Welcome!
Elevate your career and expertise with a flexible PhD program tailored to your schedule and professional goals. Choose from multiple learning options, including on-campus classes, synchronous online courses, or a hybrid education model, giving you the freedom to advance your profession on your terms!
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physical Therapy (PT) is offered by the Department of Physical Therapy within the School of Allied Professions, one of the eight schools at Loma Linda University. This program provides national and international physical therapy graduates with the skills necessary to pursue careers as researchers and educators. The PhD in PT is a research-oriented degree with emphases on 1) Pain Science (Domain 1 – Core), 2) Movement Science (Domain 2 – Specialization), and Lifestyle Health & Wellness (Domain 4). This will give the PhD in PT a unique niche.
Why Choose LLU's Physical Therapy PhD Program?
- Supportive Environment: Benefit from student-driven, faculty-supported research.
- Personalized Attention: Enjoy a low student-to-research guidance committee ratio of 1:3-4.
- Minor in Teaching: Enhance your academic profile with a minor in teaching.
- Professional Transformation: We prepare you to seize opportunities for significant professional growth to live your preferred future!
The PhD for Working Physical Therapy Professionals
What Our Students Are Saying:
“Thank you so much for everything Dr. Lohman. I really cannot express the gratitude and appreciation I have for you with all the assistance and guidance that you have given me over the past year. I am happy to have found a great mentor and friend that can help me grow on my journey as a PT, researcher, and educator. This has been the best decision I have made in my life so far, and I really understand the motto that LLU carries "to make man whole", as I really am seeing how LLU can shape my life.”
About the Program
Admission and Entrance Requirements
There are two possible entrance points for students in the PhD in PT program:
- Track 1: Prior Bachelors of Science (BS) in PT plus a master’s degree or a Masters in Physical Therapy degree (77 units minimum)
- Track 2: Prior Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (66 Units minimum)
Admission Requirements:
- Grade Point Average (GPA) Minimum 3.3/4.0.
- GRE or approved substitution (e.g., structured interview)
International Students:
- TOEFL score of 80 or higher
- Foreign Transcript Evaluation (WES)
Program Completion Requirements
The total units required to complete the program will vary depending on your past level of education. Students entering the program with a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT) and a master’s degree or a Master of Physical Therapy Degree (MPT) will be required to complete a minimum 77 quarter units. Students matriculating with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree or a MPT degree plus another doctorate degree will need to complete a minimum of 66 units. The curriculum is made up of a total of seven domains: 1) Core, 2) Clinical Specialization, 3) Sciences & Applied Sciences, 4) Lifestyle Health & Wellness, 5) Education & Administration, 6) Religion and 7) Research & Statistics.
Program Objective
To prepare leaders in the profession of physical therapy who are capable of conducting research to improve the lives of people through whole person care, to serve as client/patient advocates, and to serve as educators in entry-level and graduate physical therapy programs.
Learning Objectives
PhD Program Graduates will demonstrate:
- Skills to design and conduct novel, original research, provide evidence of an understanding of research designs and the ability to formulate, develop methodologies, collect data, excogitate conclusions, and effectively disseminate research findings;
- Qualities of lifelong learning and commitment to scholarship after graduation;
- The ability to add to the body of knowledge in physical therapy research literature through publications and presentations;
- A commitment to conducting research in lifestyle health and wellness and providing whole-person care.
- The ability to serve as an educator in entry-level, post-professional and graduate level programs; and
- Personal and group leadership skills at institutional, professional, national, and global levels.
Complete the online application and refer to the school's admissions information.
Major Professors:
- From Department of Physical Therapy (PT)
- Everett Lohman III, DSc, PT, OCS
- Todd Nelson, PhD, DPT, NCS, MBA
- Gina R. Gang EdD, DPT, MSPT, PT
- From LLU School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP):
- Gurinder Bains, PhD, MD
- *Noha Salim Daher, Dr.PH
- Robert Dudley, PhD, MS
- *Lida Gharibvand, PhD, MS
- Heather Javaherian, OTD, OT
- *Liang Ji, DrPh, MPH, MBA Arthur Marshak, MS, RRT, RPFT, EdD
- From Loma Linda University: As arranged
- From Local Universities:
- Brian Haddock, DrPH, FACSM (California State Univ. San Bernardino)
- Trevor Lohman, PhD, DPT, PT (University of Southern California)
- Mansoor Alameri, PhD, MPT, PT, OCS (University of St. Augustine)
- Angela MacCabe PhD, DPT (Evidence in Motion)
*Denotes individuals that may serve as a statistician on the PhD Research Guidance Committee. Note: All of the Department & School individuals above are approved to serve as a Dissertation Chair or a Research Guidance Committee Member by the Loma Linda University, Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) [The University’s Graduate School].
Everett B. Lohman III, DSc, PT, OCS
Associate Dean, Graduate Academic Affairs
Assistant Dean, Research Affairs
Program Director, Post-professional Physical Therapy Programs
Director, Orthoscience Research Laboratory
Director, Motion Capture Research Laboratory
Professor
E-mail: elohman@ llu.edu
Phone: 909-558-4632 ext. 83171
Department of Physical Therapy
School of Allied Health Professions
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California 92350
Fax 909-558-0995
Department Email:[email protected]
Our Research
View our Department research publications and presentations through the years.
Learn More