About the Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is located in the School of Health Sciences and the Office of Graduate Studies at Stockton University. The Program values excellence in teaching, continuous learning, adapting to change, scholarship, and service.

Vision

The Physical Therapy Program at Stockton University will be recognized regionally and nationally for outstanding education and community engagement that results in optimized health of our region.

Mission

The Physical Therapy Program prepares students for contemporary physical therapy practice to function effectively for the patient/client, community, and profession. We embrace the mission of the School of Health Sciences and Stockton University by creating an environment of excellence in teaching, life-long learning, scholarship, community engagement, and service.

We have a responsibility to multiple stakeholders in our region including students, the University, the profession and the public. We meet our responsibility by being a focal point for the professional community through academic and continuing education, professional and community activities, and scholarship.

Values

Members of society have the right to quality health care. Health care professionals have an obligation to deliver their services to communities and society. In all realms of practice, physical therapists are obligated to conduct themselves in an ethical manner.  We provide a holistic approach to health care by optimizing function of the movement system to facilitate meaningful participation in life roles. We prioritize patient centered care that includes collaboration with family and other health care professionals.

We support our mission and guide our practices and behavioral expectations through an emphasis on:

• excellence in teaching
• serving as resources, role models, mentors, and advisors to students and colleagues
• interprofessional collaboration

We embrace a responsibility to:

• embody ideals of evidence based practice to our students.
• contribute to the development of new ideas, both within and across disciplines.
• create and preserve an environment that is free from prejudice and discrimination, and to take actions that affirm our commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

The DPT Program is a focal point for the professional community. The faculty are committed to increasing the foundation of knowledge of the profession through direct patient care, professional and community activities, continuing education, and research. Specifically, the faculty are committed to increasing the foundation of knowledge of the profession through research and scholarship by discovery, creation, dissemination, integration, and application of knowledge. The faculty are professional and personal role models for peers and students.

The Physical Therapy faculty are an impressive group devoted to our students and the profession of Physical Therapy. Collectively, we are a professionally and personally diverse group who are well renowned at a national, state, and local level. We have vast clinical expertise in all major areas of practice. Faculty conducts research on an ongoing basis and routinely present and publish work in collaboration with our students. The faculty are dedicated educators and highly accessible. In addition to our full-time physical therapy faculty members, many other professionals contribute to the program, including physicians, basic scientists, and other health care professionals.

The curriculum is contemporary and innovative. Students learn in small class sizes in well-equipped classroom facilities. They have ongoing patient contact in the program such as patients visiting the classroom and regular trips to local clinics including two (2) on-campus hospitals. Additionally, there are three (3) full-time clinical experiences. For optimal learning, the full-time clinical experiences are scheduled at key times throughout the curriculum. Clinical experiences are concentrated in the mid-Atlantic region with additional sites outside the area. Preclinical courses include experiences in the classroom, School of Health Sciences Simulation Suite, at AtlantiCare Medical Center, and part time integrated clinical experiences in a variety of clinical settings. Most clinical experiences require a student to obtain additional clearance, such as satisfactory criminal background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, and select immunizations. 

As a school within the New Jersey system of Higher Education, every effort is made to maintain the affordability of the program. Many students are awarded Stockton Graduate Assistantships that permit exciting learning experiences such as working in clinics and conducting research. Students can also apply for internal and external scholarships.

Students who graduate from a physical therapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) are qualified to take the National Physical Therapist Licensure Examination (NPTE). Each state's licensure board may have additional requirements to take the NPTE,  such as satisfactory criminal background checks. Upon passing the NPTE and receiving a state physical therapy license, you may then practice physical therapy in the states you are licensed. 

Program Outcome

National Physical Therapy License Exam

As reported by the Federation of State Board of Physical Therapy, Stockton graduates have 100% pass rate from 2015-2020. The first time pass rate for 2022 was 80.7% with an overall pass rate of 100%.The first time pass rate for 2023 was 86.2% with an overall pass rate of 100%.The two year average for first time pass rate was 83%. The two-year average overall pass rate was 100%. 

Graduation Rate

The graduation rate (as defined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) for Stockton’s Physical Therapy Program:

Employment Rate

With a 100% employment rate among graduates, Stockton physical therapists are sought after for residency programs and clinical practice in every setting.

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Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Stockton University 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
E-mail: accreditation@apta.org  |  Website: http://www.capteonline.org

The program has been continuously accredited since its inception.  Questions regarding the physical therapy program’s accreditation should be directed either to CAPTE or to the Program Chair, Dr. Patricia McGinnis, at (609) 652-4704 or E-mail:  Patricia.McGinnis@stockton.edu. 

Complaint Process 

While the Program seeks to offer due process in all situations, complaints not addressed through the university’s established due process procedures should be addressed via the following procedures:

• Inform the Program Chair of the nature of the complaint to seek resolution, or to seek direction to appropriate university department.
• Contact the Dean of the SHS if the grievance has not been resolved through the previous steps.
• Contact the Provost for matters related to academic affairs if the grievance has not been resolved through the previous steps.

The faculty affirm the right of all individuals to address grievances without fear of reprisal or retaliation following submission of grievances.