Graduate College
Physical Therapy
About the Program
Physical therapists are inquisitive explorers. They collaborate with patients to promote healing through their vast knowledge of anatomy and physiology, finely tuned listening skills and strong motivation to help others.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at St. Catherine University is a highly integrative graduate program that guides your development as a compassionate leader with the expertise to improve lives.
Our graduates take their passion for healing beyond clinical competence. St. Catherine’s physical therapists are highly regarded for their ethics, agile minds, courageous spirits and ability to lead within the complex and diverse landscape of healthcare.
St. Catherine’s DPT curriculum teaches you to think like a physical therapist from the start, so you are well prepared for the complex demands of a rapidly changing healthcare environment. By the time you graduate, you will have worked in clinical settings and on real-world case studies for three years, so you are ready to begin your professional practice at a higher level.
Close-working relationships with professors and clinical faculty are important to your growth. Our faculty are passionate about teaching, and they care about their students as much as they care about instilling high standards of practice. They appreciate that you will be their colleague in a few short years, and they give you the best possible preparation to excel in the field.
Within six months of graduation, 100% of St. Catherine students who pass the physical therapist licensure examination are employed. The leadership development you gain as a student and the active involvement of our faculty in professional and community organizations open doors for you.
Our Curriculum
The 118-credit (eight semesters) DPT program is full-time and is completed in 33 months. Classes meet on our St. Paul campus in a weekday format.
St. Catherine’s curriculum is a national model for teaching physical therapy. Our program breaks away from more traditional physical therapy curricula by integrating basic and clinical sciences within each course. Case studies and hands-on application are central to our DPT program, promoting self-reflection and experiential learning.
DPT students complete one course at a time, integrating multiple layers of classroom and active coursework. Through our unique curriculum, you become adept at formulating and researching pertinent questions and exercising ethical decision-making skills.
St. Catherine’s focus on social justice is top of mind in the DPT program. We believe quality healthcare should be available to all, and we work to promote environments and social structures that support optimal health. Our students participate in service learning in the United States or internationally. This gives you the opportunity to interact with underserved populations and observe how environment, race, economics, social policy and cultural interactions impact health.
Tuition and Fees
The 2024–25 tuition rate for the DPT degree is $13,880 per semester. Additional costs include fees for student services and technology ($330 per term) and books (prices vary by course).
Sample Plan of Study: 33-month program
YEAR 1
September (3 weeks) Intro to Physical Therapist Practice
Sept – Nov (6 weeks) Outpatient Physical Therapy I
Nov – Dec (6 weeks) Acute Care I
Jan. – Feb. (7 weeks) Outpatient Physical Therapy II
Feb – March (6 weeks) Rehabilitation I
April – May (7 weeks) Transitional Care I
June – Aug. (8 weeks) Clinical Education I
YEAR 2
Sept – Oct (5 weeks) Acute Care II
Oct – Nov (5 weeks) Rehabilitation II
Nov. – Dec. (5 weeks) Transitional Care II
Jan – May Research Project I
January (4 weeks) Rehabilitation III
Feb. – March (7 weeks) Outpatient Physical Therapy III
March – May (10 weeks) Clinical Education II
June – July (6 weeks) Pediatrics
July – Aug. (4 weeks) Complex Medical & Trauma Care
YEAR 3
Aug. - Dec. Research Project II
Sept. - Oct. (5 weeks) Advanced Clinical Practice I
Oct. – Dec. (11 weeks) Clinical Education III
January (3 weeks) Advanced Clinical Practice II
Jan – May Research Project III
Feb. – April (11 weeks) Clinical Education IV
May Service Learning
May Ethics and Leadership Summit
How to Apply
Application deadline: December 2 for Fall 2025 enrollment
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have:
• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized, regional accrediting association, or an approved dual-degree plan for completing the bachelor’s degree during the DPT program.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Prerequisite courses in:
o Biology
o Human Anatomy & Physiology
o Chemistry (with lab)
o Physics (with lab)
o Psychology
o Statistics
o Medical Terminology (recommended, not required)
• A minimum of 40 hours of PT-verified observation are required prior to application.
The DPT application (submitted via PTCAS) requires the following materials:
• Admission essay
• Two recommendations
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Official scores from TOEFL or IELTS (if native language is not English)
• Credential evaluation from World Education Services (if college/university coursework was completed outside the U.S.)
Visit our website for detailed application information, or to learn more about the DPT degree: stkate.edu/graduate
This document provides information about graduate studies at St. Catherine University. The information may change at any time. Contact the Office of Graduate Admission to confirm program and application details.
10/2024