Physical Therapy
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Program Delivery
Full-time, on-site New Hampshire or Full-time, hybrid Arizona
Locations Available
Manchester, New Hampshire
Goodyear, Arizona
Franklin Pierce offers two full-time program formats, both fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Launch your physical therapy career with our graduate-level program available at locations in New Hampshire (full-time, on-site) and Arizona (full-time, hybrid). Combine hands-on clinical experience with courses on theory, science, and practice. Help people in hospitals, care facilities, outpatient clinics, and other settings restore and maintain optimal physical function. The on-site New Hampshire program is a two-and-a-half-year offering with 38 weeks of clinical work with courses, lectures, and seminars (117 total credits) and small classes and early clinical experience. Our Hybrid program in Arizona, that launched in 2022, offers a two-year program format, blending online learning sessions and intensive, 3-5 day in-person labs at least twice each 12-week term and 30 weeks of clinical work. In both programs, accomplished faculty bring real-world experience and teach hands-on skills in state-of-the-art labs. Our graduates consistently achieve 98-100% pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Licensure Exam (NPTE). The CAPTE-accredited DPT program will prepare you to work in hospitals, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, outpatient clinics, wellness and sports facilities, and private homes.
Request Information
PhysiCAL tHERAPY iNFORMATION SESSION
jOIN US FOR ONE OF OUR INFORMATION SESSIONS -
MonDAY, November 11th – 7:00 PM EST / 5:00PM AZ
Our DPT Program Director, Associate Director of Enrollment, and students from both our Arizona and New Hampshire DPT programs will discuss admission requirements and share valuable tips for enhancing your PTCAS application. We hope you can join us.
What Makes Our Physical Therapy Program Different?
Franklin Pierce offers two full-time program formats, both fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
On-site program in New Hampshire:
- Two-and-a-half-year program
- 38 weeks of clinical work with courses, lectures, and seminars (117 total credits)
- Small classes and early clinical experience
Hybrid program in Arizona:
- New two-year program format introduced in 2022
- Blend of online learning sessions and intensive, 3-5 day in-person labs at least twice each 12-week term
- 30 weeks of clinical work
In both programs, accomplished faculty bring real-world experience and teach hands-on skills in state-of-the-art labs. Our graduates consistently achieve 98-100% pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Licensure Exam (NPTE)
Learn more about our accreditation
Learn more about our in-person Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the Manchester, NH Academic Center
Where can a degree in physical therapy take me?
Who Should Study Physical Therapy at Franklin Pierce?
Physical therapy might be right for you if:
- You have an aptitude for science—especially fields like anatomy and physiology
- You want to provide hands-on patient care and education
- You’re good at motivating diverse people to set and reach goals
- You’re eager to collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other health professionals
The DPT is a graduate program. Most students apply after completing a bachelor’s degree or take advantage of direct-entry options available to Franklin Pierce undergraduates. See admission requirements for more information.
What Do Physical Therapy Students Learn?
Over the course of the program, you’ll become an effective clinician equipped to evaluate evidence, provide compassionate care, and advance the physical therapy profession.
See our curriculum plan to learn how you’ll progress through the program. Note that the Arizona curriculum is being updated to reflect the hybrid program format—essentials stay the same, but specific courses and sequences may change.
View the Professional Behaviors for the 21st Century.
Full-Time On-site New Hampshire
Intro to Professional Development and Patient Education (PTH506): 2 credits
Anatomy (PTH523): 6 credits
Kinesiology (PTH528): 6 credits
Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice I (PTH531): 2 credits
Physiology in Health and Disease (PTH504): 3 credits
Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice II (PTH532): 2 credits
Musculoskeletal System I—Upper Extremity (PTH537): 4 credits
Therapeutic Exercise and Soft Tissue Mobilization (PTH545): 3 credits
Physical Agents (PTH546): 1 credit
Research Methods in PT I (PTH550): 3 credits
Neuroanatomy (PTH508): 3 credits
Motor Control Across the Lifespan (PTH512): 4 credits
Integrated Clinical Experience I (part-time) (PTH517): 1 credit
Clinical Pharmacology (PTH524): 2 credits
Health Promotion and Wellness I (PTH529): 2 credits
Musculoskeletal System II—Low Extremities (PTH538): 4 credits
Health Promotion & Wellness II (PTH534): 1 credit
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy (PTH534): 3 credits
Musculoskeletal System III—Spine (PTH539): 5 credits
Fundamentals of Neuro Rehab (PTH540): 3 credits
Research Methods in PT II (PTH560): 2 credits
Imaging and Diagnostics (PTH630): 2 credits
Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare (PTH516): 3 credits
Integumentary System (PTH544): 2 credits
Clinical Experience II (full time, 8 weeks): 4 credits
Health Practice Management (PTH514): 3 credits
Integrated Clinical Experience II* (PTH527): 1 credit
Neurological Clinical Management (PTH543): 5 credits
Management of Patients with Multisystem Involvement (PTH623): 3 credits
Special Topics* (PTH628): 2 credits
Sports Injury Management and Prevention* (PTH630): 2 credits
Orthotics and Prosthetics (PTH646) 2 credits
Research Methods in Physical Therapy III (PTH650): 1 credit
Spanish for Healthcare* (LS465/565): 2 credits
* Must take two 2-credit electives during the didactic curriculum
Management of the Pediatric and Adolescent Patient (PTH511): 5 credits
Integrated Clinical Experience II* (PTH527): 1 credit
Professional Seminar (PTH610): 1 credit
Management of Patients with Multisystem Involvement II (PTH624): 4 credits
Special Topics* (PTH628): 2 credits
* Must take two 2-credit electives during the didactic curriculum
Clinical Internship I (full-time): 5 credits
Clinical Internship II (full-time): 5 credits
Clinical Internship II (full-time): 5 credits
Full-Time hybrid Arizona
Intro to Professional Development and Patient Education (PTH506): 1 Credits
Anatomy (PTH523): 5 Credits
Kinesiology (PTH528): 5 Credits
Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice I (PTH531): 2 Credits
Physiology in Health and Disease (PTH504): 3 credits
Integrated Clinical Experience (part-time) (PTH517): 1 Credit
Foundations of Physical Therapy Practice II (PTH532): 2 credits
Musculoskeletal System I—Upper Extremity (PTH537): 4 credits
Integumentary System (PTH544): 2 Credits
Therapeutic Exercise and Soft Tissue Mobilization (PTH545): 3 credits
Physical Agents (PTH546): 1 credit
Evidence-Based Practice - Research Methods in PT I (PTH550): 2 credits
Neuroanatomy (PTH508): 4 credits
CV & Pulm PT (PTH534): 3 Credits
Integrated Clinical Experience I (part-time) (PTH517): 0 credit
Musculoskeletal System II—Low Extremities (PTH538): 4 credits
Clinical Pharmacology (PTH524): 2 credits
Health Promotion and Wellness (PTH529): 2 credits
Evidence-Based Practice - Research II (PTH560): 2 Credits*
Psychosocial Issues in HC (PTH516): 3 Credits*
Musculoskeletal System III—Spine (PTH539): 4 credits
Imaging and Diagnostics (PTH620): 2 credits
Motor Control Across the Lifespan (PTH512): 4 credits
* On-line Course
Integrated Clinical Experience (PTH527a): 0 credits
Orthotics and Prosthetics (PTH646): 2 Credits
Neurologic Clinical Management (PTH543): 6 Credits
Evidence-Based Practice – Research III (PTH701): 2 Credits
Management of Patient with Multisystem Involvement I (PTH623): 3 Credits
Health Care Management (PTH514) 3 Credits*
* On-line Course
Integrated Clinical Experience (PTH 527b): 1
Manage of Pediatric/Adolescent Patient (PTH511): 4 Credits
Advanced Ortho Interventions (PTH635): 4 Credits
Manage of Patient with Multisystem Involvement II (PTH624): 4 Credits
Comprehensive Exam P/F (PTH690): 1 Credit
Professional Seminar (PTH610): 1 Credit*
* On-line Course
Licensure Exam Prep (PTH695): 1 Credits *
Clinical Internship (10 wks) (PTH701): 5 Credits
Clinical Internship (10 wks) (PTH702): 5 Credits
Clinical Internship (10 wks) (PTH703): 5 Credits
* On-line Course
student outcomes
Doctor of Physical Therapy Outcome Data for New Hampshire (PDF)
Doctor of Physical Therapy Outcome Data for Arizona (PDF)
financial fact sheets
New Hampshire Financial Fact Sheet 2022-23 (PDF)
Arizona Financial Fact Sheet 2022-23 (PDF)
This data is for the traditional program and does not represent the reduced tuition for the new hybrid program. Please contact our Admissions Representative at DPT Program for more information.)
How Do I Get Into the DPT Program?
Most DPT students enroll after earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Admission requirements include prerequisite courses in the sciences and other fields, 40 hours of physical therapy observation or work. Future DPT students apply through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service—learn more about the application process.
Franklin Pierce undergraduates can receive special consideration for admission to the DPT program. See information about direct-entry programs on the admission requirements page.
