The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is an entry-level, post-baccalaureate degree program that complements foundational movement sciences to prepare physical therapists for today’s healthcare challenges.
The unique curriculum is based on high-quality, engaging coursework that includes threads of:
human movement science
clinical reasoning
professionalism
evidence-based practice and research
person-centered care
Students will gain practical clinical experience within the first weeks of starting the program.
The DPT program is two years, eight months (eight semesters) long, allowing students to enter the workforce earlier than traditional programs, and is the lowest in cost among Wisconsin private schools. The program consists of 106 graduate-level credits with students immediately practicing classroom learning on live patients during their first year.
Program Mission/Goals
Bellin College is dedicated to promoting an inclusive and innovative educational environment that prepares autonomous and collaborative Doctors of Physical Therapy who are altruistic, caring, and dedicated to providing excellence in practice. Graduates and faculty will be leaders, dedicated to lifelong learning, service, and advocacy for the advancement of the profession and society.
Program Goals
The program will promote excellence in physical therapy practice and education through an optimal learning environment that offers best practice models of contemporary physical therapy care and healthcare administration.
The program will advance the physical therapy profession through a commitment to scholarship, leadership development, and professional advocacy and partnerships.
The program will foster diversity and inclusion across all program stakeholders.
Student/Graduate Goals
Students/graduates will demonstrate excellence in person-centered evidence-based physical therapy care.
Students/graduates will demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and leadership.
Students/graduates will improve the health of society by providing respectful care, that is collaborative and responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices.
Academic Plan
The Bellin College DPT program is a 2 year and 8 month program consisting of 106 graduate level credits. The program uses an integrated clinical learning experience model with DPT students immediately practicing what they are learning in the classroom on live patients during the first year.
Applicants applying to the Bellin College Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will apply online using the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application. To learn more about PTCAS, visit www.apta.org/cas/ptcas.
Dr. Eric Chaconas, PT, DPT, PhD
Program Director
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
and Manual Physical Therapy
Dr. Jonathon Weiss, PT, DPT
Assistant Program Director
Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapy Specialist
Dr. Amethyst Messer, PT, DPT
Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapy Specialist
Dr. Mark Shepherd, PT, DPT, DSc
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapy
Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Dr. JJ Ferguson, PT, DPT, DScPT
Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy
Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapy
Dr. Courtney Quinn-Scott, PT, DPT, PhD
Board Certified Clinical Instructor
Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Which undergraduate degrees are recommended before beginning the DPT Program?
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field of study from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or from a foreign institution. Student’s may apply prior to completing their bachelor’s degree; however, the degree must be awarded prior to beginning study in the DPT program.
What prerequisites are required?
1 semester Human Anatomy with lab
1 semester Physiology with lab (may take 2 semester sequence Anatomy/Physiology)
2 semesters Chemistry with lab
2 semesters Biology with lab
2 semesters Physics with lab
2 semesters Psychology (Acceptable: General, Development, Abnormal)
1 semester Statistics
1 credit Medical Terminology
Can I substitute a similar course for one or more of these prerequisites?
The DPT Admissions Committee may consider course substitutions on a case-by-base basis. The applicant must compile and submit as much information about the course as possible (e.g., course description, syllabus, detailed outline of topics covered, etc.). This information can be emailed to admissions@bellincollege.edu. The Admissions Committee makes the final decision as to whether the course substitution is approved.
Do all prerequisite courses need to be completed before applying?
Applicants do not need to complete all prerequisite course prior to applying. However, it is recommended that you have no more than 3 prerequisite courses remaining when submitting your application. If offered admission, all prerequisites must be complete prior to entering the program.
Do all prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, and physics need to have a laboratory component?
Yes
Do you accept Advanced Placement (AP) credits in lieu of a letter grade to fulfill science prerequisites?
Yes
Do prerequisite courses have an expiration date?
Applicants must complete Anatomy and Physiology courses within the last 5 years prior to application or demonstrate ongoing work experience that have kept this knowledge current (e.g., physical therapist assistant, athletic trainer)
How do I know if my course fulfills the program’s prerequisite requirement?
If you are unsure if a course will fulfill the prerequisite requirement contact admissions@bellincollege.edu.
Are transfer credits accepted?
No, transfer credits are not accepted into the Bellin College DPT program
What documents are required?
Completed application
Undergraduate Transcript
GRE Results
Two Letters of Recommendation
Written Statement of Purpose
What is the minimum GPA for admission?
A minimum cumulative greater than or equal to 3.0, or less than 3.0 with cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5 over the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours are required for admission.
What is the minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score for application?
There is no minimum GRE score required for admission, although achievement within the 40th percentile, or Verbal + Quantitative score of 295 or above is preferred.
Do GRE scores have an expiration date?
The GRE must be completed within the last 5 years prior to the date of application.
Is volunteer or work experience in physical therapy required in order to apply?
This criteria is currently rescinded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What other factors are evaluated beside academic ability?
Work experiences, military experience, volunteer services hours and participation in extracurricular activities will be considered.
Are interviews a required part of the application process?
Yes, all applicants will be asked to participate in an on-campus interview, but an online interview is allowable upon request. We feel this is important to allow the Admissions Committee to know you, but also for you to get to know us and assure that the Bellin College DPT program is a good fit.
I’m a PTA and would like to apply
Any PTA holding a bachelor’s degree is welcome to apply. While credits from the PTA educational program may not be transferred in, admission points are awarded for relevant work experience.
How can I reach the Bellin College Admissions Office?
Yes, a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit is required to guarantee your spot in the program. The entire deposit will be applied to your tuition in the first semester of the program.
Program
What is the size of a DPT class?
Each class will have a maximum of 34 students
When does the DPT program begin?
Fall semester (late August)
Is this an on-campus or hybrid program?
Although hybrid components will be incorporated, the Bellin College DPT program is an on-campus program
How long will it take to complete the program?
2 years and 8 months
Why should I attend Bellin College?
Contemporary Curriculum: The curriculum is designed for the physical therapist of tomorrow. Graduates will be prepared with modern strategies in clinical reasoning, prevention and health promotion, strength and conditioning and caring for individuals across practice settings.
Clinical Learning: Students in the Bellin College DPT program enter the clinic regularly throughout the entire length of the program. This model of clinical learning allows students to immediately apply the skills they have learned in the classroom immediately offering a more in depth model of learning.
Program Length: The program is shorter than most, allowing graduates to enter the job market sooner.
Cost / Value: The tuition is the lowest of all private schools in Wisconsin.
Class Size: Small class size will permit a high faculty/student ratio.
History: Bellin College has been training health professionals for over 100 years.
Simulation Facilities: Bellin College has one of the premier health simulation resource centers in the country.
Intraprofessional Collaboration: During your time as a student at Bellin Health you will learn to work as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and imaging students.
Where will clinical education be?
While the majority of clinical education will take place within northeast Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan, opportunities will be available throughout the country
How much time is spent in clinical education?
30 weeks of formal clinical education, along with short integrated clinical experiences throughout the rest of the curriculum
What types of clinical education experiences will I be exposed to?
Each student will be encouraged to complete their clinical education in a variety of physical therapy settings including acute care/hospital, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, home health, and outpatient.
Is the Bellin College program accredited?
The Bellin College DPT received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in May of 2021, and is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. More information is available on the Bellin College DPT home page.
Can I work while in the program?
The DPT program is full-time and rigorous. It is recommended a student work 10 hours or less a week to accommodate the course load.
Are there research opportunities within the DPT program?
There are several opportunities to collaborate on research with faculty or physical therapists that are obtaining a Fellowship or Doctor of Science degree from Bellin College.
What is the difference between the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DSc)?
The DPT is considered an entry-level degree, which is necessary to sit for licensure exams and work as a physical therapist. The DSc degree is for those that are already physical therapists who wish to pursue careers in education and research.
Does Bellin College offer residency programs following graduation?
No, but students will be encouraged to apply for residencies sponsored by Bellin Health and other physical therapy institutions. Bellin College does offer an orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship program, but applicants must have at least one year of experience.
Funding
Does the program offer scholarships?
Not at this time, though our goal is to provide a needs-based scholarship in the near future
Am I eligible for financial aide
Please contact our financial aide advisors to determine eligibility at 920-433-6699
Response to APTA Workforce Study / American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Statement
In December 2020, the American Physical Therapy Association published a workforce analysis which predicts an estimated surplus of over 25,000 physical therapists nationally by the year 2030. This estimate “does not account for potential changes to service delivery or patient demographics that could happen within this time frame”. The median age of a Brown Country, Wisconsin resident has increased from 36.0 years in 2010 to 37.4 years in 2019, with this trend expected to continue. As the population of northeastern Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan ages, we anticipate the need for physical therapists to grow.
We agree with the APTA workforce study conclusion for the potential to “correct existing imbalances in the geographic distribution” who tend to concentrate in urban areas. The Bellin College program is committed to developing physical therapists to serve in rural regional areas.
On May 3, 2021, the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) published a letter expressing concern about the number of current developing physical therapy programs in the United States, as well as the increasing time to degree completion and student loan debt. Bellin College has developed a DPT program that carries the shortest credit load of any school in Wisconsin, as well as the lowest tuition cost of any private physical therapy school in the state. ACAPT also raises concerns regarding a nationwide shortage of qualified faculty, and limited opportunities for clinical education. The Bellin College Doctor of Science program was created in 2019 with one goal of developing well-qualified faculty. Our clinical education program is 30 weeks (shorter than the national average of 34-36 weeks) and we are partnered with several local health systems including Bellin Health who have committed to host high quality clinical experiences for our students.
National Study of Physical Therapy Excellence and Innovation
In 2017, Jensen et al. published the National Study of Excellence and Innovation in Physical Therapist Education. This report challenges the profession to meet the changing needs of society through higher levels of excellence by offering eight action items. In our opinion, Bellin College is well positioned to meet the challenges of each action item with special emphasis on the following:
Address the shortage of qualified faculty and of academic leadership – Bellin College offers a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy Program (DSc) that is producing well-qualified physical therapy faculty.
Create strong, equal academic-practice partnerships that foster excellence – Bellin College has strong, established partnerships with local healthcare institutions for collaboration regarding clinical education, teaching and learning opportunities, and research.
Focus curriculum content on societal needs for physical therapist practice – Bellin College is committed to provide a learner-centered educational environment that focuses on patient-centered care.
Devote significant resources to enhance the diversity in the profession – Bellin College DPT has a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion program and is committed to the profession’s goal of improving representation of underrepresented minorities in the profession.
Educate students to become moral agents as health care practitioners – The Bellin College values of excellence, integrity, community, and caring are the center for all we do.
Jensen, G. M., Hack, L. M., Nordstrom, T., Gwyer, J., & Mostrom, E. (2017). National study of excellence and innovation in physical therapist education: Part 2 – A call to reform. Physical Therapy, 97(9), 875-888.
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
Effective July 19, 2022, the Bellin College DPT Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 920-433-6699 or email physicaltherapy@bellincollege.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is an entry-level, post-baccalaureate degree program that complements foundational movement sciences to prepare physical therapists for today’s healthcare challenges.
