Bachelor's-Doctor of Physical Therapy

At Sacred Heart University, our dual-degree program offer a values-based educational approach to physical therapy that seamlessly bridges your undergraduate and graduate education. Our dynamic program will build your confidence to reach your goals in this exciting career field.

Why Earn Your Bachelor’s-Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Dual Degree at Sacred Heart?

Sacred Heart’s Bachelor’s-Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) dual degree program offers incoming first-year students a direct path to the Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate program. Provided they meet program-specific criteria, dual degree students are guaranteed a place in SHU’s DPT program, named one of the best in Connecticut by U.S. News & World Report and one of the best in the Northeast by HealthGrad.com.

Dual degree programs offer students an efficient and economical way to earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees in a rigorous format featuring:

• 16 accomplished faculty members
• Experiential learning with exceptional clinicians in top settings
• State-of-the-art equipment and labs
• Capstone research and community practice projects that make a difference for patients in your community
• Local and international service learning opportunities

Accelerated 3+3 Bachelor’s-DPT

In the Accelerated 3+3 option, students complete three years of undergraduate coursework and three years of graduate coursework, earning both a bachelor’s degree and a DPT degree within six years. All requirements for the bachelor’s degree are completed by the end of the third year. Students choosing the 3+3 option work closely with their undergraduate advisor to follow a specific sequence of study in their chosen undergraduate major. The 3+3 option requires coursework in the summers between the freshman and sophomore years, regardless of undergraduate major, with the summer work varying by major. With appropriate planning, summer coursework may be completed at other universities offering equivalent courses. Students initially pursuing the 3+3 option may move to the 4+3 option by consulting with their academic advisor.

The 3+3 bachelor’s-DPT option is available to students pursuing one of the following undergraduate majors:

• Biology 3+3 Model
• Exercise Science 3+3 Model
• Psychology 3+3 Model

4+3 Bachelor’s-DPT

In the 4+3 option, students complete the bachelor’s degree in the traditional four-year time frame and complete three years of graduate study in the DPT program, earning both the bachelor’s degree and a DPT degree within seven years. This option is open to students in all undergraduate majors with the exception of nursing and interdisciplinary studies.

Physical Therapy Program Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Sacred Heart University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; or visit the CAPTE website. To contact the program/institution directly, call 203-396-8078 or email Christopher Petrosino at petrosinoc@sacredheart.edu.

CAPTE considers complaints about programs that are accredited, or are seeking accreditation by CAPTE, and complaints about CAPTE itself. Please refer to the following website for the process to file a complaint with CAPTE.

2022-2023 SHU DPT Student Financial Fact Sheet

The Commissioner on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education requires all Doctor of Physical Therapy programs to provide the public with current, accurate, reliable and easily available information about the cost of attendance. The 2022-2023 SHU DPT Student Financial Fact Sheet is provided for review. Student debt data was gathered by direct survey of the DPT students.

More Information

For additional information for prospective first-year students, contact:

Undergraduate Admissions
203-371-7880
enroll@sacredheart.edu

For additional information for current dual degree students, contact:

Graduate Admissions
203-365-7619
gradstudies@sacredheart.edu