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.

What Sets Us Apart

  • 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 (pending approval).
  • Professional Transformation: We prepare you to seize opportunities for significant professional growth to live your preferred future!

SCHEDULE A PERSONAL CONSULTATION

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.”
Omar Temraz, DPT
PhD student, Year 2

About the Program

Program Requirements

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  (83 units minimum)
  • Track 2: Prior Doctor of Physical Therapy degree  (69 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 (ECE or 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 83 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 69 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.

 

 

Graduation Requirements: 26 Program Elements

Objectives

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.

Apply Now

Complete the online application and refer to the school's admissions information. 

Program Faculty

View the Core Faculty List for PhD program.

Contact Us

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:ahgradstudies@llu.edu