PhD Proposal and Dissertation
The faculty have outlined the Technical Standards deemed essential for successful completion of the DPT curriculum. Students admitted to the DPT program must review the Technical Standards and submit a signed form at the time of matriculation.Â
Students are required to complete two teaching practicums before presenting their PhD proposal (comprehensive examination). No more than one practicum can be undertaken in a semester. There is no course registration for this educational experience, and fulfillment is monitored by the department.
Students typically take the PhD preliminary exam in the next summer term after they have completed 2 full terms in the program but may be taken after only one term if approved by the Department. The PhD proposal (comprehensive examination) is presented generally at the end of the second year. A final public PhD defense is made by each PhD candidate based on the student’s research work.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
The DPT portion of this program at the University of Pittsburgh 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: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Department Chair James Irrgang at 412-383-9865 or Program Director David Wert at 412-383-5397 or email ptinfo@shrs.pitt.edu.