articulation agreements. JWU maintains articulation agreements with the following institutions to provide a pathway for undergraduate students to matriculate into this program:
- Albertus Magnus College
- Assumption University
- Bridgewater State University
- Dean College
- Providence College
- Roger Williams University
- Stonehill College
Program Contact
Elke Schaumberg, PT, MS, DPT, Ph.D.
DPT Interim Program Director and Associate Professor
College of Health & Wellness
401-598-1385
Email
Effective October 29, 2024, Johnson & Wales University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 401-598-1375 or contact us by email.
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
