Housed in the Duke School of Medicine's Department of Community and Family Medicine, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is consistently ranked among the best training programs in the nation. Each year, 200+ students work with faculty who are actively engaged in exploring clinically relevant research. Students learn from faculty who are working in both basic science research and clinical studies within each of the major movement sciences. Duke's DPT program emphasizes a team-based approach to teaching and learning both in the classroom and in various clinical settings.

Duke DPT's integrated curriculum requires a three-year, full-time commitment resulting in a comprehensive foundation in the science and art of physical therapy. Aligned with the medical school's goals, the DPT program is focused on personalized treatments that help clinicians understand and promote the health of individual patients, not generalized, formula-driven diagnoses and treatments. Classes are taught by the program's diverse faculty and through national and international clinical internships. Learn more about the DPT curriculum.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Duke University has an average graduation rate of 94% for the past 3 years (2009 - 2011), including both voluntary withdrawals and academic withdrawals. Our ultimate pass rate on the national licensing examination for physical therapists, for the same 3-year period, is 100%. The employment rate for our recent graduates is 100%.

Through excellence in teaching, evidence-based clinical practice and cutting-edge research, the DPT program is committed to producing the next generation of leaders in the field of physical therapy.

Admissions Overview

The Duke University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program includes a full-time, three-year curriculum. Only full-time students are accepted and credits from external physical therapy programs cannot be transferred. Over 900 applications are received each year and  state residence does not influence acceptance or tuition costs.

Important Dates

• PTCAS application opens on July 1st
• Early Decision Deadline: August 15th
• Standard Deadline: November 2nd

Benefits of Applying for Early Decision

1. The numbers work in your favor!
• 76% of early decision applicants have been interviewed.
• 84% of those interviewed have been accepted.
2. Less Stress!
• Early Decision applicants are notified of a decision by mid to late September. Applying early takes the extended wait out of the process.
3. You Can't Lose!
• If you are not invited for an Early Decision interview day, your application will be placed back into our general application pool; so you still have an opportunity to be invited for an interview.

Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university at the time of matriculation.
• Application must be submitted via PTCAS.
• Application fee of $50.00 - when the application is received the applicant will receive an email from the Duke DPT Admissions Office instructing them how to pay the application fee.
• Official GRE scores - submitted to PTCAS (the Duke GRE Code=5473 - All official GRE scores must be submitted to this code; otherwise, the Duke DPT Program will not receive your official GRE scores).
• Completion of all prerequisites prior to matriculation.
• 3 letters of recommendation:
  • 1 letter from a professor who has taught the applicant in a collegiate academic setting and can attest to the applicants academic abilities (letters from teaching assistants, lab instructors, academic advisors, etc. will not fulfill this requirement).
  • 1 letter from a licensed physical therapist, preferably a physical therapists the applicant has observed/worked with.
  • 1 letter from someone of the applicant’s choice. This can be a recommendation from a professor, physical therapist, academic advisor, teaching assistants, lab instructor, mentor, etc. Reference letters from family members will NOT be accepted.
• Physical therapy observation hours in a variety of clinical settings (we recommend that applicants have at least 100 hours).
• Positive interview with DPT faculty during an invited visit.

Prerequisites

Please take a moment to review the Duke DPT Prerequisite Overview that gives a detailed description of the prerequisite requirements. click here.

• Biological Science - 6 semester hours (general or specialized biology)
• Human/Vertebrate Anatomy - 3 semester hours
• must be taken within 5 years of matriculation
• comparative anatomy and physiology courses will NOT be accepted
• Human/Vertebrate Physiology - 3 semester hours
• must be taken within 5 years of matriculation
• comparative anatomy and physiology courses will NOT be accepted
• Chemistry - 6 semester hours (one semester of general chemistry & second semester of general or specialized chemistry)
• Physics - 6 semester hours
• Statistics - 3 semester hours
• Psychology - 6 semester hours (general and specialized psychology)
• Social Science & Humanities - 9 semester hours (includes: Ethics, Literature/Writing, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Philosophy, History, Art, Theatre, etc.)

Please contact the Duke DPT Admissions Office with questions: dptadmis@dm.duke.edu

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of this Report can be obtained online or by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708.

Duke University Non-Discrimination Policy

Duke University is committed to encouraging and sustaining a learning and work community that is free from prohibited discrimination and harassment. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, genetic information, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, employment, or any other university program or activity. The university also makes good faith efforts to recruit, employ and promote qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. It admits qualified students to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students.

The university also does not tolerate harassment of any kind. Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are forms of sex discrimination and prohibited by the university. Duke University has designated Dr. Benjamin D. Reese, Vice-President of the Office for Institutional Equity, as the individual responsible for the coordination and administration of its nondiscrimination and harassment policies. The Office for Institutional Equity is located in Smith Warehouse, 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Bay 8, Durham, North Carolina 27708. Dr. Reese's office telephone number is (919) 684-8222 and his email address is ben.reese@duke.edu.

Questions or comments about harassment or discrimination can be directed to the Office for Institutional Equity, (919) 684-8222. Additional information, including the complete text of the harassment policy and appropriate complaint procedures, may be found by contacting the Office for Institutional Equity or visiting its website at: http://www.duke.edu/web/equity/.

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