Doctor of Physical Therapy
Messiah University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is designed to prepare competent therapists for meaningful careers as practitioners, educators, administrators and consultants in a variety of professional settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, homecare programs, schools and private practices. Our program is a full-time, residential, 110-credit program located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 12 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg.
Doctor of Physical Therapy overview
Messiah University’s CAPTE-accredited DPT program is designed to successfully prepare you for the National Physical Therapy Examination to become a licensed physical therapist and to serve in a variety of professional settings.
- A 110-credit program that can be completed in eight semesters
- A cohort-learning model
- A state-of-the-art, 37,000 square-foot educational facility custom-designed for physical therapy (PT)
- On-site clinic
- A program that incorporates community service and cultural relevancy
- Interprofessional collaboration and service learning opportunities
- The academic distinction of a nationally ranked, accredited private Christian university--Messiah University is the first institution within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic Region to offer a graduate program in PT.
- Faculty who are experienced Christian educators, PT professionals and accomplished scholars who will take time to mentor you in your education, faith and career
- Networking and partnership opportunities with the local PT community
- Early Assurance Program allows up to 24 high school seniors and 10 Messiah University juniors to obtain a guaranteed acceptance into Messiah University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
- Locked-in per-credit tuition rate for the DPT program
The DPT program is located in Winding Hill, a newly renovated, state-of-the-art educational center. The facility includes an exercise lab, cadaver lab, musculoskeletal lab, pediatric lab and full-size apartment for activities of daily living. Messiah also partners with Phoenix Physical Therapy to offer an onsite PT, OT and AT clinic.
Learn more about the Winding Hill DPT facilities.
Learn more about Phoenix PT, OT and AT at Messiah University Winding Hill.
Messiah University has enrollment agreements with outstanding undergraduate colleges and universities to allow students who complete a bachelor’s degree to move into Messiah’s programs. Students are pre-screened as early as spring of their junior year to ensure they meet admission requirements. Students may pursue any undergraduate degree as long as they successfully complete Messiah University DPT prerequisites.
For more information about these agreements, please contact graduate enrollment at gradprograms@messiah.edu.
- Elizabethtown College
- Grove City College
- Houghton University
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- West Chester University
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Messiah University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia, 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 717-796-1800 ext. 2126 or email dpt@messiah.edu.
View the courses and curriculum for years one, two and three of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Doctor of Physical Therapy tuition cost
Locked-in tuition rate
Our DPT program has a locked-in tuition rate. What you pay per credit during your first semester is what you will pay your last semester. We put the cost of your program upfront so that you can accurately plan for your graduate education.
Deferred billing is available for students with employer reimbursement. For more information contact Student Financial Services at gradfinancialserv@messiah.edu.
Program-specific costs
There will be additional costs to the program not billed through Messiah University (background checks, clearances, course materials, fieldwork expenses, etc.)
Pre-registration deposit
A non-refundable pre-registration deposit of $500 is required for all new, first-time graduate students or re-enrolled graduate students. Your deposit, which confirms your acceptance into our program, will be applied as a prepayment of your first semester’s tuition and fees.
Next steps for admissions
Applying for admission to a graduate program at Messiah University is the first step to making your personal and professional goals a reality.
Applicants must demonstrate satisfactory completion of the undergraduate courses listed below. Admission decisions are based on a review of each application; however, performance in these prerequisite courses is a significant factor. Therefore, a grade of C or better must be achieved in each course, with a minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0.
Biology (8 credits*)
Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits*)
Physics 1 and 2 (8 credits*)
Chemistry 1 and 2 (8 credits*)
Statistics (3 credits)
Psychology (3 credits)
Medical Terminology (1-3 credits)
* Must include a lab
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS REQUIREMENTS
Messiah University is a nationally ranked, accredited private Christian university with a CAPTE-accredited DPT program
Messiah University is the first institution within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic Region to offer a graduate program in physical therapy. Our DPT program is CAPTE accredited.
Integrated learning at on-site facilities
Students have easy, on-site access to observe clients, apply what they’ve learned and increase critical thinking and decision-making skills. In addition to multiple simulation lab spaces, Messiah’s DPT program offers students a unique advantage by partnering with an on-site PT clinic at its Winding Hill location. Phoenix PT, OT and AT at Messiah University Winding Hill serves patients in the surrounding community and provides Messiah students with opportunities for observation and hands-on training.
Early on- and off-site clinical experiences in various settings
Starting in the first year, students will be able to observe patients in a clinical education setting on-site at Phoenix PT, OT and AT at Messiah University Winding Hill and in various off-site site locations.
Collaboration
DPT students have interprofessional collaboration and service learning opportunities. Third-year DPT students may take PT continuing education courses in partnership with NAIOMT.
Service learning through missions
Students will experience community service learning locally and have the opportunity to serve nationally.
Student-faculty research opportunities
Critical inquiry is an essential part of a progressive healthcare profession such as physical therapy. Our program provides collaborative research opportunities between faculty and students with the goal of sharing outcomes—through publication or presentation—to advance the profession.
Continuing education opportunities for DPTs
Messiah University partners with NAIOMT to offer continuing education courses, post-graduate certification, a residency program and a Doctor of Science in PT program (starting August 2023) to our graduates and licensed DPTs.