Location:

Elon, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Doctorate

Specialty:

Physical Therapy

Program Overview

Program Description:

Elon has taken pride in developing an outstanding educational program from the inception. Partnering with Alamance Regional Medical Center, the program began as a Master of Physical Therapy in 1998, and transitioned to a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2003. Elon's DPT program produces highly skilled, clinical generalists. Alumni exemplify compassion for individuals of every age, means and ethnicity, and are prepared for leadership, possessing professional integrity as they become part of the healthcare team. Alamance Regional's values mirror those of Elon University: excellence, compassion, efficiency, creativity and leadership. The partnership with Alamance Regional provides continuing professional growth for the physical therapy faculty and offers clinical and research opportunities for students. 

Elon's three-year modular curriculum is carefully designed to build on a solid science foundation while integrating hands-on clinical practicums. Each module is made up of related courses, and the length of the modules - ranging from four to 24 weeks - is driven by course content. The program begins in January, allowing graduates to enter the job market in December - a different time than most schools. The Elon DPT program includes 48 weeks of clinical practice - above the national average. Beginning the second year, students complete three eight-week clinical practicums. The program culminates with a 24-week clinical practicum in the third year. Elon has contacts at hundreds of patient-care settings and students work frequently with clients and standardized patients on campus. As part of Elon's commitment to educating students who become compassionate, global citizens, the Global Learning Opportunities (GLO) program provides options to study, explore and practice in a culture that is different from the students' own. GLO offers both domestic and international sites, including Australia, Belgium, Belize, Italy, Peru, Romania and the U.S.

The Gerald L. Francis Center, a state-of-the-art facility that houses Elon's School of Health Sciences, creates an ideal learning environment for physical therapy education. Students have access to eight dedicated research labs, three skills labs, a human donor anatomy lab, three dedicated classrooms and more. A student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 encourages students to work closely with their professors. Additionally, the Francis Center houses the Health Outreach Program of Elon (H.O.P.E. Clinic), North Carolina's first student-managed pro bono clinic. The clinic offers physical therapy services free of charge to those who are uninsured or under-insured in the surrounding area while also providing a chance for Elon DPT students to improve their clinical skills outside of their scheduled clinical rotations.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

Financial Aid:

Yes