About the Department

Welcome to the Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Department of Physical Therapy and the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program. Our goal is to promote the development of students’ scientific knowledge, psychomotor skills, professional values, attitudes and behaviors. As a graduate of IU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program, we hope each student will leave with a sense of commitment to contribute to the health of the community, to promote further development of the physical therapy profession, and to grow personally and professionally throughout your life and career.

The IU Department of Physical Therapy has been a leader in physical therapy education for many years with a reputation for academic and clinical excellence. The program offers a dynamic curriculum that integrates theoretical and applied sciences through an evidence-based approach to healthcare management. Students are immersed in a medical environment which includes courses with other healthcare professionals and clinical exposure to a multitude of medical environments. The IUPUI campus alone houses four medical facilities boasting some of the best healthcare in the world.

Timeline of Department History

Message from the Chair

Program Outcomes

Accreditation Status

Strengths of the IU DPT Program

• IU DPT graduates have a 100% pass rate on the PT Board Exam (national average is 88%)
• State of the art clinical and basic science research facilities which allow students to engage in ongoing departmental research
• Dynamic curriculum that creates a well-prepared entry-level therapist at an affordable price
• Nationally recognized graduates, including a 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2013 Mary McMillan Award Winner - the most prestigious award given nationally to physical therapy students
• Scholarships are available to incoming and current students to recognize outstanding academic achievements, and to support travel to attend professional conferences
• Mentoring program is available to assist learning in foundational science courses
• Faculty members have secured over $1 Million in funding from National Institutes of Health, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Osteoporosis Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, and Indiana University to support cutting-edge research
• Department faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their clinical and research expertise, supporting our mission to teach therapy techniques that are supported by scientific evidence
• Outstanding teaching facilities are continually updated to assist learning in the clinically-based practice pattern courses
• Excellent and broad variety of inpatient and outpatient clinical partnerships available in Indiana and throughout the country to facilitate develop clinical skills