Your Career, Amplified.
From your very first year, you’ll apply patient care skills in real clinical settings, combining hands-on training with classroom learning and lab-based simulations in our state-of-the-art facilities.
With 32 weeks of full-time and part-time clinical experiences built into the curriculum, you’ll graduate with the experience, confidence, and the clinical hours needed to pursue licensure as a physical therapist.
- Email us at dptgrad@hartford.edu
- Attend a Virtual Info Session
Accelerated, in-person learning with expert faculty and a 12:1 student to faculty ratio.
Hands-on experience in your first year–in clinics, hospitals, and rehab centers.
Our Hursey Center provides over 2,800 square feet of combined classroom/lab space for physical therapy students.
Career Outlook
Your career as a licensed physical therapist starts here–in a supportive, CAPTE-accredited program. Clinical placements in both local and national site locations prepares you for exciting careers providing impactful patient care.
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100%
Two-year average ultimate pass rate on the national physical therapy licensing exam (2022, 2023, 2024)
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$98,601
Median salary for physical therapists
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100%
Employment rate within 12 months of graduation
Student Experiences
Ida Hoxha
Doctor of Physical Therapy, '26
Ida Hoxha, DPT '26 is a shining example of how embracing opportunities can lead to remarkable success.
The curriculum in our program is thoughtfully designed to set us up for success. While it’s challenging in the moment, by the time I entered my first clinical rotation, the feedback I received and the confidence I felt reaffirmed that I was more than prepared for this opportunity.
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is a 105 credit program. A sample of courses is listed below.
For more information and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.
Kinesiology
Biomechanics
Physical Therapy Examination and Intervention Skills
Diagnosis/Intervention: Acute Care/ ICP
Diagnosis/Intervention: Musculoskeletal Dysfunction
Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist
Diagnosis/Intervention: Neurological Dysfunction
Gerontology and Geriatric Physical Therapy
Diagnosis/Intervention: Pediatric Populations
Assistive Technology/Disability Studies
Advanced Sports Medicine Seminar
The Business of Healthcare
Diagnostic Imaging
Electives:
Dance Medicine
Pelvic Health
Motion Analysis
Pediatrics
Cultural Competence
Advance Exercise Prescription
Physical Therapy Faculty
Emeriti Association
Admission
The online application and all required accompanying materials must be submitted no later than December 15 to begin study in late May/ early June of the following year. The materials listed below must be submitted with your completed application by the deadline.
Applicants for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Hartford may apply either through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS (to apply through PTCAS, visit ptcas.org), OR through the University’s Graduate Admissions office here.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one from a course instructor or academic advisor, one from a supervisor in a professional or other work capacity, and one from another individual in either capacity.
- Documentation of physical therapy observation hours (10 hours required, 25 hours recommended)
- Accepted students generally have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better; GRE scores of 300 combined (verbal/quantitative).
- Official transcripts for all collegiate-level coursework
- GRE Optional - If you choose to submit test scores, official results of the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) should be forwarded to the University of Hartford if applying through PTCAS using code: 4856; If applying through UHart directly using school code 3436. Visit www.ets.org. Official GRE scores are not required but may be submitted to strengthen the application.
- Non-refundable application fee of $50 for those applying through the UHart application. Those applying via PTCAS should pay the PTCAS processing fee; there is no additional charge.
- International applicants must also submit:
- English proficiency scores: DPT applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language are required to submit scores from one of the following English proficiency tests. Countries that are considered native English speaking can be found here.
- Transcript evaluation: All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member, such as WES, IEE, or SpanTran. If the transcript is written in English, a course-by-course evaluation is still required, as grading systems vary from country to country.
- Please contact the graduate admissions office at gradstudy@hartford.edu with questions.
Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credits from other programs or institutions are not accepted toward the Doctor of Physical Therapy program requirements.
The following prerequisite courses must have been completed at the college level and must be completed with a grade of C or better. That includes university, four-year college, or community college courses. It does not include preparatory courses.
Required Courses:
- Biology: (8 credits) two courses with laboratory
- Human Anatomy: (4 credits) one course with laboratory
- Human Physiology: (4 credits) one course with laboratory. Note: When anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, two semesters (i.e. 8 credits) are necessary to meet the requirements
- Chemistry: (8 credits) general chemistry, two-course sequence with laboratory
- Physics: (8 credits) two-course sequence with laboratory
- Statistics: (3 credits) course to include descriptive statistics, correlation, and introduction to inferential statistics
- Psychology: (3 credits) one course, general
Recommended Courses:
- Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry: (3 credits)
- Exercise Physiology: (3–4 credits) one course
Applicants may have 2 prerequisite courses in progress when you apply.
Applicants must also demonstrate 10 hours of observation in a physical therapy setting.
Health Requirements
DPT health requirements differ from those of the University of Hartford Health Services. Please see the attached document to help you understand how to navigate the complete DPT program health and on-boarding process.
DPT Health and Onboarding Requirements
Technical Standards and Essential Functions
Technical standards and essential functions are related to the essential career abilities and licensing requirements required of physical therapists.
Meet Your Success Counselor
Admission - Graduate
Tuition
The figures below provide prospective students with an estimate of costs associated with the DPT program based on current tuition rates and fees for the 2025 term (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026).* This estimate does not include living expenses.
*Costs are estimated and subject to change based on University fee updates.
Note: As part of Professional Development within our curriculum, membership to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) will be required. The University of Hartford will cover your first year’s dues ($90 for 2024~$80 National Dues, $10 Connecticut Chapter). Renewal of your membership for subsequent years is mandatory and will be the responsibility of each student. We will register you as a group during Orientation week. Additional expenses will vary from student to student and may or may not include rent and utilities, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. More detail about our rates can be found on Graduate Tuition Rates and Fees, Student and Housing Fees, and Miscellaneous Fees pages. Costs for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 terms have not been set at this time.
Year 1 costs
| Cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summer tuition - 9 credits at $694 per credit | $6,246.00 |
| Summer course lab fees | $280.00 |
| Fall/Spring Tuition Flat Rate at $14,850 per semester | $29,700.00 |
| Rehab Tech Fee | $100 for summer, $150 for fall, $150 for spring |
| Course Lab Fees Fall and Spring ($200 for spring/fall) | $400.00 |
| Integrated Clinical Fee | $500.00 |
| Fees and estimated book costs | $3,845.00 |
| Total estimated costs – year 1 | $41,371.00 |
Year 2 costs
| Cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summer Clinical Education Experience DPT 630 | $1,700.00 |
| Fall/Spring Tuition Flat Rate at $14,850 per semester | $29,700.00 |
| Rehab Tech Fee | $150 for fall, $150 for spring |
| Course Lab Fees Fall and Spring ($200 fall, $250 spring) | $450.00 |
| Integrated Community Spring Fee | $500.00 |
| Fees and estimated book costs | $2,095.00 |
| APTA dues | $90.00 |
| Total estimated costs – year 2 | $34,835.00 |
Year 3 costs
| Cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summer - 8 credits at $694 per credit | $5,552.00 |
| Summer Course Lab Fees | $150.00 |
| Fall Tuition Flat Rate | $14,850.00 |
| Fall Course Lab fees | $100.00 |
| Rehab Tech Fee | $150.00 |
| Fees and estimated book costs | $1,503.00 |
| Clinicals DPT 730 and DPT 740 at $1,700 each | $3,400.00 |
| APTA dues | $90.00 |
| Total estimated costs – year 3 | $25,705.00 |
| Total Estimated Expenses | $101,941.00 |
*Costs are estimated and subject to change based on University fee updates.
Note: As part of Professional Development within our curriculum, membership to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) will be required. The University of Hartford will cover your first year’s dues ($90 for 2024~$80 National Dues, $10 Connecticut Chapter). Renewal of your membership for subsequent years is mandatory and will be the responsibility of each student. We will register you as a group during Orientation week.
Additional expenses will vary from student to student and may or may not include rent and utilities, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. More detail about our rates can be found on Graduate Tuition Rates and Fees, Student and Housing Fees, and Miscellaneous Fees pages. Costs for the 2025 and 2026 terms have not been set at this time.
To discuss ways to finance your program of study, contact the financial aid officer for the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions by calling 860.768.4296 or emailing finaid@hartford.edu
Student and Graduate Goals
The DPT program at University of Hartford will:
- Admit qualified students who will succeed in the program.
- Develop student habits to foster life-long learning necessary to excel in an ever-changing health care environment.
Graduates, as movement experts, will:
- Be generalists who demonstrate clinical proficiency and professional formation commensurate with doctoral level expectations.
- Engage in evidence-based practices to promote optimal health outcomes within a diverse society.
- Lead and collaborate in multiple roles that can positively impact health outcomes.
Program Goals
The DPT program will:
- Provide a learning experience that exemplifies our mission.
- Provide a learning experience that epitomized curriculum guiding principles, curricular threads, and graduate outcomes.
Student Outcomes
| Graduation Year | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 100% |
| 2022 | 94.4% |
| 2021 | 90% |
Two Year Average Graduation Rate
| Graduation Year | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| 2022, 2023 | 97.2% |
| 2021, 2022 | 92% |
| 2020, 2021 | 91.5% |
Two-Year Average Ultimate Pass Rate (from FSBPT website)
| Graduation Year | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| 2023, 2024 | 100% |
| 2022, 2023 | 100% |
| 2021, 2022 | 100% |
Ultimate Pass Rate by Graduation Year
| Graduation Year | Pass Rate | Student Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 100% | 31 of 31 students passed |
| 2023 | 100% | 36 of 36 students passed |
| 2022 | 100% | 35 of 35 students passed |
First Time Pass Rate by Graduation Year
| Graduation Year | Pass Rate | Student Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 96.8% | 30 of 31 students passed |
| 2023 | 80.6% | 29 of 36 students passed |
| 2022 | 82.9% | 29 of 35 students passed |
Based on alumni survey responses as reported on the Annual Accreditation Report
| Graduation Year | Employment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 100% |
| 2022 | 100% |
| 2021 | 100% |
Two year average employment rate
| Graduation Year | Employment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2022, 2023 | 100% |
| 2021, 2022 | 100% |
| 2021, 2020 | 100% |
Recent graduates of the University of Hartford DPT program are employed at many locations around the country, including:
- Access Rehab Centers, CT
- Bay State Physical Therapy, MA
- Baylor Hospital, Fort Worth, TX
- Hartford Healthcare Rehabilitation Network, CT
- Hartford Hospital, CT
- Fox Rehabilitation, Northeast
- Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, CT
- Gentiva Home Care, NC
- Hartford Hospital, CT
- Hebrew HealthCare, CT
- Johns Hopkins Rehabilitation Network, MD
- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, NJ
- Litchfield Hills Orthopedics, CT
- Madigan Army Medical, WA
- Manchester Manor/Peoplefirst Rehab Services, CT Mount Sinai Rehab, CT
- Preferred Therapy Solutions, CT Premier Physical Therapy, NY
- Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers, CT
- Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, CT
- Select Physical Therapy,CT
- Total Function Physical Therapy, CO
- United States Army
- Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT
6-8 faculty-led doctoral student research projects. Check out our faculty's research on our website.
Research projects presented in the last three years:
Clinical Education
Clinical education provides students with the opportunity to apply patient care skills from the classroom into current clinical environments. We strive to develop professionalism and mastery throughout the curriculum and clinical experiences.
There are a total of 32 weeks of full-time clinical experiences and additional part-time clinical experiences throughout the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. During these experiences students progress towards entry-level practice, integrating foundational skills and didactic content into clinical practice.
Years 1–2
- Integrated Clinical Experience: Part time, Spring term, Year 1
- Clinical Education I: 10 weeks, Full time, Summer after Year 1
Year 3, after completion of all didactic coursework
- Clinical Education II: 10 weeks, Full time, Fall term, Year 3
- Clinical Education III: 12 weeks, Full time, Spring term, Year 3
Clinical education experiences are coordinated by two faculty members who also serve as Directors of Clinical Education. It is essential that communication for any clinical education experience be coordinated by the Director of Clinical Education. Therefore students and family members are not permitted to contact current or potential clinical sites.
We look forward to working with our future students to ensure that their clinical education coursework is a diverse and enriching experience.
Our student placements include both local and national clinical site locations. Our current clinical experiences include over 500+ possible locations.
Kelly Pogemiller, PT, DPT, EdD
Director of Clinical Education
Amanda Piccoli, PT, DPT
Director of Clinical Education
Maria Legge
Clinical Education Administrator
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Hartford is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085, tel: 703.706.3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Matt Austin at 860.768.5304 or email maaustin@hartford.edu.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program and the Health Sciences program within the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Hartford is accredited by the Board of Higher Education of the State of Connecticut and by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
Have Questions?
Our general email: dptgrad@hartford.edu
Matt Austin
Clinical/Applied Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
Interim Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy
860.768.5304
maaustin@hartford.edu
Assistant Director of Graduate Success
Division of Graduate and Professional Studies
860.951.6062 (voice)
860.791.1362 (text)
saleeba@hartford.edu