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.
|
Shreveport Campus |
Factor |
Lafayette Campus |
|---|---|---|
|
Yes |
Doctor of Physical Therapy |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Program Length = 3 years |
Yes |
|
36 |
Class Size |
24 |
|
October 1st |
Application Deadline |
October 1st |
|
Summer semester |
Start Date |
Summer semester |
|
Full-time, predominantly on-site, live day classes |
Delivery |
Full-time, hybrid program. Students will be on-campus 4 weeks per semester |
|
Yes |
On-site Faculty |
Yes |
|
Yes |
I prefer taking multiple courses concurrently in a semester-based format, with live, in-person lectures and labs on a set schedule. |
No |
|
No |
I prefer the flexibility of taking fewer courses at a time in focused 7-week blocks, with asynchronous online lecture-based activities and in-person labs. |
Yes |
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.
The Department of Physical Therapy at LSU Health Shreveport has been educating physical therapists for more than 40 years and has a proven track record of success. Students can earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in three years through either the Shreveport Residential Program or the Lafayette Hybrid Program. The primary differences between the two programs are the campus location and the delivery format for didactic coursework, as described below.
Clinical education is a core component of both programs, with early clinical integration designed to enhance student learning and expose students to patient care. Both campuses partner with local hospitals and clinics to provide these early experiences, and terminal clinical experiences are the same for students in both pathways.
Students at both campuses have access to university resources, including the registrar, financial aid, student counseling, and academic advising. Both programs have dedicated facilities, with faculty and staff available to students on site during regular business hours. Students at both campuses are responsible for securing their own housing.
Shreveport Residential Program
The Shreveport Residential Program provides live, in-person lecture and lab instruction Monday through Friday, generally during regular daytime hours. The program includes three semesters per year, with 15-week fall and spring semesters and an 8-week summer semester. Students typically take multiple courses concurrently throughout each semester.
The program is located on the LSU Health Shreveport campus in the same building as an outpatient physical therapy clinic. It is housed alongside other academic programs, such as occupational therapy and physician assistant studies, and is adjacent to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center.
Lafayette Hybrid Program
The Lafayette Hybrid Program combines online lecture coursework with in-person lab instruction. The program includes six blocks per year, with each block lasting either 5 or 7 weeks, allowing students to take fewer courses at a time in shorter, focused blocks. Each block includes either three or five weeks of online, asynchronous lecture coursework followed by two weeks of on-campus, synchronous lab instruction. During online weeks, students may complete coursework and study from home or use the Lafayette facility for studying, coursework, and support.
The program is housed in a more standalone learning environment near the Ochsner Lafayette General campus, in the same building as an outpatient physical therapy clinic.
Why choose a Career as a Physical Therapist?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association: Physical Therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
Physical Therapists examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, Physical Therapists work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Job Outlook for Physical Therapists
| 2023 Median Pay* |
$99,710 per year |
| Number of Jobs, 2023* | 259,200 |
| Job Outlook, 2023-33* | 14% (Much faster than average) |
| *United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics | |
Persons interested in a career in Physical Therapy may find the following web sites of interest:
News & Blog
LSUHS Expands Physical Therapy Education to Lafayette to Strengthen Louisiana’s Healthcare Workforce
Lafayette, La. - Responding to Louisiana’s growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Health Professions and Sciences has announced approval to launch a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Lafayette, the first of its kind in Louisiana.
Amanda Mahoney, PT, DPT - Bladder leakage, frequent urination, sudden urges to pee, and waking up at night are common issues that can affect anyone — men or women, young or old. Even though many people experience these problems, they are not a normal part of aging, and there are effective treatments available.
KTBS - Thanks to the support of his family, friends, and LSU Health Shreveport's rehab program, Sumlin went from paralyzed and wheelchair-bound to walking -- even running -- unaided.
U.S. News & World Report - "If you think physical therapy is only about rehabilitation after surgery or recovering from an accident, think again. For the vast majority, seeing a physical therapist should be about prevention, routine assessment and staying well."
Following a breast cancer diagnosis, the focus is on removing the cancer and preventing the spread to other areas of the body. Once the cancer is eradicated, the person is said to be in remission, which is a reason to celebrate; however, there may be aftereffects of the life-saving surgeries and treatments that can last years.
