Physical Therapy DPT

The Army-Baylor University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, an esteemed and nationally-ranked doctoral program, offers a comprehensive 30-month educational journey at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE), located in Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), Texas. This rigorous program is structured into two phases: an 18-month academic phase of graduate didactic coursework at MEDCoE and a subsequent 12-month clinical internship at selected military treatment facilities.

Throughout the academic phase, students engage in a robust curriculum encompassing 124 credit hours designed to equip them with a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills essential for competent physical therapists. This is followed by a hands-on, supervised clinical internship in San Antonio, TX, offering real-world experience in physical therapy practice.

From the second semester of the first year, students begin their clinical experiences, initially through affiliations in various civilian and Army physical therapy clinics, primarily around JBSA. These early clinical exposures, lasting 6-8 weeks, provide initial real-world insight into the practice of physical therapy.

Upon completing the program, students are awarded a Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Baylor University and become eligible for state licensure. Graduates must obtain unrestricted state licensure in physical therapy to maintain the 65B Area of Concentration (AOC). Furthermore, officers will incur a 60-month Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) upon completing the 30-month training program.

Admission to this competitive program is accessed through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application System (PTCAS). Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or be in their final semester of undergraduate study and complete 39 credit hours of prerequisite courses. The program mandates stringent GPA and GRE score requirements, including a minimum 3.25 prerequisite GPA and specific GRE scores. A minimum of 100 observation hours in physical therapy settings is also required.

The Army-Baylor DPT program is about producing highly skilled physical therapists and embodies the values of discipline, leadership, and service intrinsic to Army life. Established and accredited in January 1949, it holds a prestigious position in Army healthcare education. This program represents an unparalleled opportunity for aspiring physical therapists who seek to combine their professional aspirations with the honor and responsibilities of military service.