The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at South College was the first in the country to be offered through a 2-year blended-learning model, presenting a flexible semi-online alternative for students who want to enter the physical therapy profession. The unique curriculum, clinical education program, and post-professional residency collaborations are specifically designed to reduce the cost of DPT education and fast-track your future career in physical therapy.
With an evidence-based curriculum powered by the Evidence in Motion (EIM) Learning Academy, quarterly onsite lab immersion sessions to develop essential hands-on patient management skills, and opportunities for clinical education experiences nationwide, the DPT program allows you to customize your studies to fit in with your professional career.
This program consists of 65 weeks of taught courses across 5+ academic quarters, as well as 31 weeks of full-time clinical education in a variety of settings, including an 8-week experiential portion and a 23-week terminal clinical experience.
As you work toward your future professional goals, review the related information at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To succeed both in the South College DPT program and as a physical therapist in general, students must be hardworking, passionate, understanding, and capable of communicating easily with a wide variety of patients.
Continuing Education
This program is the most advanced of South College’s physical therapy programs. DPT graduates can transition seamlessly into a variety of post-professional residency training programs in specialties like orthopedics, sports, and neurorehabilitation.
South College Nashville is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 01, 2023. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; [email protected]
IMPLICATIONS OF SEPTEMBER GRADUATION The developing physical therapy program at South College Nashville is planning for a charter class graduation in September 2026. Initial accreditation decisions are acted upon at the next regularly scheduled Fall Meeting of the Commission following the on-site visit, which must occur during the penultimate term when the charter class is enrolled. CAPTE will not make exceptions to its Rules to accommodate graduation dates that precede regularly scheduled CAPTE meeting dates, e.g., graduation in the summer. A summer graduation does not allow the initial accreditation decision to occur prior to the graduation date. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) sets the dates for licensing exams. The first sitting for which students with a September graduation date would be in January. Therefore, the timing of the planned graduation date increases the likelihood of a significant financial disadvantage for students due to an approximate six month delay in possible employment as a Physical Therapist.
Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and published via the institution website each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.
I chose South College because it came highly recommended from mentors of mine, the faculty is second to none, and the program fits my ever-changing lifestyle. I also chose it because of the flexibility. My wife is still serving in the United States Air Force on Active Duty, and this means that we move when they tell us to move.
- Shawn Domm, Doctor of Physical Therapy
South College has given me a positive environment where personal and educational growth are encouraged. The hybrid layout and the diverse backgrounds amongst faculty members makes South College DPT unique. Physical therapy is a hands on field and this program does a great job of incorporating hands on learning into the curriculum.
- Rachel Waddell, Doctor of Physical Therapy
While I was looking at programs, South College’s DPT program had a unique atmosphere and was a program that was challenging the traditional brick and mortar DPT education model. It was something I wanted to be a part of, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the top PTs and educators in the country.
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