The Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum includes eight semesters of coursework and clinical experiences distributed over 30 months. Information and resources for PT students are listed below. For information and resources for Clinical Instructors, please click here.
Clinical Education Calendar
| Month | Clinical Education (CE) Events |
|---|---|
| March | ACCE sends an electronic request for clinical education experiences for the following year |
| April | Clinical Education II Begins (10 weeks in length) (3rd year students) |
| June |
|
| August |
|
| October | CE IV Clinical Experience Completed (3rd year students) |
| November | Clinical Education I Begins (5 weeks in length) ( 2nd year students) |
| December |
|
Physical Therapy Clinical Experience Requirements
DPT students engage in 4 full-time clinical experiences, ranging from 5 weeks to 10 weeks in length for a total of 34 weeks of full-time experiences.
Full-time DPT clinical experiences are meant to prepare all Rockhurst DPT graduates to practice across a range of settings with individuals across the lifespan. To adequately prepare students to practice across a variety of settings, students are required to complete a clinical experience of 5 weeks or longer in an inpatient adult setting and another clinical experience of 9 weeks or longer in an outpatient adult setting. Students also need to be prepared to complete one 9- or 10-week full-time clinical experience outside the Kansas City metropolitan area.
PT Matching Process
All students submit preferences for upcoming clinical experiences prior to assignments being made. The matching process includes a review of student preferences, matches via computer software and a review of all CE matches by the faculty and clinical education team. . Student clinical experience assignments are based on a range of factors specific to the student and the site. The faculty work to ensure all students experience a range of practice settings to prepare them to successfully secure employment after graduation.
DPT Curriculum
Student Clinical Education FAQs
How many and how long are the clinical experiences?
DPT students engage in 4 full-time experiences, ranging from 5 weeks to 10 weeks in length for a total of 34 weeks of full-time experiences.
Where are your clinical experiences located?
The Department of Physical Therapy Education has contracts with over 400 clinical sites in 43 states. Over 83% of our clinical sites are located in KS, MO, OK, IA, and NE. We are always open to pursuing relationships with new sites based on student, faculty, alumni, and area clinician recommendations.