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Program:
 Physical Therapy: The Science of Healing. The Art of Caring.
A career in Physical Therapy can take you anywhere. You can work with children or adults, in a variety of healthcare settings that include hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, private practices, and even in a patient's home. The possibilities are endless.... and rewarding! Making a difference in a person's life is what physical therapy is all about. You can help a person function as independently as possible and improve their quality of life.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Mercy College provides graduates with the academic and clinical expertise necessary to prevent injury, impairments, functional limitations, and disability and to maintain and promote fitness, health, and quality of life. Program graduates are prepared to practice as autonomous entry-level practitioners capable of providing administration, consultation, education and research in the physical therapy profession.
The DPT Program is a full-time weekend program designed to prepare graduates to apply for licensure in Physical Therapy. The Program takes approximately three years and four months to complete and grants a dual BS in Health Science/DPT. Upon successful completion of the first year (30 credits), students are granted a BS in Health Science. After successful completion of the remaining coursework (66 credits), a DPT degree is awarded. The unique weekend format allows individuals to gain access to the field of physical therapy while maintaining their current employment. However, since the program involves a full-time graduate course load, it is recommended that students work no more than 30 hours per week.
The DPT Program requires approximately three years and four months for completion. Students are required to take a minimum of nine credits each semester. Practical skills are developed through four full-time eight-week clinical education assignments. Basic Clinical Education is completed between the second and third years, and Advanced Clinical Education I, II and III are taken at the completion of the third year. All clinical education requirements must be successfully completed within 24 months of the didactic coursework.
"The quality of education is at par with the best. Very supportive faculty and staff, genuinely their goal is for every student to succeed. They leave no stone unturned in assisting a student to master the program materials. As a single parent with a full time job, it would have been near impossible for me to switch career to become a physical therapist were it not for Mercy's weekend program."
Mark Bitara, '01
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Download a PDF version of our Program Brochure
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Program Contacts:
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Sharon Garrant
Administrative Assistant
ptprogram@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7828
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Nannette Hyland, PT, MS
Director, Physical Therapy
ptprogram@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7828
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Patricia Chute, EdD
Chair, Division of Health Professions
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"My experience at Mercy College's Physical Therapy program was fantastic. Our faculty was very supportive and really helped prepare us for our clinicals and eventually working in the field."
Scott Coughlin, '04
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Career Opportunities:
Career opportunities for graduates of the Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Mercy College include private outpatient clinic, acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, school systems, home care, aquatic therapy facilities, health and wellness facilities, industry and research centers, private practice, clinic manager, supervisory positions, and academic faculty.
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Curriculum:
The curriculum is offered in a full-time, weekend format and is based on a life-span approach that considers the unique needs of the individual throughout the developmental stages of childhood, adolescence, adulthood and maturity. Course content addresses the typical developmental and pathological processes during these stages, as well as the medical and physical therapy interventions.
For the complete course curriculum click here.
"The Mercy College PT program gave me the education that has allowed me to pursue a most rewarding/fulfilling profession."
Nancy Dolin, '97
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Campuses where program is offered:
Dobbs Ferry
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Accreditations:
The program in Physical Therapy is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (CAPTE/APTA). Students are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination, administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy .
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Where can I obtain information about the program?
The Admissions Office of Mercy College provides general information about the Physical Therapy program, admission requirements, application forms and graduate catalogs. They can be reached at 1-800-MERCYNY. All interested parties should contact the Admissions Office to arrange to attend an informational session regarding the program.
What is the timeline for the admissions process?
| | Application Submission | Interview | Decision Date | Early Decision
Process | December 1 | January-February | February 28 | Regular Application
Process: | January 15 | February-March | March 30 |
What information is required to complete an application?
The following information must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office:
- A completed application form
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- Two letters of recommendation written within the past year (one from an instructor, one from a job supervisor or physical therapist)
- Physical Therapy volunteer/work experience forms (Note: Physical Therapist Assistants are exempt)
- A typed essay, limited to two pages, describing the applicant's reasons for pursuing physical therapy
What courses are required for admission to the program?
Students are required to have completed a minimum of 90 credits before entering the program. Students without a BS or BA degree must complete 48 credits in general education and the prerequisite courses listed below. They must also complete Junior Seminar (offered in class or online) at Mercy College. No more than 75 credits may be transferred from two-year institutions. Students holding a BS or BA degree must complete the following prerequisite courses: Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Biology I, Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Statistics and Developmental Psychology.
Are any additional prerequisite courses required?
Yes. Any student accepted into the program who is not a licensed physical therapist assistant is required to take Practicum in Physical Therapy the summer prior to starting the program.
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