7
semesters
DPT Curricula
Our core DPT curriculum, spans basic and applied sciences, leadership, critical inquiry, and patient management to form the foundation for your professional growth.
What Sets Tufts DPT Apart:
- Innovative Pedagogies – Experience an innovative approach that integrates signature pedagogies like team-based and case-based learning, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and accountability.
- Expert Faculty Guidance – Our dynamic faculty, committed to a balanced instructional approach, prepares you not just as a practitioner but as a change agent in health care.
- Cutting-Edge Technology Integration – Benefit from cutting-edge technology and evidence-based teaching methods for optimal online learning.
- Hybrid Learning – Engage in a mix of virtual and on-site learning, encompassing interactive online coursework, eight onsite clinical skill labs, and hands-on clinical education.
- Leadership Preparation – Tufts DPT goes beyond skills, nurturing leaders equipped to tackle the unique challenges of health care.
8
on-site clinical skills labs
31
weeks of clinical education
Understanding the Components of Our Curricula
Our curriculum for physical therapy education is a dynamic blend of virtual coursework, on-site clinical skills labs, and hands-on clinical education, ensuring a holistic and integrated learning experience.
Virtual Coursework
The didactic coursework intricately weaves the complexities of the body’s systems. It offers a holistic understanding crucial for patient care, preparing students to handle diverse health conditions across the lifespan and various healthcare settings. The coursework is delivered in two ways:
- Asynchronous Online Work – Students enjoy flexibility with asynchronous content, including pre-recorded lectures, videos, scholarly readings, podcasts, and active learning assignments.
- Synchronous Online Classes – Faculty engage students in weekly mandatory synchronous sessions, fostering rich discussions, team-based learning, small group discussions, and case-based applications.
On-Site Clinical Skills Labs
During the didactic portion, students will also actively participate in eight immersive on-site clinical skills labs, which take place where the student is enrolled (Boston, Phoenix, or Seattle). The labs serve as dynamic spaces for reinforcing hands-on skills, cultivating effective decision-making, and fostering collaboration among students and faculty. With an intimate 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, these labs offer personalized guidance, ensuring that students receive the practical training necessary for their future roles in physical therapy.
Lab sessions range anywhere from 5-12 consecutive days in length, including weekends, depending on the semester courses, and attendance is mandatory.
Clinical Education
In the last three semesters of the Tufts DPT program, students apply their learning during 31 weeks of clinical education in diverse settings nationwide. This immersive phase ensures students are well-versed in real-world patient care, exposed to various health conditions. To optimize this experience, students should be prepared for travel or relocation based on site availability.
Clinical education is a vital component of every DPT program, providing exposure to diverse practice settings and patients across the lifespan.
Under the guidance of experienced physical therapists, students immerse themselves in real clinical settings and work with real patients. This hands-on experience fosters the development of safe and effective practical skills in all aspects of patient care.
Beyond skill development, clinical environments emphasize teamwork and collaboration. Students become integral members of interprofessional health care teams, enhancing their communication skills, understanding of other professionals’ roles, and contribution to comprehensive patient management. These experiences equip graduates with the expertise needed for success in the dynamic field of physical therapy.
Plans of Study
National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Prep
At Tufts University School of Medicine, we are deeply committed to the success of our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students, not only during their academic journey but also as they prepare for and excel on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).
Below are support available across all Tufts DPT programs to better prepare our students for success on the exam:
- Frequent Practice Exams: Students will take practice exams, including the Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT), to build familiarity and confidence with the NPTE format. The PEAT simulates the NPTE with timed, computer-based, multiple-choice questions designed by experienced clinicians. It provides valuable feedback, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement before the real exam.
- Proactive Support: We have a system in place to offer personalized support when you need it most. Students are automatically referred to a learning specialist if they meet any of the following academic warning criteria:
- Two written assessments below 70% within any semester (weighted at 15% or more of the final grade).
- A GPA of 3.2 or lower at any point in the program.
- Practice PEAT scores below established thresholds (560 in semester 5 and 580 in semester 7). Note: The timing of the PEAT exams may vary by program.
- Optional Pre-Entry Preparation: ADEPT (Accelerated Development of Excellence in Physical Therapy) is an online,12-week pre-entry intensive designed to prepare interested students for the rigors of our accelerated, hybrid programs.