DPT Programs in Michigan

If you are in Michigan and looking to earn your doctor of physical therapy (DPT degree) without leaving the state, there are options for you. Several Michigan universities are home to accredited DPT programs, and there are also online programs available to those in Michigan. There is a lot to think about when choosing a DPT program, so here are some general tips to help you consider evaluating your options in Michigan.

Arcadia University

College of Health Sciences

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Doctor of Physical Therapy

Earn your DPT from a hybrid program. Experience on-campus immersions and apply skills learned online to patients in person. Complete the program in 25 months. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree but do not need to submit GRE test scores for admission.

• Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 
• Complete in 25 months  
• 32 weeks of in-person experience

Request more info from Arcadia University.

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

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Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

With USC’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, aspiring physical therapists can earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in an innovative hybrid format. Bachelor’s required.

• Full-time, three-year program 
• 44 weeks of rich, varied clinical experiences 
• Regular visits to USC for on-campus, skill-building immersions

Request more info from the University of Southern California.

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Making a decision between completing a DPT program online or on campus requires an understanding of why one format over the other may work best for you. Are you able to follow a strict program schedule or do you need to adjust what time you do your classwork from week to week to accommodate your other commitments? Do you learn best when you can interact with peers and professors or when you are reading material by yourself? These are all questions you should ask yourself as you are making the decision between going to a brick and mortar or a virtual program.

Last Updated 10/19/20

Currently, all accredited online DPT programs in the United States seem to be hybrid programs (a blend of in person and online learning) since the hands-on nature of the physical therapy field does require some knowledge that can only be taught in person. Online programs will allow students’ freedom to complete all of their classwork from anywhere in the country, while ensuring students learn the important clinical and lab components of a DPT program on campus. Many times, off campus clinical experience requirements may be completed in a student’s community, but it is important to consult the universities you are applying to to know for sure.

The hybrid approach allows students to communicate directly and network with their peers in real life while getting crucial hands-on learning experience, and at the same time be able to complete much of their degrees online.

When choosing between online programs you will want to consider format. Some programs will be synchronous in format – requiring students to log on at a specific time for class. This can be a helpful way to stay focused during lectures and allows students to engage with each other as well as the professor. There are also asynchronous programs, where students complete classwork and watch lectures on their own time. These programs are particularly appealing to those who need more flexibility in completing assignments and deliverables.

If you are looking for an on campus experience, there are a variety of options in Michigan. With on campus programs, classwork as well as lab work is completed in the traditional classroom setting, and then clinical experiences are often completed within the community, off campus, though some schools may have other arrangements.

DPT programs usually take two and a half to three years, but could be longer or shorter depending on the program. Hybrid programs often fall in this range as well, varying from accelerated options to four year programs. You will typically be in a situation where everyone who starts at the same time takes the same groups of courses together in what is called a cohort.

You can see the specific program lengths for all Michigan on campus and online DPT programs in the tables below.

The following are examples of hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Be sure to check with the school to see if they are authorized to operate in your state.

The following DPT programs can be found on Michigan campuses. There are campuses all over the state, from University of Michigan Flint to Oakland University in Rochester.

To become a physical therapist in Michigan, here are some common steps: