Hybrid Pathway

University of Utah DPT Program

The University of Utah DPT program has demonstrated 55 years of excellence in preparing students to be highly competent and compassionate professionals. We take pride in bringing together advanced educational philosophies, current research, and the finest faculty to create an effective and supportive learning environment.

Benefits of a Hybrid Education

The DPT program offers three educational pathways: two residential pathways in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah and one Hybrid pathway. The DPT Hybrid pathway is an innovative educational model that blends online and in-person learning and aims to broaden access to DPT education. Aspiring physical therapists across the country can now earn their DPT from a top-ranked institution without the need to relocate to Salt Lake City or St. George, Utah.

Admissions, prerequisites, and application requirements for each pathway are identical. The DPT program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Hybrid Learning

HYBRID LEARNING

The DPT Hybrid Pathway program combines engaging online learning with in-person immersion experiences in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The curriculum utilizes an innovative layered approach to active student learning. The program includes the following online, live, and in-person elements:

Asynchronous Lessons: Didactic content and lab skills are introduced through recorded lessons that students complete online.

Live Sessions: Each class holds weekly synchronous online meetings between students and faculty.

Lab Immersions: On-campus experiences that occur in our fully equipment laboratories in Salt Lake City and consist of hands-on learning and assessment. Immersions are roughly 6-7 days in length and occur at the following times:

During orientation at the beginning of the program (3-days)
Twice during each fall and spring semester, with one toward the middle and one at the end of the semester. Summer semesters include one immersion only.

Clinical Education: Students complete 15 weeks (45 hours) of part-time clinical education in spring semester of the first year and 42 weeks of full-time clinical education including three back-to-back placements in the final year. Students may also complete optional part-time clinical education during didactic semesters in the second and third year of the program.

This is a full-time graduate program. We do not recommend that students hold other employment during their studies.

Student Support

STUDENT PROGRAMMING & SUPPORT

All DPT students benefit from a dedicated team of Student Affairs staff and a variety of student support programs. They include, but are not limited, to:

Academic Success Advising and Workshops: Student Affairs conducts workshops on study habits, time management, multiple-choice exam strategies, and stress and stress-relief. Individual advising is also available to students needing more academic and personal support.

Supplemental Instruction: The department offers Supplemental Instruction (SI) for traditionally challenging courses in the DPT curriculum. SI is used in universities across the country to promote active group-based study.

Faculty-student and peer mentoring programs: The mentoring programs create community and help form relationships between faculty and students and peer to peer. The peer mentoring program aims to ease the transition for incoming DPT students and provide an early support system.

Leadership opportunities: Students can serve in various leadership roles including as class officers, leaders of DPT student groups, and coordinators of local pro bono clinics.

University Resources: Student Affairs is knowledgeable of the vast resources at the University of Utah which students can access both online and in person. Students are encouraged to take advantage of services provided by offices and departments including but not limited to the Center for Student Wellness, Counseling Services, Basic Needs Collective, Center for Financial Wellness, University Writing Center, and the J. Willard Marriott Library and Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library.

Program Cost

PROGRAM COST

The DPT Hybrid Pathway program utilizes a fixed-tuition model. Regardless of residency status in Utah or outside of Utah, students will pay a total program cost of cost $93,300. The DPT program is $872 dollars per credit hour for a total of 107 credit hours over three years. For more financial information, see our Financial Fact Sheet.

Travel for Lab Immersions and Clinical Experiences: Students are responsible for the costs associated with attending lab immersions during didactic semesters, including travel and accommodations. Our curriculum requires students to complete four full time clinical experiences in the 2nd and 3rd year of the program. Students are responsible for the clinical education costs, which are variable, depending on location and length of each clinical affiliation experience.