The rigorous Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Saint Joseph’s University focuses on courses that cover physiology, fitness, health and management while acquiring and applying communication, leadership, planning and organizational skills.
BS to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Physical therapy is a thriving area of healthcare and one of its most rewarding and fulfilling careers. Saint Joseph’s BS in Exercise Physiology/Health Science to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) prepares you to develop as a skilled practitioner with a fast path to graduation, a full-time clinical education and a wealth of clinical experiences, including pro-bono and collaborative clinics. Earn two degrees — a BS in exercise physiology or health science and a Doctor of Physical Therapy — in under six years without having to re-apply by meeting all academic criteria and program requirements.
You can enter this accelerated PT program as an incoming first-year student through our direct-entry admission pathway or as a transfer student. If you already hold a bachelor's degree or higher and have completed all requisites, you can enter the DPT program as a graduate student.
What Sets Our Program Apart
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Students seeking a doctorate degree in physical therapy can earn a bachelor’s in exercise physiology or health studies and DPT through our direct-entry admission option without needing to take GREs or reapply for the graduate program.
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Our condensed five and a half year curriculum allows you to enter the field faster, and our students typically receive several job offers before graduation. Because you graduate in December instead of the typical May date for other PT programs, you’ll have a head start on board exams, additional certifications, advanced training opportunities and the job market.
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At Saint Joseph’s, you’ll learn in many different environments — not just in the classroom. Starting in your first professional year, you’ll be exposed to patients and clients through our integrated clinical experiences and pro-bono clinics. In the latter part of the program, you'll participate in three full-time 12-week clinicals nationwide under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
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Our faculty includes doctorally trained, clinically certified specialists who represent just about every practice area. And they practice what they teach — most are expert clinicians and many engage in rehabilitation research. All of them are outstanding instructors invested in your success.
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State-of-the-art research facilities housed inside Glasser/Woodland Hall — including the physical therapy department’s Patricia Leahy Motion Analysis Lab and BTE Technologies™ Rehabilitation Research Lab — give you a taste of working in a professional healthcare setting.
You’ll get to engage in physical therapy research — a rarity among PT programs today. Our faculty of active practitioners conduct research in areas such as biomechanics, oncology, pediatrics and treatment interventions for those with orthopedic, neurologic, and vestibular dysfunction.
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The simulation labs on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Interprofessional Education Complex provide spaces for students to learn advanced clinical practice skills. Multiple ProBono clinics allow students to provide evidence based care to patients in underserved communities. Students are able to apply knowledge from courses in the curriculum to patient care in a practice setting while being mentored by faculty.
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You’ll learn to assess and treat the body as a series of integrated systems through a curriculum built on the Movement System Framework. Endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association, Saint Joseph’s University is among the first institutions in the country to adopt this framework, which assesses how all systems in the body (i.e. neuro, skeletal, vestibular, muscular, etc.) interact to produce movement.
Top 5 Reasons to Study Physical Therapy
- PT is a growing, stable field. The field is projected to grow 21% between 2020 and 2030, and the median annual salary for physical therapists was $97,720 in 2022.
- You’ll make a difference. As a physical therapist or movement specialist, you’ll get to help people of all ages increase their mobility through evidence-based techniques.
- PT is a flexible career path. You can choose to work on your own or in a clinic, hospital or office setting, or move into other careers in government, healthcare, rehab or research. See where our graduates go.
- You can specialize. You can deepen your practice and boost your PT career by pursuing a specialty certification in areas like sports medicine, orthopedics, neurology and women’s health.
- You’ll have more job satisfaction. Physical therapy is also one of the best healthcare jobs — and best jobs overall — in the U.S.
Program Details
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Curriculum: Physical therapists are movement specialists. Our curriculum, clinical experiences and research opportunities reflect this premise. You’ll investigate how the body’s many systems work together to support healthy movement. We are among the first schools to adopt the movement system model endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
We also structured our DPT curriculum so you can finish your education sooner than other programs — 5.5. years for incoming first-year students — without sacrificing quality. The curriculum also offers continuous learning with thoughtful breaks interspersed to keep you fresh.
Coursework requirements: Coursework during your first three undergraduate years covers the natural and physical sciences, humanities and social sciences, giving you a solid foundation in clinical reasoning, communications and writing. Your professional years include three 12-week clinical experiences — an ideal timeframe to grasp essential skills or master new ones.
Information for the Academic Catalog for Physical Therapy can be found in Saint Joseph's Academic Catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum, prerequisite courses and other requirements.
Information and Resources
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The tuition for direct-entry BS to DPT students entering fall 2023 is as follows.
Direct-Entry Pre-Professional
- $51,140 - Year 1
- $51,140 - Year 2
- $51,140 - Year 3
Direct-Entry Professional
- $45,750 - Year 4
- $45,750 - Year 5
- $30,500 - Year 6
*Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our tuition & fees page for more information. Additionally, prices are subject to change annually.
Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.
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The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If you need to contact the program/institution directly, please call 215.596.8677 or email lpackel@sju.edu.
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Physical therapists must be licensed to practice, and must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. This exam does not need to be taken again for licensure transfer to another state, provided that one's score satisfies the scores for each individual state in which one practiced. The only requirement to take the examination is graduation from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited program, such as the University's DPT program.
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For Saint Joseph’s graduates who responded to the alumni survey, 100% were employed within one year of passing the licensure examination (2022-2023).
The 2-year graduation rate is 95.8% (2022-2023).
The two-year ultimate pass rate on the national licensure examination was 94.9% (2022-2023). The first-time pass rate was 78.6% (2022-2023). To access further details on pass rates, visit this link on the FSBPT website.
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Visit the Department of Physical Therapy website to view the technical standards that apply to all clinical training students in Saint Joseph’s DPT program.
Why Study Physical Therapy in Philadelphia?
Here in Philadelphia, you’re in the heart of the health science industry, surrounded by more than 250 medical facilities. As a physical therapy student at Saint Joseph’s University, you’ll benefit from our partnerships with local clinics and work alongside other students and faculty members to provide pro bono PT services to Philadelphia communities. The city’s diverse population and rich healthcare employment opportunities offer a unique environment to gain PT experience in a variety of settings — from large medical systems with acute-care specialty clinics to inpatient and subacute rehabilitation centers.
BS/DPT Admissions Information
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Admissions Requirements
If admitted as a direct-entry student, you’ll be able to identify physical therapy as your major field of study. No additional application is required to enter the professional phase of the program. To maintain guaranteed admission into the professional phase of the physical therapy curriculum (Year 4), you must:
- Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a science/math GPA of 3.00 by the end of the fall semester of your third undergraduate year.
- Maintain that minimum GPA of 3.00 through the spring semester of your third undergraduate year.
Physical therapy students must consistently demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, the physical, emotional and cognitive essential functions and technical standards that are necessary for successful completion of the physical therapy program at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Required High School Coursework
Mathematics:
- 2 years of algebra
- 1 year of geometry
- Higher-level math encouraged in senior year (trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus)
Science:
- 3 years of science with a lab
How to apply
- Apply online. Applications are free.
- Submit your official high school transcripts from all high schools you’ve attended. A list of senior year coursework must be present.
- Complete one of the Common Application essay prompts.
- Submit a letter of recommendation. Up to two additional letters may be submitted.
- Submit SAT/ACT scores. These are optional, but you can submit them if you feel they’ll strengthen your application.
All materials can be uploaded via the Saint Joseph’s Application or the Common Application. If you plan to submit SAT and/or ACT scores, they should be sent directly from Collegeboard and/or ACT. You can also submit your application materials by mail, fax or email.
Application deadlines
Our application deadlines are as follows:
- Early Action: November 15
- Early Decision I: November 15
- Early Decision II: January 15
- Regular Decision: March 1
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Admissions Requirements
If you’ve taken college coursework but have not received a bachelor’s degree, you may transfer into the pre-professional years (Years 1-3) of the BS/DPT program. The level in the curriculum to which you’ll be accepted depends on the prerequisite courses you’ve completed. You may only transfer into the fall semester.
All conditions regarding guaranteed admission into the professional program (Year 4) also apply to transfer students. To maintain guaranteed admission into the professional phase, you must pass all prerequisite courses with the minimally acceptable grade and have a cumulative and science/math GPA of 3.00 by the end of the fall semester of your third undergraduate year.
Physical therapy students must consistently demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, the physical, emotional and cognitive essential functions and technical standards that are necessary for successful completion of the physical therapy program at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Recommended coursework
Please contact us for a list of prerequisite courses that you need to complete preceding enrollment at Saint Joseph’s. This list will be available on the Academic Catalog in mid-June. You can also visit our Transfer Admissions page for information about transfer credit equivalencies or contact us if you have any questions.
How to apply
- Submit the transfer student application online
- Submit official college transcripts from each institution attended
- Submit official final high school transcript with date of graduation
- Submit Transfer Registrar’s Report — must be sent directly from the most recent college or university attended.
- Learn more about Saint Joesph’s transfer application process
Application deadlines
If you’re applying as a transfer student, there is no deadline to apply. Transfer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis year-round.
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If you’re applying as an international student, you must provide proof of English Language Proficiency and Certification of Finances along with your application. Check the Undergraduate Admission page for more information about the application process and additional requirements for international students.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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There is no difference between a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapist) and a PT (physical therapist). You must have a DPT from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam to be able to practice as a PT in the U.S.
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Doctors of physical therapy (DPT) are health professionals who work with other members of the healthcare team to ensure optimal health and function of patients and clients. They provide interventions that help people of all ages as they recover from physical and activity limitations resulting from injury or disease.
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Yes. After earning a DPT and becoming a licensed physical therapist, you have the choice of working on your own or in a clinic, hospital or office setting.
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Physical therapists make a median annual salary of $91,010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This salary may be higher for high-paying specialties, including:
- Sports medicine
- Cardiovascular
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
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The two-year graduation rate is 95.8% (2022-2023).
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The two-year ultimate pass rate on the national licensure examination was 94.9% (2022-2023). The first-time pass rate was 78.6% (2022-2023). To access further details on pass rates, visit this link on the FSBPT website.
Explore Other Degree Programs
Master the skills and expertise required to practice as an occupational therapist through Saint Joseph’s accelerated occupational therapy program. Enter the program as a first-year undergraduate student to earn a BS in health science (BSHS) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) in just six years.