Combined Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences

The Physical Therapy & Athletic Training Department offers a combined Physical Therapy Doctorate/PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences (DPT/PhD) program for students with exceptional academic promise and strong motivation for a career in research (~6–7 years). Entry-level DPT students who express interest in the combined DPT/PhD program begin mentored research training in a research laboratory early in the DPT program. Students formally apply to the combined DPT/PhD program in their second year. Applicants are required to submit a letter of recommendation from a BU faculty member. Acceptance into the combined program is dependent upon the availability of faculty mentors and funding.

Students are eligible to earn PhD credits as early as the summer of the second year in the DPT. This is achieved through existing PhD courses or enrolling in either RS 910 Directed Reading or RS 911 Directed Study with a PhD faculty mentor. DPT students in the combined DPT/PhD program complete the academic practicum PT 681/781 in their mentor’s laboratory and submit a manuscript related to this work to a peer-reviewed journal, which also fulfills one of the PhD degree requirements.

For requirements and additional information, please refer to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences programs.