Office of University Communications 

University to offer doctorate in physical therapy

Physical therapy degree is university's second stand-alone doctorate degree

SPRINGFIELD — When Missouri State University students walk across the stage to accept their diplomas next spring, some of them will be the first Missouri State students to be granted a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the university. The DPT will be the second stand-alone doctorate offered by Missouri State University.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) notified Missouri State this week that the university’s accreditation has been extended to allow the university to offer the DPT. The DPT is a clinical degree and is the preferred degree for new physical therapists. Missouri State is one of only two public universities in Missouri to offer the DPT.

“We have always had a very strong master’s program,” said Dr. Frank Einhellig, associate provost for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate College. “It has always been the university’s intention to move to a doctoral program. We are very pleased that the HLC has granted our request to transition to the doctoral program. This degree will be a nice complement to the other health-care programs we offer.”

Missouri State’s physical therapy program began in 1998 and accepts up to 30 new students each year. The program takes about three years to complete. Current third-year physical therapy students will be required to complete one additional clinical internship and two advanced elective courses beyond the Master of Physical Therapy coursework to have the opportunity to graduate with the DPT.

Missouri State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. The university’s accreditation is at the master’s degree level and includes degree sites at various locations in addition to Springfield. Missouri State is also authorized to offer a professional doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) and now a clinical doctorate in physical therapy (DPT). The first stand-alone doctorate, in audiology, was granted in 2005.

The HLC is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provides institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Institutional accreditation evaluates an entire institution and accredits it as a whole. Other agencies provide accreditation for specific programs. The HLC accredits approximately 1,000 institutions of higher education in a 19-state region and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.