Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree

Our Physical Therapy Program offers an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree for persons interested in becoming a Physical Therapist. We have two campuses in Louisiana: Shreveport is an In-person only program and Lafayette is a Hybrid program. The degree is designed for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and the required prerequisite coursework. The Program is a three-year program comprised of 9 semesters. 

How can you determine which campus is the best fit for you?

Each program location shares a building with a rehabilitation clinic, allowing faculty to practice, so students get the benefit of expert clinicians who are still in the field.  Although both campuses are part of LSU Health Shreveport’s DPT program, there are certain factors to consider that may make one program a better fit for you than the other.

BENEFITS OF GETTING YOUR DEGREE AT LSUHS 

Our program curriculum is aimed at producing outstanding clinical skills in Physical Therapy including, diagnosis, clinical reasoning, program planning, and therapeutic intervention. The program’s nationally-recognized faculty prides itself on practicing what we preach.

LOCATION
By offering two campuses in different parts of the state, we are increasing the opportunity for people to attend physical therapy school closer to home, thus saving you money.

SHREVEPORT RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM • LAFAYETTE HYBRID PROGRAM

SCHEDULING
RESIDENTIAL - Our program in Shreveport has been in existence for over 40 years and has a proven track record of success with its residential schedule. Students coming from a residential lecture and lab-based curriculum for their undergraduate coursework will be familiar with this model of 15-week, in person semesters. 
HYBRID - The Lafayette campus has a hybrid curriculum, which may be less familiar to many students. Semesters are broken into two 7-week blocks, with one week off between blocks. During each 7-week block, students are required to be on campus for two weeks and will be learning remotely for the other weeks.

FORMAT
RESIDENTIAL - The Shreveport campus is primarily in-person and learning activities include lectures, laboratory activities, patient simulations, standardized patients, and small and large group discussions.
HYBRID - The Lafayette campus is primarily asynchronous, meaning most lecture and some guided lab activities take place at the learner’s pace. This allows some flexibility in scheduling, so long as all course week is complete prior to the in-person weeks, during which hands-on lab activities, simulated and standardized patient activities, and in-person discussions occur.

CLINICAL ROTATIONS
As a core tenet, the program emphasizes early integration into the clinic as beneficial for student learning. Both campuses partner with the local hospitals and clinics to provide early exposure to patient care for students. Terminal clinical experiences are identical for both campuses.

RESOURCES
Students at both campuses have access to university resources such as the registrar, financial aid, student counseling, and academic advising.

FACILITIES
SHREVEPORT - The program classrooms are housed in the School of Allied Health Professions building on the LSUHS campus. This building is the primary training location for other allied health programs and has a faculty rehabilitation clinic that comprises the ground floor. The campus also houses the School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, and is adjoined to the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center with a Level 1 trauma center.
LAFAYETTE - The campus setting is smaller, with only the physical therapy program and an adjacent outpatient therapy clinic in the building. The facilities include the classroom, lab, office, and study space for the program. Ochsner Lafayette General is within walking distance of the campus.

SAFETY
Student safety is a high-priority for LSU Health Shreveport. Buildings at both campuses require a badge for access and are patrolled by security.

Financial Fact Sheet