Our innovative, movement-based approach to physical therapy education and our passionate faculty and staff foster a unique learning environment for students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
The Human Movement System
Our Program in Physical Therapy pioneered the movement-based approach to physical therapy, which focuses on how improper movement leads to injury and impairment. Under our unique physical therapy education model, our students learn to identify and correct the underlying causes of patients’ symptoms.
Surrounded by groundbreaking research, passionate educators, and an internationally renowned academic medical center, students witness advancement in physical therapy and gain the clinical exposure necessary for success in the field.
Integrated Curriculum
Our curriculum is intentionally designed for integration, connecting foundational sciences, clinical skills, and professional development across all courses and experiences. Rather than studying subjects in isolation, learners apply concepts in real-world contexts from the start, building critical thinking and clinical reasoning alongside hands-on practice. This cohesive approach ensures each component of the curriculum reinforces the others, preparing graduates to seamlessly translate knowledge into exceptional patient care.
Clinical Education
Over the course of your three years, you are provided with clinical education in class, part-time clinical experiences, and full-time clinical internships. The program exposes you to patient care in various settings and treatment of a number of conditions.
We encourage you to travel for at least one clinical experience to obtain the broadest possible exposure. We affiliate with hundreds of sites across the United States. Only one-third of our clinical sites are within the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Assessments
In the WashU Medicine Program in Physical Therapy, assessments are designed to support learners in developing the knowledge skills and abilities required for real-world contexts. Using a variety of tools, faculty provide timely, constructive feedback that helps learners identify strengths, address growth areas, and track progress throughout the curriculum. This ongoing, competency-based approach ensures graduates are not only well-prepared but confident and capable in a wide variety of practice settings.
Coaching
At WashU Medicine’s Program in Physical Therapy, every DPT leaner is paired with a dedicated faculty coach from day one to graduation, creating a long-term learner-centered relationship that supports both personal and professional growth. Coaches offer personalized support to help learners set meaningful goals, track progress, and reflect on experiences in the classroom and in clinical settings. Through regular meetings, leaners receive constructive feedback to identify strategies to build on strengths and address growth areas. This individualized approach fosters reflective practice, strengthens clinical decision-making, builds confidence, and prepares graduates to excel in different practice environments, all reflecting our commitment to each leaner’s success from start to finish and beyond.
Research Opportunities
While students in the DPT degree program are not required to generate original research, you can take advantage of opportunities to participate in ongoing faculty research. You may participate in a study or apply for an assistantship.
Additionally, through an NIH-funded pre-doctoral research training grant awarded through the School of Medicine, a limited number of opportunities are available to students who wish to participate in a faculty-guided research project. For further details, please visit the Clinical Research Training Center.