The Department of Physical Therapy and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program were established and approved in 2015, after the completion of a comprehensive feasibility study and planning document. The curriculum has received initial approval, and on-going budget funding has been identified.
- The program welcomed its first cohort in summer 2019. (Fourth cohort, summer 2022)
- Each cohort is comprised of 30 students.
- The program is 2.5 years (30 months) with classes beginning in late June and graduation takes place in December.
- The full program is 110 credit hours (94 didactic; 16 full-time clinical).
What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists diagnose and treat people of all ages who have injuries, medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to function and move properly in their daily lives. Physical therapists develop recovery plans and provide treatment and therapy to improve movement and manage pain.
Accreditation and student outcome data
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Western Michigan University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (269) 387-7352 or email pt-info@wmich.edu.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at WMU satisfies educational prerequisites for professional licensure as a physical therapist in all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.
