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Doctor of Physical Therapy

Doctorate Degree

The School of Science and Technology

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Quincy University prepares students to become skilled, compassionate physical therapists who help people move, heal, and live active lives. Students learn to evaluate movement, diagnose physical impairments, and design evidence-based treatment plans that restore function and improve quality of life.

Physical therapist talking to a student who is sitting on a table and point to his foot while another student watches

Opportunities & Outcomes

Grounded in Quincy University’s Catholic Franciscan values, the program emphasizes ethical practice, service, and respect for human dignity. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on laboratory learning, and extensive clinical experiences, graduates develop the clinical expertise, critical thinking, and professional confidence needed for successful practice in a variety of settings.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program are prepared for licensure and professional practice across diverse healthcare environments.

Physical therapy is a dynamic, evidence-driven profession spanning clinical care, leadership, research, and community impact. Graduates are prepared to practice across the lifespan, in diverse settings, and in evolving healthcare models.

Clinical Practice

Physical therapists treat individuals of all ages across a broad spectrum of conditions.

  • Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Care
  • Sports & Performance
  • Neurologic Rehabilitation
  • Geriatrics & Healthy Aging
  • Pediatrics & Development
  • Cardiopulmonary & Acute Care
  • Pelvic Health & Women’s Health
  • Oncology & Lymphedema Care
  • Emerging & Integrative Practice Areas

Practice Settings

Physical therapists practice in diverse environments across healthcare and community systems:

  • Hospitals and academic medical centers
  • Outpatient and private practice clinics
  • Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
  • Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
  • Home health services
  • Schools and early intervention programs
  • Sports facilities and performance centers
  • Corporate, industrial, and occupational settings
  • Military and veteran health systems
  • Community health and global outreach settings

 

Leadership & Administration

Physical therapists frequently advance into leadership roles that shape care delivery and healthcare systems.

  • Clinical Leadership
  • Systems & Healthcare Leadership
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Education Leadership

Research, Education & Professional Advancement

Physical therapists drive evidence-based practice and influence the future of healthcare.

  • Research & Outcomes Science
  • Academic & Faculty Roles
  • Policy & Advocacy
  • Advanced Training & Specialization

 

The Scope of the Profession

Physical therapy is not confined to a single setting or patient population. It is a profession grounded in movement science, prevention, rehabilitation, performance optimization, and whole-person care.

Programs of Study Offered

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Charter Scholarship

Members of our charter class (starting August 2026) are eligible to receive a $10,000 scholarship to offset the total cost of the DPT program. Contact us today for more information. physicaltherapy@quincy.edu

Program Details

Quincy University’s Hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program welcomes motivated students who are ready to make a difference in the lives of others. Admission pathways are available for both traditional graduate applicants and high-achieving incoming freshmen through our Direct Admit option.

Program Length is 29 months (7 semesters, full-time). The first cohort is planned to begin in August 2026 and complete in December 2028. Enrollment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will begin only after Quincy University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Curriculum Overview

The Quincy University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is a 29-month, seven-semester, full-time hybrid curriculum. Students engage in online coursework, intensive lab immersions in Quincy, IL, and more than 30 weeks of full-time clinical education. The curriculum progresses from foundational sciences to integrated patient management to immersive clinical practice. The first cohort is planned to begin in August 2026 and complete in December 2028 .

  • Year 1: Foundational sciences (Anatomy, Kinesiology, Pathophysiology), professional practice, and early rehabilitation courses in musculoskeletal, neuroanatomy, and cardiopulmonary care. Touchstone Seminars begin, helping students integrate knowledge across courses.
  • Year 2: Advanced systems management, evidence-based practice, imaging and diagnostics, neurologic management series, pediatric care, and the first full-time clinical experience. Students deepen the integration of classroom learning with clinical application.
  • Year 3: Final full-time clinical rotations, complex patient care, a capstone project, and licensure preparation, culminating in readiness for entry-level practice.
Technology Requirements

Because of the hybrid design of the program, students must have consistent access to:

  • A personal computer meeting DPT program specifications
  • Current versions of required software
  • Reliable high-speed internet connectivity

All technology-related expenses are the student’s responsibility. Maintaining adequate hardware and connectivity is essential to academic success and progression.

Accreditation

Quincy University is developing a Doctor of Physical Therapy program and is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org.

Submission of an Application for Candidacy does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status.

Enrollment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will begin only after Quincy University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Complaints Policy

Individuals who have concerns or complaints about the program may follow Quincy University’s internal complaint procedure due process which can be found in the student handbook.

Complaints that fall outside of due process should be directed to Dr. Don Hoover, Physical Therapy Program Director, at d.hover23@quincy.edu. Retaliation following complaint submission is prohibited.

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) also considers complaints about programs related to compliance with CAPTE standards. Such complaints should be directed to: CAPTE, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org

 

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Quincy University Doctor of Physical Therapy program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a physical therapist in all U.S. states and territories. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students are responsible for reviewing the specific requirements of the state in which they plan to practice.

“Students will be awarded a degree in Doctor of Physical Therapy upon completion of the program.”

Technical and Professional Standards

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Quincy University requires that all students meet essential technical and professional standards necessary for successful completion of the curriculum and for safe, effective clinical practice. These standards reflect the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required of practicing physical therapists.

Students must demonstrate sufficient:

  • Sensorimotor and Psychomotor Skills – to perform physical therapy assessments, interventions, and emergency responses requiring strength, coordination, and fine motor control.
  • Observational Skills – to accurately observe patients and gather clinical data through visual, auditory, and tactile means.
  • Communication Skills – to effectively interact with patients, families, peers, faculty, and other professionals in oral and written English, while demonstrating sensitivity to cultural and linguistic diversity.
  • Intellectual, Conceptual, and Integrative Skills – to analyze, synthesize, and apply information in clinical reasoning, documentation, and problem-solving.
  • Affective, Behavioral, and Social Skills – to demonstrate empathy, professionalism, integrity, stress management, and adaptability in academic and clinical environments.

In addition, students are expected to exhibit the professional behaviors fundamental to the practice of physical therapy, including critical thinking, responsibility, effective use of feedback, and commitment to lifelong learning.

Technical standards must be met with or without reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Students acknowledge their understanding of and ability to meet these standards upon accepting an offer of admission.

A detailed description of the Technical Standards and Professional Behaviors is available in the Quincy University DPT Student Handbook.

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Faculty Spotlight

Christina Dehoff, PT, DPT, PCS

Christina Dehoff, PT, DPT, PCS

Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Jacklyn Malt, BS, PT, MS, PhD, CSCS

Jacklyn Malt, BS, PT, MS, PhD, CSCS

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Toni Judge, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS

Toni Judge, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Joel Novak, PT, DPT, CSCS

Joel Novak, PT, DPT, CSCS

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

David Cox, PT, DPT, NCS

David Cox, PT, DPT, NCS

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Contact

Don Hoover, PT, PhD, CSCS
Program Director and Professor of Physical Therapy
1800 College Ave
Quincy, IL 62301
217-228-5432
physicaltherapy@quincy.edu

Amy K. Stollberg, M.Ed
Associate Dean of Transfer and Graduate Admissions
Francis Hall Room 111
217-228-5212
stollam@quincy.edu

Don Hoover, PT, PhD, CSCS

Don Hoover, PT, PhD, CSCS

Program Director & Professor of Physical Therapy

Amy Stollberg MEd

Amy Stollberg MEd

Associate Dean of Transfer and Graduate Admissions

Degree Requirements

Doctorate

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