Doctor of Physical Therapy - Residential

Division Director: Megan Donaldson PT, PhD, FAAOMPT

Physical therapy is a dynamic health care profession. Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education and provide care across the lifespan to anyone of any ability. PTs can identify, diagnose, and treat movement problems. Pain-free movement is crucial to quality of life, ability to earn a living, and independence. PTs design treatment plans for each person's individual needs, challenges, and goals. PTs help people improve mobility, manage pain and other chronic conditions, recover from injury, and prevent future injury and chronic disease. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, private offices, rehabilitation centers, community health centers, research centers, industry, sports medicine clinics, and as educators and researchers in colleges and universities.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) program prepares individuals to evaluate patients/clients with impairments that affect the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, integumentary or other body systems that cause movement dysfunction. Physical therapists then implement evidence-based treatment programs that minimize or prevent these impairments, improve and restore movement, and enhance function and quality of life.

The three-year DPT program incorporates foundational learning with clinical coursework, clinical reasoning, community-based service, and interprofessional learning embedded throughout. The curriculum incorporates 40 weeks of clinical practice that allow students to further develop their knowledge and skills in a clinical environment.

Accreditation

The MUSC Doctor of Physical Therapy program at MUSC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Curriculum

Year 1, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

PT705	Movement Science	3
PT709	Foundational Skills Lab	2
PT714	Evidence-based Practice	2
PT738	Professional Formation	2
DRS700	Human Anatomy	4
Semester Total		13

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

PT703	Applied Physiology and Nutrition and Therapeutics	6
PT707	Musculoskeletal I	5
PT752	Motor Development	2
DRS701	Neuroscience	4
Semester Total		17

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

PT708	Musculoskeletal II	5
PT713	Functional Mobility: Acute Care	1.5
PT716	Biomechanical Analysis	1.5
PT748	Pharmacology	1
DRS702	Clinical Pathophysiology	3
Semester Total		12

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

PT773	Neuromuscular I	6
PT775	Musculoskeletal III	5
PT776	Cardiovascular & Pulmonary	4
IP711	IP Foundations & TeamSTEPPS	1
Semester Total		16

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

PT710	Adult Development & Aging	3
PT717	Differential Diagnosis	2
PT728	Imaging and Electrodiagnosis	2
PT746	Prevention & Population Health	2
PT774	Neuromuscular II	5
IP###	IP Concentration Course of Choice	1
Semester Total		15

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

PT759	Healthcare Delivery & Management	3
PT762L	Clinical Reasoning and Practice Lab	1
PT769	Management of Complex Patients	3
PT771	Advanced Therapeutic Interventions	3
PT779	Pediatrics	4
Semester Total		14

Year 3, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

PT740	Clinical Practicum I	10
PT741	Clinical Practicum II	10
Semester Total		20

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

PT742	Clinical Practicum III	12
Semester Total		12

Curriculum Total

119

Approved Electives

• PT695, Community-based Practice, 1-3 credit hours
• PT720, Owning a Private Practice, 1 credit hour
• PT729, Special Topics: Pediatrics, 1 credit hour
• PT734, Manual Therapy: Upper Body, 1 credit hour
• PT735, CSCS Exam Preparation, 0.5 credit hours
• PT736, Sports Rehabilitation Outreach II, 1 credit hour
• PT737, Trigger Point Dry Needling, 1 credit hour
• PT758, Manual Therapy: Lower Body, 1 credit hour
• PT768, Special Topics: Physical Therapy, 1-3 credit hours
• PT790, Sports Rehabilitation Outreach I, 1 credit hour
• PT800, Physical Therapy Education I, 1-3 credit hours
• PT801, Physical Therapy Education II, 1-3 credit hours
• PT802, Physical Therapy Education III, 1-3 credit hours
• PT810, Physical Therapy Research I, 1-3 credit hours
• PT811, Physical Therapy Research II, 1-3 credit hours
• PT812, Physical Therapy Research III, 1-3 credit hours