Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Program Mission
“Preparing innovative and competent leaders who provide the highest level of evidence-based quality care.”
The mission of Hofstra University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is to establish the program as a leader in education that fosters excellence in teaching, scholarship, and professional service to meet the needs of a diverse society, by preparing innovative and competent leaders who provide the highest level of evidence-based quality care for diverse populations and communities across the lifespan.
DiverseandExpertFaculty
Highly qualified and diverse faculty with many years of academic experience, clinical specialization, and leadership in health care.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
New classroom, lab, and research spaces with high-quality equipment on a multidisciplinary campus.
ContemporaryCurriculum
Optimized academic schedule to ensure ideal learning experiences with use of the latest technology.
ClinicalPartnerships
Strong partnerships with leading healthcare systems throughout Long Island, surrounding areas, and nationwide, representing the entire rehabilitation continuum.
Research Opportunities
Collaboration and mentorship on faculty projects in the Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Science (MARS) Lab.
About the DPT Program
Hofstra University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a full-time curriculum that comprises 105 credit hours (3 years). This residential program prepares its graduates for all aspects of a physical therapy career through diverse learning experiences, such as lectures, hands-on work, clinical practice, and professional activities.
Scholarships are available for inaugural Summer 2024 class entrants.
Clinical Education
Hofstra’s DPT program includes five full-time, clinical education experiences totaling 32 weeks, seamlessly integrated into the curriculum. With the University’s valued resources, students benefit from more than 500 contracted clinical sites nationwide, providing diverse opportunities to apply classroom knowledge under the supervision of licensed physical therapists.
Clinical Experiences
• Hospital (acute care bedside)
• Hospital (acute care rehabilitation)
• Hospital (outpatient basis)
• Sub-Acute Rehabilitation
• Skilled Nursing Facility
• Outpatient Orthopedics
• Home Care
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Aquatic Rehabilitation
• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Professional Sports Rehabilitation
• Lymphedema
• Oncology Rehabilitation
• Dance/Performing Arts
• Manual Rehabilitation
• Vestibular Rehabilitation
• Concussion Rehabilitation
Facilities
The Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Science (MARS) lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology, enables accurate measurement of body motion and functional behaviors like walking and balance. Hofstra faculty use this advanced facility to explore diverse research topics such as biomechanical analysis in athletics, clinical skill validation, qualitative study of student learning, clinical assessment of exercise, and meta-analyses of neurologic care.
Admission Criteria
Requirements for admission to the program include:
• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution; provisional admission possible pending degree completion
• Minimum 3.0 GPA overall and in prerequisite coursework
• Completion of required courses with a minimum grade of “C”
• GRE scores from the last five years required; no specified minimum
• Two letters of recommendation (one from an academic faculty member, one from a licensed physical therapist)
• A personal statement expressing interest in physical therapy, including personality traits, career goals, and relevant experiences
• Successful performance on an admission interview
• Documentation of 50 observation hours in two different clinical settings
• International students require specific TOEFL scores: Internet-based test – 80; Computer-based test – 213; Paper-based test – 550.
*Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA may still be considered under certain circumstances.
Course Prerequisites
To ensure that students have the foundational content knowledge and skills needed to successfully complete the curriculum, the Program requires the following prerequisite coursework, completed within the past 10 years:
• Anatomy and Physiology with Lab – 6 credits minimum OR Anatomy with Lab (3 credits minimum) and Physiology with Lab (3 credits minimum)
• Physics with Lab – 6 credits minimum
• Biology with Lab – 3 credits minimum
• Chemistry with Lab – 3 credits minimum
• Psychology – 3 credits minimum
• Statistics – 2 credits minimum
Accreditation Status
Effective October 31, 2023, Hofstra University's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program was granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org).
To contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. Yasser Salem, Program Director, at 516-463-5185, or email yasser.salem@hofstra.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not ensure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Contact Information
Office of Graduate Admission
Room 105 Memorial Hall
516-463-6480
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Dr. Yasser Salem, PT, PhD, MS, NCS, PCS Program Director
Room 222 Hagedorn Hall
516-463-5185
