About This Program

Admissions Contact

Danielle Clough
Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
dclough@springfield.edu
(413) 748-3729

Program Contact

Kathy Pappas
Admissions Chair
Department of Physical Therapy
(413) 748-3590
kpappas2@springfield.edu

Are you interested in graduate studies leading to a degree in physical therapy?

You're in the right spot. Our Doctor of Physical Therapy program is for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and completed prerequisite requirements in which students earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in three years.

Are you interested in undergraduate studies leading to a degree in physical therapy?

You're looking for our early assurance/undergraduate entry for students completing high school offering a dual-degree program in which students earn a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy in six years. Learn more about our undergraduate entry program.

Resources

Our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program prepares highly qualified therapists for exemplary professional practice in physical therapy. As a student, you’ll become a physical therapist who is able to recognize and meet existing and emerging health care needs. 

The program seeks to give you values and skills for lifelong learning, ethical behavior in practice, and a commitment to the enrichment and promotion of the physical therapy profession. Courses in anatomy, clinical sciences, organization and delivery of health care, research methodology, and statistics enable you to develop advanced problem-solving skills, a broad knowledge in the science and practice of physical therapy, and a clinically-based understanding of administration, research, and evidence-based practice. Part- and full-time clinical experiences in approved clinical education facilities round out the program. 

Our program offers unique experiences as you learn, such as opportunities to:

  • Participate in the on-campus Community Mobility Clinic starting in year one of DPT program
  • Engage in physical therapy service delivery with our campus partner LIVE EVERY DAY
  • Become a student health coach for a participant in our Walk With Ease program
  • Participate in student physical therapy organization activities, which include DPT students mentoring undergraduate students

Best of all? Our program outcomes back us up, so you can feel confident knowing your career is just around the corner.

Hear from our Students

Inspired by her own physical therapist, Nisa Mann decided to follow her passion and study physical therapy at Springfield College.

Nisa shares her experience with her current sports an orthopedics clinical at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, talks about being motivated by faculty, and dives into why she chose Springfield College?

Are you ready for this type of experience?

Prerequisite Information Request More Information

*The Springfield College physical therapy program is primarily an early-assurance/dual-degree BS to DPT program.  As a result, the number of graduate entry candidates we can enroll is limited. Springfield College will not be accepting graduate entry applications for the cohort that will start in 2023.  Please re-visit this page periodically in preparation for possible openings in the cohort that will start in May 2024.

Admissions Requirements

This program enrolls students in the summer only.

Apply through PTCAS

Applications for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must be submitted through PTCAS. We are not currently enrolling new graduate students.

In order to be considered, applications must be complete in PTCAS. Materials required are: Personal Statement, Resume, Official Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, and the GRE.

*The Springfield College physical therapy program is primarily an early-assurance/dual-degree BS to DPT program.  As a result, the number of graduate entry candidates we can enroll is limited. Springfield College will not be accepting graduate entry applications for the cohort that will start in 2022.  Please re-visit this page periodically in preparation for possible openings in the cohort that will start in May 2023.

GRE

This program does not require the GRE. 

International Applicants

All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:

  • Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
  • Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

I. Entry Level Program

A. Required Courses (112 credits)

II. Advanced Program

Students who are part of the early assurance HSPT/DPT program (Advanced Program) are required to enroll in all of the DPT courses starting in their 4th year of study at Springfield College.  A portion of the courses in the 4th year of study which is the first year of the DPT program for those students (500 level courses, total credits = 15) are applied to the student’s undergraduate HSPT transcript.  The remaining 600 and 700 level courses are applied to the graduate DPT transcript and total 101 credits of doctoral study.

A. Required Courses (15 credits + 97 credits)

The 15 credits of 500 level courses are taken in the 4th year of study in the HSPT to DPT program. These required courses for the DPT program will appear as part of the student’s undergraduate study on their transcript.

View the catalog.

Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates must submit applications via PTCAS here. We are not currently enrolling new graduate students.

Please see admissions note above.
Coming 2023

The New Health Sciences Center at Springfield College

The new Springfield College Health Sciences Center will empower transformative approaches to education, career enhancement, service, research, and leadership in healthcare. The Center will build on the success of the School of Health Sciences, and ensure its standing as the leading choice for the finest students, faculty, and staff.

An architect's rendering of the health science center at Springfield College
Physical Therapy Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Springfield College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia, 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 413-748-3590 or email jchevan@springfield.edu

The public or any other stakeholder of the DPT program at Springfield College has the right to make a complaint and receive a response from the institution. In Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards, this is referred to as a “complaint which falls outside the realm of due process.” If you feel that you need to let us know about an experience or encounter with any student, faculty, or staff member who is part of the DPT program, please use this form to provide all the relevant information. Springfield College will act on all program-related complaints in an expedient manner.

American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Member Institution

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Student Employment

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AmeriCorps

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