Residential Pathway in St. George

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 Residential Learning in St. George

The DPT program offers three educational pathways: two residential pathways in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah and one Hybrid Pathway. The St. George pathway was established with the goal to serve Southern Utah and surrounding rural communities becoming the only DPT program in the area. Located on the Utah Tech University (UTU) campus, nestled in a picturesque town that promotes an active outdoor lifestyle among a quickly growing population, students benefit from a small cohort, with the same high-quality education, state-of-the-art facilities and academic resources.

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).

RESIDENTIAL LEARNING

The Residential DPT Pathway for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) provides the unique opportunity for students in Salt Lake City and St. George to learn together by taking advantage of the labs, facilities, and high-tech video conferencing at the University of Utah and Utah Tech University (UTU). Faculty share time teaching in-person in Salt Lake City or St. George with the classrooms connected by cameras, microphones, and TV monitors. Advanced technology allows faculty to engage with students across both campuses and collaborate regardless of which campus they are present.

The curriculum utilizes a layered approach to active learning that includes online and in-person teaching methods:

Asynchronous Lessons: Some courses will utilize recorded lessons that students complete online, introducing the content prior to in-person labs and active learning activities.
In-person Class: In-person class sessions are focused on lab skills, reviewing asynchronous content, and application of knowledge.
Clinical Education: DPT students benefit from a rich network of clinical education sites. Students complete 45 weeks of full-time clinical experience and 15 weeks (45 hours) required part-time experience beginning in the first year and culminating with three back-to-back placements in the final year of the program.

For a complete outline of the DPT course curriculum, visit the Course Schedule.

STUDENT SUPPORT

STUDENT SUPPORT & PROGRAMMING

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

Tuition for the DPT residential programs in Salt Lake City and St. George is based on resident or non-resident rates. The department strives to provide a high quality, innovative program with extensive clinical practice time while also maintaining an affordable cost compared to equally ranked programs. For financial information, please refer to the tuition guide.

Lifestyle in St. George

St. George is within two hours of Las Vegas and near many popular Utah destinations, such as Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, and Brian Head Ski Resort. With so many beautiful biking & hiking trails, some of the nation’s top ranked golf courses, and countless rocks to climb, students enjoy their time on and off our gorgeous campus.

Other popular activies include: