WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • Variety of interventions
  • High quality of written and oral articulation
  • Hands-on learning in a clinical setting
  • Preparation for professional licensing exam
  • use of a variety of clinical and adaptive facilities

WHO YOU COULD BE

  • Pediatric physical therapist
  • Geriatric physical therapist
  • Orthopedic physical therapist
  • Cardiovascular physical therapist
  • Neurological physical therapist

 

 

OVERVIEW

Within a vibrant academic community, physical therapy students at Puget Sound benefit from small classes and personal relationships with professors, as well as extensive, hands-on clinical experiences and a coordinated curriculum of written and oral communication woven throughout the program. Trained as critical thinkers and compassionate caregivers, students gain valuable experience through meaningful research, innovative programs, and advanced clinical electives. Puget Sound offers physical therapy services to the community in a free clinic where students deliver care mentored by licensed therapists hired from the region. This clinical learning is integrated into students’ second and third years, and is in addition to the program’s 30 weeks of full-time clinical internships.

Our graduates leave the program clinically ready, independent practitioners and collaborative professionals in the field. Since the program’s founding in 1975, we have had exceptionally high first time and ultimate passing rates on the professional licensing exam.

 

Apply Now

SAMPLE COURSES

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Sample student topics in the annual research symposium:

  • Kate Hovde SPT'23, Kenny Li OPT'22 and Kylie Wong BS'23. Mentor: Roger J. Allen PT, PhD. "Nociplastic Pain Assessment for Diagnostic Discrimination in Physical Therapy: A Systematic Review"
  • Kate Hovde SPT'23, Kenny Li OPT'22 and Kylie Wong BS'23. Mentor: Roger J. Allen PT, PhD. "Pain Education Lessons from a Systematic Review of Nociplastic Pain Assessment for Diagnostic Discrimination in Physical Therapy"
  • Cara Filce SPT'23 and Jillian Stoewer SPT'23. Mentor: Holly Roberts PT, PhD. "COVID Restrictions Did Not Result in Decreased Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults"
  • Nicolle Gerchak SPT'23 and Eric Nguyen SPT'23. Mentor: Julia Looper PT, PhD. "Effects of Treadmill Interventions on Infants with Developmental Delays Presenting with Mild and Severe Impairments"
  • Jacqueline Diulio SPT'23 and Hailey Kettel SPT'23. Mentor: Karin Steere PT, PhD. "Pain catastrophizing, pain intensity and perceived injustice do not predict HRV in acute pain"
  • Rohan Cobb-Ozanne SPT'23 and Kayla Withers SPT'23. Mentor: Danny McMillian PT, DSc. "Motivational Characteristics and Fulfillment of Psychological Needs Among Physical Active Undergraduate Students"

WHERE OUR ALUMNI WORK

Our alumni work in a variety of physical therapy settings:

  • Physical therapy clinics
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Sports rehabilitation specialties
  • Hospital outpatient service
  • Naval hospital

The School of Physical Therapy at the University of Puget Sound 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; website: www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 253.879.3526 or email pt@pugetsound.edu.

DISCLOSURE:

Accreditation qualifies the physical therapy graduate to take the national licensing examination and, on successful completion of the exam, apply for licensure in all 50 states.