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Career Outlook

After earning your Doctorate of Physical Therapy, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:
 

• Acute Care Hospital-Based Facilities
• Sports Medicine Centers
• Research Institutions
• Pediatric Facilities
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Transitional Care Units
• School-based Facilities
   

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 14% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2023 was $101,020.
 

General Notes

• A minimum of 123 credits are required for graduation.
• Credits earned for COM 100 and MAT 100 do not count toward the 123 credits required for graduation; however, COM 100 students may petition for elective credit.
• Where appropriate, courses required for the major can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. However, the credits earned for these courses are applied to either Gen Ed requirements or the major, not both.
• Paths of Knowledge coursework may count towards major or minor requirements, but may not fulfill a second Mid-Level Liberal Arts Exploration requirement.
• Students are expected to follow the catalog requirements for General Education, the major, and additional requirements.
• A minor or second major within the areas listed under Paths of Knowledge automatically fulfills that area of the Gen Ed requirements.
   

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the or . To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.
 

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. 91����’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.
 

Policies and Procedures

Read the Healthcare Science Policies & Procedures Handbook.
 

Experiential Learning Opportunities

91���� offers performance-based physical therapy education, which focuses on the practical application of knowledge and the development of clinical skills ensures that graduates will be prepared to have an immediate impact on the lives of others. Numerous service-learning opportunities are provided early and often and include interprofessional educational experiences with students from other programs.

Faculty have extensive clinical experience and continue to practice and conduct meaningful research within their varied areas of clinical specialization. Local clinical experts support the coursework by imparting their areas of specialized knowledge and skill to the students. The Program’s NPTE passage rate, Graduation rate and Employment rate are high and meet accreditation standards. Opportunities for interdisciplinary educational experiences with students from other programs — including occupational therapy, nursing, athletic training and medical imaging — provides students with an appreciation for the unique contribution of each discipline within the healthcare team.

Active community engagement and service learning through various initiatives in the nearby city of Reading enables students to appreciate their role within the community and their responsibility to use their skills in the service of others. DPT students are required to participate in 36 weeks of full-time clinical experiences (internships). These experiences provide context for learning and develop students who demonstrate evidence-based clinical performance.

Students participate in real-world learning experiences featured in the program’s “clinic without walls” model, providing physical therapy care under the direction of licensed physical therapists for community members in a variety of formats. Such experiences include:

• Providing PT care during classroom laboratory experiences.
• Providing wellness-related services through collaboration between the DPT Program and other organizations such as Reading Housing
  Authority, Tower Health (Rise and Shine and Rock Steady Boxing), Walk with Ease and Matter of Balance.
• Providing PT care at the DPT student-managed Health & Wellness Center at Liggett Avenue, which is located at the Berks Community
  Health Center (BCHC) in the Oakbrook section of Reading.
• Community/university service and advocacy events like the BCHC Community Health Fair, Legislative Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, and Interprofessional education experiences with nursing and athletic training.
   

Accreditation Statements

• The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at 91���� is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: .

  For more information regarding the process of accreditation, please contact the:

  Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
  Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
  Phone: 703-706-3245
  Email: accreditation@apta.org

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about 91����’s Healthcare Science program contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Healthcare Science Program Director Thomas Porrazzo at 610-796-8311 or tom.porrazzo@alvernia.edu. (Faculty members involved with the Doctor of Physical Therapy program can be found on the DPT program page.)