Doctor of Physical Therapy - Residential

Curriculum

Curricular Threads

The curriculum has been intentionally designed around structured educational threads within the broader curriculum that guide students through a specific area of study or professional development. These threads provide a clear content sequence where courses build on one another, ensuring students develop foundational knowledge before advancing to more complex concepts. This structured progression helps students systematically acquire the necessary knowledge and skills.

Curricular Focus

The residential DPT program has strong educational experiences in foundational sciences. During early learning, key curricular focuses are identified. These focuses represent knowledge and skills essential in PT practice. Examples of curricular focuses are the functional application of anatomy, the use of evidence in practice and interprofessional collaboration. They are intentionally woven into subsequent curricula, supporting students in becoming master adaptive learners. Additionally, the program offers a variety of electives, allowing students to explore and specialize in areas of personal and professional interest. This flexibility enables students to tailor their education to their career goals and develop expertise in specific areas of concentration.

Approved Electives

• PT695, Community-based Practice, 1–3 credit hours
• PT720, Owning a Private Practice, 1 credit hour
• PT729, Special Topics: Pediatrics, 1 credit hour
• PT734, Manual Therapy: Upper Body, 1 credit hour
• PT735, CSCS Exam Preparation, 0.5 credit hours
• PT736, Sports Rehabilitation Outreach II, 1 credit hour
• PT737, Trigger Point Dry Needling, 1 credit hour
• PT758, Manual Therapy: Lower Body, 1 credit hour
• PT768, Special Topics: Physical Therapy, 1–3 credit hours
• PT790, Sports Rehabilitation Outreach I, 1 credit hour
• PT800, Physical Therapy Education I, 1–3 credit hours
• PT801, Physical Therapy Education II, 1–3 credit hours
• PT802, Physical Therapy Education III, 1–3 credit hours
• PT810, Physical Therapy Research I, 1–3 credit hours
• PT811, Physical Therapy Research II, 1–3 credit hours
• PT812, Physical Therapy Research III, 1–3 credit hours

Clinical Education

Students will gain experience in various settings throughout the program based on their interests. Before the clinical practicum experience, students will engage in immersive clinical experiences and observations as volunteers in community activities like the CARES Therapy Clinic, medical mission trips and more. During clinical practicums, students engage in direct patient care supervised by a licensed physical therapist.

Students entering the program in the 2025-2026 academic year or later complete three clinical practicums throughout the program. The clinical practicums begin in the fall of year three with two 10-week practicums and a full-time 12-week clinical placement in the last semester of the program.

Where do students go?

Our program has a significant number of clinical placement contracts throughout the country. Students should be prepared to complete clinical practicums in locations other than where they live and anticipate traveling to other locations across the U.S., including South Carolina. Like other programs, students must secure their housing for clinical education placements, and this should be accounted for in the cost of living during these final two semesters of the program.

Our students and faculty are dedicated to making a difference both locally and globally. The nationally recognized MUSC CARES Therapy Clinic, a student-led, pro bono clinic, offers occupational, physical and speech therapy to underinsured and uninsured members of the Charleston community. Under the supervision of faculty and licensed providers, students develop treatment plans for patients with both neurological and orthopedic conditions. This vital service operates two nights a week throughout the academic year, providing invaluable real-world experience.

Become a Clinical Instructor

You can help prepare future physical therapists and make an impact on our profession. The Division of Physical Therapy is always looking for new opportunities to provide clinical instruction for our students. We are currently seeking clinical instructors for all inpatient settings and outpatient neurorehabilitation, as well as specialty areas such as women’s health, vestibular, wound care, pediatrics, etc.

Benefits of Being a Clinical Instructor:

• Access to the MUSC medical library.
• Ability to attend scheduled classes in our entry-level program
• Consultation with faculty on complex patient problems or research interests
• Early access to CEU courses offered by the college
• Earn up to six contact hours (.6 CEUs) every two years. Clinical instructors shall receive one (1) contact hour for every 160 hours of clinical internship, limited to a maximum of six (6) contact hours per instructor per biennium. Students must be enrolled in CAPTE accredited or eligible DPT or PTA programs. Clinical instructors must be credentialed by APTA to receive clinical continuing education credits. Verification of the clinical supervision agreement with the student’s educational program and a log reporting supervision hours is required as evidence of compliance. A certificate of completion from the educational program may also be used as evidence of compliance.

If you are interested in becoming a clinical instructor, please contact either Brigid Lucas, kelleybr@musc.edu | 843-876-6272 or Caitlin Keller kellerca@musc.edu. You may also contact us by completing the Clinical Instructor Interest Form.

Research Opportunities

You’ll have the chance to work at the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions, focusing on neuro-rehabilitation and the prevention of adverse health outcomes. Engage in faculty-led projects, guided by experts at the forefront of their fields and contribute to pioneering studies shaping PT's future. This is more than just research. It's your opportunity to innovate, lead and make a lasting impact on health care. To learn more about the physical therapy research conducted at MUSC, visit the Physical Therapy Research page.

Prerequisites

* Indicates basic science coursework and must be courses for science majors.

** Anatomy and Physiology may be taken separately or may be combined and taken as two, four-hour courses. However, if you start a two-part course sequence, you must complete both parts (Anatomy and Physiology I & II). If only a credit hour course in anatomy is offered, a comparative anatomy or kinesiology course is recommended in addition to the human anatomy course. Also, Vertebrate Anatomy is accepted if Human Anatomy is not offered. Exercise physiology will not meet the Human Physiology requirement.

Additional Notes

• Visit the Frequently Approved Prerequisites to learn more about acceptable prerequisite coursework.
• Dual enrollment courses are accepted for prerequisite coursework so long as the course appears on your college transcripts.
• Advanced Placement credits are accepted for prerequisite courses. Submit your official scores report demonstration a score of 3 or higher.
• We do not accept transfer of credit or credit for experiential learning. Applicants do not receive credit for previous coursework and/or experience.

Frequently Approved Prerequisites

Before applying, it's essential to ensure that any prior coursework meets the admissions requirements. MUSC provides a helpful reference list of frequently approved prerequisite courses to guide you in understanding which classes may satisfy your program's requirements. To explore the list, visit our Frequently Approved Prerequisites page.

Application Process

The following process outlines how and when your materials will be reviewed.

1. Submit the APTA PTCAS application as early as possible. After fee payment and official transcripts are received, it usually takes four to six weeks to process and verify the application. The application must be verified by the application deadline to be eligible for review.
2. Complete the MUSC application.
3. Once both applications are complete and the PTCAS application has been verified, your application will be reviewed. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Application Requirements

1. PTCAS Application: The following materials must be submitted through the APTA PTCAS application. You do not need to send any of the following information directly to MUSC.
   
   1. Completed application
   2. GRE Score: Our PTCAS GRE school code is 7338.
   3. Letters of recommendation: One from a physical therapist who supervised you in the clinic and a second from a professor or advisor familiar with your academic ability and accomplishments or from an employer if you have been out of school for several years. No personal references will be accepted.
   4. Log of PT Experience
   5. Official transcripts from all institutions attended
   6. Personal statement
2. MUSC Application: All applicants must submit an MUSC application.

All information above must be received by the deadline to be considered for admission to the program. Without all materials, applications will be incomplete. It is the applicant's responsibility to review the progress of their application to ensure that all application materials have been submitted. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the progress of their PTCAS application on the PTCAS website.

Priority Deadline

The program offers a priority deadline to those applicants who meet the following criteria. All materials including the PTCAS and MUSC supplemental application must be received on or before the deadline date. This priority deadline will begin our application review cycle. We strongly encourage applicants to submit their application and materials on or before this deadline if they wish to receive a decision by the end of December. Please note that any applicants who do not meet the requirements listed below will be considered incomplete and their file will be held for review during the regular deadline review cycle. If your file is rolled over, you must ensure all requirements are met by the regular deadline.

Pathway Programs

The College of Health Professions partners with a number of technical and four-year colleges throughout South Carolina to create streamlined and accelerated opportunities for students interested in pursuing an advanced education at MUSC. To learn more, visit the Pathway & Partnership Programs page to learn more.

Current Pathway Programs

• 3 years at Clemson + 3 years at MUSC
• 3 years at Coastal Carolina + 3 years at MUSC

International Applicants

MUSC welcomes international applicants and offers tailored guidance to support you throughout the admission process. View details at International Applicants.

Cost of Attendance

Disclaimer: The Estimated Total listed above reflects an approximation of educational costs for planning purposes only. Actual expenses may vary based on individual circumstances, program requirements and annual changes in tuition, fees and other costs. The Medical University of South Carolina reserves the right to adjust tuition, fees and other charges at any time without prior notice.

DPT – Residential Financial Fact Sheets

• 8-semester program
• 9-semester program

Scholarships

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means that these scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list the Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit your FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the fall.

Click here to visit our scholarship application system to view a complete listing of MUSC scholarships.

Pass Rates

The success of the residential program’s curriculum is evident in exceptional student outcomes. Our National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) passing rates range from 98-100%, and graduates are well-prepared for physical therapy practice.

The two-year average NPTE pass rate for the class of 2022 and 2023 was 100%.

The following table displays first-time pass rate and overall pass rate of the NPTE by graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Employment Rates

The two-year average employment rate for the class of 2021 and 2022 was 100%.

The following table displays the employment rate for graduates passing the NPTE and seeking employment within six months of graduation.

Competencies

Upon completion of the DPT – Residential program, graduates will be able to:

• Perform effective patient/client management through the determination of PT needs of any individual, designing a plan of care that synthesizes best available evidence and individual preferences, implementing safe and effective interventions and determining efficacy of outcomes.
• Demonstrate professional behavior that is ethical, comprehensive, compassionate and interprofessional in the communication and delivery of services.
• Conduct independent practice with respect to established institutional, state, federal and professional standards.
• Become life-long learners and leaders in the use of research and clinical evidence to expand knowledge and become influential change agents for health care delivery.

Vision

To advance the future of PT through integration of research-based inquiry, ethical practice and interprofessional leadership that enhances human movement and well-being across communities and beyond.

Mission

To prepare evidence-based, ethical, comprehensive and compassionate entry-level physical therapists with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The program seeks to improve the human experience for the citizens of South Carolina and beyond by emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention and movement optimization.

The mission statements for the University, College and Program aim to improve lives beyond those we physically touch [in clinical care] and human life in and beyond South Carolina by being agents of change for the next generation of health care professionals. The DPT program strongly feels that “promotion of health, prevention of disease and injury and the optimization of movement” are critical to the improvements in population health desperately needed in the current health care environment and that physical therapists are uniquely positioned to lead these initiatives.

The DPT program revised its program, student and faculty goals and objectives in 2023 to align with the University, College and Program mission statements. The core faculty wrote the goals to reflect PT education, translation of evidence and contemporary practice.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing innovative ideas, discoveries and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.