Texas A&M Texarkana | Doctor of Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The new Doctoral program in Physical Therapy is currently pending SACSCOC approval.

TAMUT DPT will admit the students for Spring 2026 and for Fall 2026 and thereafter all cohorts will be admitted in the Fall.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) is built on bold ideas and big aspirations. We are committed to improving the health and well-being of rural and underserved populations through excellence in education, clinical practice, research, and community engagement. Our program will prepare entry-level physical therapists to Think Big—tackling the unique challenges of rural communities with innovative solutions, Dream Big—envisioning a future where high-quality care is accessible to all, and Do Big—making a lasting impact through leadership, advocacy, and hands-on patient care.

TAMUT is uniquely positioned to serve a four-state area and is located only one hour from Shreveport, LA, two hours from Little Rock, AR, and under three hours from Dallas, TX. As part of the prestigious Texas A&M University System, TAMUT DPT offers the resources of a large university with the personalized, family atmosphere of a small college. Graduate scholarship opportunities and out-of-state tuition waivers may be available. For more information on scholarship opportunites, visit our Scholarships page.

The DPT program consists of seven full-time semesters delivered in a flipped classroom, active learning environment. Students will participate in on-campus lab experiences twice per semester, strengthening their clinical skills in the DPT lab space and TAMUT’s hospital simulation lab. Students will gain hands-on experience in the motion lab, work with advanced technology such as smart boards and virtual reality, collaborate with other healthcare disciplines, learn directly from industry experts, and engage with the latest innovations in healthcare.

DPT students will complete three clinical experiences, totaling 31 weeks of hands-on learning. These experiences include inpatient (hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities) and outpatient settings (sports medicine, pediatrics, general orthopedic, and neurological settings), with a third clinical rotation offering the option to pursue specialty areas or other student-selected settings to meet program requirements for depth and breadth of patient care.

DPT FAQs

Some students can manage working. This is left to the discretion of the student. However, if a student is working and the academic coach or any faculty member recognizes signs of distress or inability to keep up in classes then the student will work with the academic coach on steps to move forward. If this issue becomes serious the student will be placed on a professional behavior contract.

All courses required for the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, both didactic and clinical, must be completed with the TAMUT Department of Physical Therapy. The TAMUT Department of Physical Therapy does not grant advanced placement, credit for experiential learning, or transfer credits from another program or institution.

Technology Requirements

The DPT curriculum is delivered using a hybrid education model. The DPT Program encourages faculty and students to develop, integrate, and/or use innovative technology (approved for use by the University) in ways that improve course delivery, active learning, coaching, communication, and student outcomes. This model requires that students possess the necessary technology to participate fully in the program. Additional recommendations are made so that students can create a distance-learning environment suitable for physical therapist education. These requirements and recommendations are shared with prospective students to provide prospective students with the transparency necessary to make an informed decision about participation in the TAMUT DPT program.

Laptop Computer

The recommended minimum hard drive is 512 GB with RAM of 16 GB.

	Windows	Mac
Processor	i5 or i7 Intel® Core™, Apple M1, or equivalent processor	i5 or i7 Intel® Core™, Apple M1, or equivalent processor
Display	13-inch display (or larger recommended) 1024 x 768 screen resolution or better	13-inch display (or larger recommended) 1024 x 768 screen resolution or better
Hardware	Webcam (internal or external) and microphone required Phone Tripod – for use in testing	Webcam (internal or external) and microphone required Phone Tripod – for use in testing
Operating System	Windows 10 or higher	Apple OS 10.15 (Catalina) or higher
RAM	16GB (or larger)	16GB (or larger)
Hard Drive	512GB preferred	512GB preferred
Networking	Wireless: 802.11g (or higher)	Wireless: 802.11g (or higher)
Bandwidth	Minimum 15Mbps Download/2 Mbps Upload Speed	Minimum 15Mbps Download/2 Mbps Upload Speed
Software	Microsoft Office 365 (Available for free download from TAMUT Digital Backpack.)	Microsoft Office 365 (Available for free download from TAMUT Digital Backpack.)
Acrobat Reader	Acrobat Reader Other computer software/ applications required by the program	Acrobat Reader Other computer software/ applications required by the program

Mobile Device

Android, Apple, and Microsoft products are acceptable and must have mobile broadband capabilities. (Please note: Microsoft Surface Pro can be considered under both laptop and mobile device categories. If you are considering a Surface Pro for use as a laptop, please see minimum computer requirements above.) Please see below for example products:

Android - Example products include phones and tablets from Acer, ASUS, Google, HTC, and Samsung. Android operating system version 6.0 or newer is required.

Apple - Example products include the iPhone and iPad of various generations. Apple operating system version 9.0 or newer is required.

Mobile broadband capability for the mobile device is suggested to provide an internet connection when a local wireless network is not available.

When pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, you are training to become a licensed professional capable of treating a wide variety of patients with diverse needs. The DPT curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive education, covering all major aspects of physical therapy, from pediatrics to geriatrics, orthopedics to neurology, and beyond. Here’s why every course in the program is essential:

Building a Strong Foundation - As a physical therapist, you are likely to encounter patients of all ages and backgrounds, each with unique conditions and goals. The courses in a DPT program are structured to help you develop a strong, versatile foundation in both the science and art of physical therapy. Whether you intend to specialize in sports medicine, orthopedics, or any other field, this foundational knowledge is crucial. It equips you with the ability to recognize, evaluate, and treat a wide range of injuries and conditions—even those outside your preferred specialty.
Meeting Licensure Requirements - To practice as a licensed physical therapist, you must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The NPTE tests your competence in various areas of physical therapy, not just the one you might prefer or specialize in. By completing the entire DPT curriculum, you ensure you are well-prepared to pass this comprehensive exam and meet all the requirements for licensure.
Gaining Insight and Empathy - Exposure to different patient populations and conditions, even those outside your main interest, helps you develop a deeper understanding of the challenges people face. This insight builds empathy, communication skills, and a well-rounded perspective—qualities that are essential for providing high-quality care, even within a specialized field like sports medicine.
Long-term Career Flexibility - The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, and your career path may shift over time. What interests you now may not be your focus in the future. Completing all aspects of your DPT program ensures that you have the flexibility to adapt to new opportunities, specializations, or patient populations as your career progresses. You’ll be prepared to pivot if your interests or circumstances change.

For didactic classes the ratio is dependent on the course content. Generally for didactic classes the ratio will be 1 faculty for 20 to 30 students. The number varies with the content of the class. There may be classes with both core faculty and adjuncts and the ratio may be 1 to 10. For lab classes the ratio will be 1 faculty to 10 students.

NOTE:

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org ) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website.

Texas A&M University Texarkana is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On May 1, 2025, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the [professional/technical] phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in [professional/technical] courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.