Welcome to the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Loma Linda University
At LLU, our DPT program goes beyond traditional education; we embrace the Whole Person Care approach, recognizing that true healing encompasses mind, body, and spirit. With this ethos at our core, we are pioneers in shaping healthcare professionals who are not only skilled in their craft but also deeply committed to the well-being of their patients. Our mission to "Make Man Whole" drives everything we do. From cutting-edge research to hands-on clinical practice, every endeavor is dedicated to serving others. Whether it's through our state-of-the-art medical facilities or our outreach programs in underserved communities, we strive to uplift humanity and alleviate suffering wherever it exists. Join us at Loma Linda University, where excellence meets empathy, and together, we'll make a difference that resonates far beyond our campus walls.
Why Choose LLU’s Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program?
- Our Vision: To develop highly skilled, compassionate clinicians who don’t just treat injuries, but truly transform lives—both locally and globally—through innovative care, lifelong learning, and a deep commitment to service.
- Our Mission: As part of a faith-based and diverse institution, we strive to improve the human movement experience and quality of life by advancing physical therapy practice through education, scholarship, and professional service.
- Our Patients: Our DPT program stands out by integrating real patient involvement directly into our labs, offering our students an unparalleled learning experience. By bringing in real patients, our students gain invaluable practical experience that goes beyond theoretical knowledge.
- Our Approach: Whole Person Care approach stands as the cornerstone of our ethos, shaping not only our curriculum but also the very fabric of our institution. This holistic framework recognizes that true healing encompasses more than just the physical body; it encompasses the mind, spirit, and social dimensions of each individual.
- Our Faculty: Seasoned practitioners themselves, they weave this approach seamlessly throughout the curriculum, guiding students to see beyond symptoms and diagnoses to understand the unique narratives and contexts of each patient. By immersing students in real-world scenarios, interdisciplinary collaborations, and community outreach initiatives, we empower them to emerge not just as skilled therapists but as compassionate healers who can truly make a difference in the lives of those they serve.
Service Opportunities for Real-World Training
As aspiring clinicians in physical therapy, students undergo a transformative journey where they learn not only the intricacies of anatomy and biomechanics but also the importance of empathetic understanding and comprehensive care. LLU’s DPT program is proud to offer students life changing service opportunities that provide meaningful hands on experience while making an impact in diverse communities.
- Symba Clinic: The Symba Clinic is a vibrant cornerstone of experiential learning, offering students a transformative educational experience. Here, students gain hands-on experience working with diverse patient populations, honing their clinical skills, and cultivating empathy and compassion. The Symba Clinic not only prepares students for the challenges of their future careers but also instills in them a deep sense of purpose and dedication to serving others.
- Global Mission Trips: Across continents, DPT students have served in countries like China, Thailand, Peru, and Honduras, working alongside local providers to support underserved communities through rehabilitation and physical therapy care. These hands on global health experiences challenge students to adapt in resource limited settings while deepening their understanding of patient care across cultures.
Program Overview
Prerequisites and Admissions
The Entry-level DPT program prerequisites are:
- An earned bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited school
- Anatomy and Physiology the complete sequence with lab
- Two additional biology courses
- Medical Terminology
- General Chemistry the complete sequence with lab
- General Physics the complete sequence with lab
- Statistics
- General Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech
*Science prerequisites are valid for 10 years. Non-science prerequisites do not expire.
For information regarding which courses to take at your college or university, please refer to our Transfer Patterns - Two Attempt Rule: If you retake a prerequisite, we will count the grade earned on the second attempt.
- Our minimum cumulative GPA is 3.0, with a minimum science and non-science GPA of 3.4.
- We require a total of 80 observation hours; 20 hours in an in-patient setting, 20 hours in an outpatient setting, and 40 hours in a setting of your choice. Your hours can be verified through PTCAS.
- We do not require the GRE.
- Three letters of recommendation are required and will be submitted through PTCAS. One letter needs to be from a physical therapist.
Applications are submitted through PTCAS Official transcripts must be sent directly to PTCAS from your college or university. PTCAS can not verify your application until they have received all your transcripts. Three science prerequisite courses may be in progress/planned at time of application.
Our priority deadline is October 1st 8:59 pm PST, with our final deadline December 1st 8:59 pm PST. About 200 applicants will be interviewed.
Curriculum
Year 1
Summer
| AHCJ 510 | Human Gross Anatomy | 9 units |
| PHTH 510 | Kinesiology | 3 units |
| PHTH 514 | Manual Muscle Test | 3 units |
| PHTH 544 | Professional Formation I | 1 unit |
| RELT 718 | Adventist Heritage & Health | 2 units |
Autumn
| PHTH 509 | Biophysical Agents | 3 units |
| PHTH 513 | Therapeutic Procedures | 3 units |
| PHTH 539 | Integrative Physiology | 4 units |
| PHTH 544 | Professional Formation I | 0 units |
| PHTH 563 | Research I | 2 units |
| PHTH 581 | Histopathology I | 2 units |
| AHCJ 705 | Infectious Disease | 1 unit |
| RELR 775 | Whole Person Care | 2 units |
Winter
| PHTH 505 | Acute Care Simulation | .5 units |
| PHTH 508 | PT Communication | 2 units |
| PHTH 511 | Clinical Orthopedics | 2 units |
| PHTH 519 | Locomotion Studies | 3 units |
| PHTH 528 | Therapeutic Exercise I | 3 units |
| PHTH 544 | Professional Formation I | 0 units |
| PHTH 564 | Research II | 1 unit |
| PHTH 582 | Histopathology II | 3 units |
| RELE 707 | Ethics for Allied Health | 2 units |
Spring
| PHTH 571 | Integrated Clinical Experiences I | 1 unit |
| PHTH 506 | Exercise Physiology | 3 units |
| PHTH 521A | Orthopedics IA | 3 units |
| PHTH 525 | General Medicine | 3 units |
| PHTH 544 | Professional Formation I | 0 units |
| PHTH 565 | Research III | 1 unit |
| PHTH 568 | Integrative Neuroanatomy | 4 units |
| PHTH 569 | Clinical Neurology | 2 units |
Year 2
Summer
| PHTH 524 | Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care | 2 units |
| PHTH 540 | Concepts of Acute Care | 2 units |
| PHTH 554 | Professional Formation II | 1 unit |
| PHTH 586 | Orthotics & Prosthetics | 2 units |
| PHTH 587 | Pharmacology | 2 units |
| PHTH 597 | Specialized Interventions | 2 units |
| RELT 740 | World Religions | 3 units |
Autumn
| PHTH 501 | Neurology I | 3 units |
| PHTH 521B | Orthopedics IB | 3 units |
| PHTH 526A | Cardiopulmonary | 3 units |
| PHTH 554 | Professional Formation II | 0 units |
| PHTH 557 | Pediatrics | 3 units |
| PHTH 575 | Orthopedics IV | 1 unit |
| PHTH 591 | Business Administration | 1 unit |
| PHTH 595 | Clinical Imaging | 3 units |
| PHTH 597 | Specialized Interventions | 0 units |
| AHJC 719 | Wholeness Portfolio | 1 unit |
| PHTH 572 | Integrated Clinical Experience II | 1 unit |
Winter
| PHTH 502 | Neurology II | 3 units |
| PHTH 518 | Aspects of Health Promotion | 2 units |
| PHTH 522 | Orthopedics II | 3 units |
| PHTH 526B | Cardiopulmonary II | 3 units |
| PHTH 530 | Therapeutic Exercise II | 3 units |
| PHTH 534 | Soft Tissue Techniques | 2 units |
| PHTH 554 | Professional Formation II | 0 units |
| PHTH 558 | Pediatrics II | 3 units |
| PHTH 575 | Orthopedics IV | 0 units |
| PHTH 592 | Business Administration II | 1 unit |
| AHCJ 719 | Wholeness Portfolio | 0 units |
Spring
| PHTH 503 | Neurology III | 3 units |
| PHTH 505 | Acute Care Simulation | 0.5 units |
| PHTH 517 | Movement Science | 2 units |
| PHTH 523 | Orthopedics III | 3 units |
| PHTH 554 | Professional Formation II | 0 units |
| PHTH 555 | Medical Screening | 2 units |
| PHTH 559 | Geriatrics | 2 units |
| PHTH 592 | Business Administration | 1 unit |
| PHTH 597 | Specialized Interventions in PT | 0 units |
| AHCJ 719 | Wholeness Portfolio | 0 units |
Year 3
Summer
| PHTH 573 | Integrated Clinic Experience III | 3 units |
| PHTH 504 | Neurology IV | 2 units |
| PHTH 596 | Orthopedics V | 3 units |
Autumn
| PHTH 701 | Terminal Clinical Experience I | 7 units |
Winter
| PHTH 702 | Terminal Clinical Experience II | 7 units |
Spring
| NPTE Review |
| Graduation Preparation |
| PEAT |
| Graduation |
Student Health Requirements
Please review Loma Linda University's Student Health Requirements information here.
Program Cost
Get details on the standard cost of attendance at LLU. View Estimates
Financial Aid - The majority of students apply for loans to finance their education at our university. For more information, see the Financial Aid page.
FAQ
What is the minimum GPA for acceptance?
- When calculating your GPA, the Department will count the prerequisites plus the freshman English composition, two humanities courses, and one social science course. The minimum GPA in science and non-science is 3.4.
What is your class size?
- Our typical class size is between 55 and 60. In the laboratory setting, we maintain a faculty to student ratio of 1:10-12.
Can the program be taken part-time?
- No. The curriculum is sequenced in a way that you need to take one course prior to the next course. Therefore, students are registered each quarter for a Block of courses that all need to be taken that quarter.
Can the program be taken on-line?
- No. All of our courses are taught on campus.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate - Two year average 93.65%
Class of 2025 - 94.3%
Class of 2024 - 93%
First Time Pass Rate - Two year average 87.1%%
Class of 2025 - 88%
Class of 2024 - 83%
Overall Pass Rate - Two year average 100%
Class of 2025 - 100%
Class of 2024 - 100%
Employment Rate - Two year average 100%
Class of 2025 - 100%
Class of 2024 - 100%
Accreditation
The Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Loma Linda University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; 703-684-2782. Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.capteonline.org
*Complaints can be filed with CAPTE using the contact information above.
The most recent accreditation status was granted on October 25, 2022 and is in effect through December 31, 2032.
If needing to contact the program directly, please call Heather Hebron at 909-558-0459 ex:83254, or email her at [email protected], or email Program Director Larry Chinnock at [email protected].