Doctor of
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Functional Movement to Improve Quality of Life
JUNE 2025 START • 30 MONTHS (8 SEMESTERS) • COHORT MODEL
Imagine helping a patient recover mobility after a stroke or rebound from a painful sports injury. Physical therapists (PTs) work collaboratively with doctors, surgeons and healthcare providers to develop treatment plans for preventive, rehabilitative and functional patient care. JWU Providence’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program trains the next generation for entry-level clinical practice in this growing field.
Building upon JWU’s expertise in healthcare, wellness and nutrition, this 8-semester, full-time program prepares graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and to practice as doctors of physical therapy. Over the course of the program, learn to effectively develop and implement a PT exam, diagnosis, prognosis and care plan.
With 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE), service work, and a research capstone, JWU’s DPT curriculum will help you gain a versatile skillset that can be applied to virtually all facets of PT, including outpatient therapy, inpatient rehabilitation and home health services.
What Makes JWU’s Doctorate in Physical Therapy Unique?
As the second program in the state and the only program in northern RI, JWU’s DPT program takes advantage of Rhode Island’s economic strengths in health services and education.
The DPT program is housed in the Bowen Center for Science and Innovation, an applied learning hub where you will work collaboratively with students from the College of Health & Wellness (COHW), including those in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, dietetics and applied nutrition, exercise and sports science, health science and public health.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects this field to grow by 15% through 2032 (an average of 13,900 projected annual job openings). As of May 2022, the BLS reports $97,720 as the median pay for physical therapists.
Interdisciplinary work is built into the curriculum, including:
- Exploring the preventive benefits of nutrition with the College of Food Innovation & Technology (CFIT).
- Assessing movement and working conditions in CFIT kitchens as a way to reduce workplace injuries.
- Working with hospitality students to refine their ability to interpret communication cues.
- Providing adaptive sport exercise and recreation offerings to individuals with disabilities, including wheelchair rugby and sled hockey.
Physical Therapy Labs
Housed within JWU’s Bowen Center, the DPT program utilizes a range of customized labs and spaces, including:
- Two dedicated physical therapy labs
- Simulation labs:
Hospital room, ICU and emergency room
Labor and delivery rooms
Home setup with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom - Cadaver lab
- Pediatric lab
- Human performance lab with Olympic lifting platforms and Biodex isokinetic devices
- Assessment lab featuring human physiology testing equipment, including the BODPOD, a motion-capture system, Quark Metabolic Cart, Robotic Cycle Ergometer and a 25 mph/25° incline treadmill
SEMESTER 1
- Patient Safety & Mobility
- Exercise Physiology & Wellness
- Foundations for Physical Therapy Practice
- Foundations of Evidenced‐Based Medicine
- Anatomy
SEMESTER 2
- Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development I
- Biomechanics
- Spine Exam & Treatment
- Extremity Exam & Treatment
- Research Seminar I
SEMESTER 3
- Orthopedic Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum
- Pain Neuroscience & Psychosocial Wellness for Physical Therapy Practice
- Pathophysiology
- Health Promotion & Wellness
- Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Digestive & Endocrine Anatomy
- Medically Complex Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum
SEMESTER 4
- Professional Issues in Physical Therapy
- DPT Elective*
- Neuroanatomy for the Physical Therapist
- Motor Control
- Neurological Examination & Treatment
- Essentials of Rehabilitation Technology
- Research Seminar 2
SEMESTER 5
- Integrated Clinical Experience & Professional Development II
- Healthcare Management
- Neuro Culmination & Comprehensive Practicum
- Pharmacology for Physical Therapists
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Physical Therapy for Genitourinary Health
- Comprehensive Skills Review & Qualifying Examination
SEMESTER 6
- Clinical Education Experience I
SEMESTER 7
- Clinical Education Experience II
- DPT Capstone
SEMESTER 8
- Clinical Education Experience III
- DPT Elective*
- Licensure Review & PEAT
Review the full curriculum in the JWU Catalog:
*Students are required to take 4 credits in DPT8250: DPT Elective but may take up to 8 credits inclusive of Physical Therapy outreach to underserved populations.
Our Expert Faculty
Our highly-experienced DPT faculty have an average of two decades of clinical experience, as well as involvement in such organizations as the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), among others.
Director of the Physical Therapy Program
In addition to his role as program director, Ullucci currently serves as the chapter treasurer and member of the government affairs committee for RI APTA. In 2023, he was named to the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Hall of Fame.
Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor
As the DPT program’s director of clinical education, Berthelette has focused her efforts on securing a wide variety of unique clinical education sites for our students.
Associate Director and Associate Professor
Laferrier’s areas of academic expertise include biomechanics; poly-trauma and amputation rehabilitation; adaptive sport, exercise, and recreation (SER); Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and diagnostic imaging.
Program Contact
Paul A. Ullucci, Jr., PT, PhD, DPT, ATC, SCS, CSCS
DPT Program Director and Associate Professor
College of Health & Wellness
401-598-1375
Email
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org; is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
Johnson & Wales University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On May 1, 2024, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the [professional/technical] phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in [professional/technical] courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
