Apply
We received a high volume of competitive applicants during the Early Decision PTCAS Admissions Cycle this year. As such, we have currently filled our student class, and will not be reviewing any additional applications for the class of 2023 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee DPT Program.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in the UWM DPT program as well as your patience during the admissions process.
All application materials must first be submitted through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
Once recommended for admission to the Program, you will need to apply to and be accepted by the UWM Graduate School.
For more detailed information on this process, check out the Admission section below. For application deadlines, please refer to the UWM Graduate School website.
Cost
UWM offers the following Tuition Reduction Programs for out-of-state residents:
- Minnesota–Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity agreement
(Minnesota residents) - Midwest Student Exchange Program
(Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio residents) - Milwaukee Advantage Program
(Illinois residents)
Aid
UWM Fellowships & Awards
UWM & CHS Scholarships
Complete the FAFSA then go to the UWM Panther Scholarship Portal. Sign in using your PAWS credentials and complete the General Application and the CHS application. You may save your work and return to the portal at a later time.
You will then see a list of scholarships that you may apply to. Review each scholarship and click the “apply” button to any/all that you qualify for. If the scholarship requires additional information (and the application is open), you will click the “apply” button and can choose to answer the supplemental question(s) or not.
Check your UWM email for your application status. Additional information can be found at uwm.edu/scholarships.
State & National Scholarships/Awards
- Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association Fund
- American Physical Therapy Association Awards
- Foundation for Physical Therapy Scholarships
- American Academy of Physical Therapy Academic Award of Excellence
- Other scholarships for physical therapy students
- Fastweb.com
Other Financial Support
Resources
FAQ
Preparing to Apply for Admission to a Physical Therapy Program
When do classes for the DPT Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) begin?
Classes begin at the start of the summer semester following your admission and run full-time in a tracked program for six consecutive semesters, including summers, on campus. During the third year of the program, the student will participate in 3, 12-week clinical experiences; one during each of the three final semesters in the program. The program only operates on a full-time student basis.
When do I apply for admission?
There are two application windows; the early admission application deadline is August 15 and the regular admission application deadline is November 1st for the upcoming summer admission. All application material will be submitted through PTCAS. Please see our admissions website for additional information.
How do I decide which application window is best for me?
Strong applicants are encouraged to use the early admission window, as acceptance at this time will eliminate your need to apply to several programs during the regular admission window, in November. Applicants will receive notice of early admission decision well in advance of the November application process.
If I apply in early admission and am not offered a position, do I need to reapply in November to be reconsidered?
If you received a denial notice in PTCAS during the early admissions window, then you go into the regular admissions window and can apply to any program.
What are the prerequisites required to apply and do they need to be within a certain time window from my time of application?
Prerequisites for application are listed separately and in detail on this website under the Admission area. Courses may be in progress at the time of application and acceptance is conditional, upon grades for those classes not completed. All coursework must be completed by the time the DPT program begins. Students with prerequisites completed will be given preference on admissions.
What are the minimum requirements for application to the program?
The overall cumulative GPA and prerequisite GPA need to be a minimum of 3.0 in order for your application to be qualified for review by the selection committee. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be taken and the score submitted to UWM by the application deadline. The GRE must be within the past 5 years, to reflect current student performance. For non-traditional students the coursework, including prerequisite science courses, are often more than 5 years old. This is accepted, but keep in mind that science is a dynamic field and if you feel that your knowledge is not current or the coursework content is dated, we encourage you to retake any prerequisite coursework. Time since completion of the prerequisite courses is considered by the selection committee in offering placements.
Academically, what does the average student who has been accepted to the program look like?
Over the past few years students who have successfully been admitted to the DPT program at UWM have had an average cumulative GPA of 3.50, average prerequisite GPA of 3.43, and average GRE score is 61% quantitative and 64% verbal, with the writing score 4.13. Students should achieve a 3.30 cumulative GPA and prerequisites GPA to be competitive.
If I am not accepted at the time of application, what can I do to improve my chances to be reconsidered?
If you are being reconsidered in November, any additional coursework that is completed may be submitted. Retaking the GRE and improving your score is also an option. If you reapply the following year, an entire new application must be resubmitted. The DPT program will not pull letters of recommendation, GRE scores, or clinical observation forms from old application files.
What can I expect the typical costs of the program to be?
Wisconsin residents should assume books and tuition costs for the entire three years in the program will be approximately $45,000. For detailed and up-to-date tuition and fee rates, visit the UWM Enrollment & Financial Services website. Tuition is set by the Board of Regents every two years and should be expected to change. All students will participate in clinical experiences located outside of southeast Wisconsin. Therefore, all students should plan for living and transportation expenses during the clinical experiences, in addition to their time on campus.
Can I work while attending the program?
Most students find the DPT program coursework very rigorous and time consuming. Therefore, we recommend that students do not attempt to be employed during the DPT program. This is particularly true during the first two semesters in the program.
Is there financial aid available?
Yes, visit UWM Enrollment & Financial Services website for more details.
Is there housing available on campus for graduate students?
Typically graduate students live off campus, but visit the University Housing website for more information.
Contact
Phone: 414-229-3360
Fax: 414-229-3366
For admissions questions email pt-program@uwm.edu
Wendy E. Huddleston, PT, PhD
Program Director
414-229-3367 • huddlest@uwm.edu
Ann Dietrich, PT, MS
Director of Clinical Education
414-229-2822 • dietrica@uwm.edu
There’s nothing more rewarding than helping people improve movement and feel better, whether you’re working with a toddler who has a motor delay or an elderly client recovering from a surgery.
At UWM’s College of Health Sciences, our goal is to develop practitioners, researchers and educators who will be leaders in the profession of physical therapy across the lifespan. And it’s a terrific time to join the PT field because physical therapists are in high demand: The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for PTs will grow 22% between 2018-2028, much faster than average.
Why choose us?
- As the only public DPT program in the Greater Milwaukee area, we offer an urban, research-intensive experience at a fraction of the cost of private schools.
- Our class size is one of the smallest in the state, guaranteeing you personalized attention from our award-winning faculty.
- Our urban location gives you access to fantastic clinical opportunities with health care organizations across Milwaukee and beyond, and you’ll be out in a clinical setting by your second week of class — much earlier than you find with most other PT programs. We partner with nearly 400 clinical sites across the nation.
- Contribute to cutting-edge research in our Human Performance & Sport Physiology Laboratory, Pediatric Neuromotor Laboratory and Visuomotor Laboratory.
- Our graduates have a nearly 100 percent first-time pass rate on the national board certification exam — far above the national average. They’re also extremely competitive in the job market, and 100 percent are employed within six months of passing the licensing. See our graduation rates, licensure exam pass rates, and employment rates.
Accreditation
AccreditationVision & Goals
Vision & GoalsVision
The UW-Milwaukee (UWM) Doctor of Physical Therapy Program offers a unique education in an urban setting at a research-intensive university. Our focus is to graduate practitioners, researchers and educators to be leaders in the profession of physical therapy across the lifespan.
Goals
- Recruit and matriculate the most qualified and diverse students, challenging and supporting them to completion of the program.
- Develop a contemporary practitioner whose philosophy is anchored in evidence-based practice, values community and professional engagement, and facilitates patient/client participation through health promotion and disease prevention.
- Develop physical therapists who display the core values of professionalism and generic abilities consistent with expectations of a doctorally-educated professional.
- Recruit and retain diverse faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching and who serve as professional role models.
- Contribute to evidence-based practice through faculty and student scholarly activity.
- Facilitate life-long learning within the physical therapy community.
- Practice in a manner consistent with the established legal and professional standards and ethical guidelines of practice.
- Communicate orally and in writing in ways consistent with needs of the audience and situation.
- Adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences values, preferences and needs.
- Participate in self-assessment and lifelong commitment to learning.
- Make clinical decisions using theory, judgment and patient’s values.
- Evaluate data from varied sources to make sound clinical judgments.
- Advance quality of physical therapy services by participating in evidence-based practice.
- Utilize evidence in the selection of tests and measures, making diagnoses and prognoses and designing treatment plans.
- Establish and administer a plan of care that is safe, effective, patient-centered and evidence-based.
- Demonstrate leadership by participating in clinical education.
- Participate in organizational leadership by assuming leadership roles within the organization.
Admission
AdmissionWe received a high volume of competitive applicants during the Early Decision PTCAS Admissions Cycle this year. As such, we have currently filled our student class, and will not be reviewing any additional applications for the class of 2023 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee DPT Program.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in the UWM DPT program as well as your patience during the admissions process.
Application Process
The UWM Doctor of Physical Therapy Program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) admissions procedure. All application materials should be submitted through PTCAS; go to ptcas.org to submit your application. The Program does not accept paper applications, nor will incomplete applications be reviewed by the Selection Committee.
Applications to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program through PTCAS are due by:
- Early Admission Deadline (Mid August of each year)
If the program selects enough competitive applications in the Early Decision cycle to fill an incoming class, the program will do so. - Regular Admission Deadline (Early November of each year)
If the incoming class is not filled by applicants from the Early Decision cycle, the program will utilize the Regular Admission cycle to select students for the incoming class, according to the remaining availability.
Applicants should review the exact deadline dates published for UWM on PTCAS at the start of each new admission year.
All students must apply to the graduate school and pay required admission fees once recommended for admission by the Program.
Physical therapists work with people of diverse backgrounds. UWM values diversity in its student body. No student may be denied admission to, participation in or the benefits of, or discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility of the UW- System or its institutions or centers because of the student’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or parental status.
Admission Requirements
To apply to the UWM Graduate School for graduate studies in physical therapy, you must first meet the admission requirements of the UWM Graduate School.
In addition to UWM Graduate School requirements, those applying into the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program must meet the following minimum departmental requirements by the time of enrollment:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Completion of 10 prerequisite courses with a minimum prerequisite grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) – See Curriculum section below for full list of courses.
- Submission of scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination taken within the last five years.
- Completion of at least 40 total hours of clinical observation experiences in both outpatient and inpatient settings, with licensed physical therapist(s).
- Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be an academic reference.
- Responses to narrative essay questions.
The program will enroll 24 students each academic year. Students are selected based on GPA, GRE scores, two letters of recommendation (including at least one academic reference), and narrative essay responses. The program will give preference to candidates with pre-requisite requirements completed at the time of application to the program.
Required prerequisite courses
| Prerequisite Course | UWM Course Number |
|---|---|
| General Biology (4 cr. with lab) | Biological Sciences 150 |
| General Biology (4 cr. with lab) | Biological Sciences 152 |
| Human Anatomy (4 cr. with lab)* | Biological Sciences 202 |
| Human Physiology (4 cr. with lab)* | Biological Sciences 203 |
| Chemistry I (4 cr. with lab) | Chemistry 102 |
| Chemistry II (4 cr. with lab) | Chemistry 104 |
| Physics I (4 cr. with lab) | Physics 120 (lecture) and 121 (lab) |
| Physics II (4 cr. with lab) | Physics 122 (lecture) and 123 (lab) |
| Introductory Psychology (3 cr.) | Psychology 101 |
| Introductory Statistics (3 cr.) | Kinesiology 270 |
*Applicants must complete a 2-semester sequence of anatomy/physiology with lab. This can be a stand-alone anatomy course and a stand-alone physiology course or a 2-semester combined anatomy/physiology course.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program reviews candidate files only at the time of application.
If you are applying from within the University of Wisconsin-System, you should refer to the Transfer Wizard to evaluate courses for a fit with UWM Prerequisites at wisconsin.edu/transfer.
If you are taking prerequisite courses outside of the UW-System, you should first meet with an academic advisor in their institution.
The UWM Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has academic advisors. If you have additional questions, make an advising appointment at pt-program@uwm.edu. No pre-application approvals of course substitutions will be made during the advising process.
There will be no substitution of coursework that is not an equivalent course, i.e., a microbiology course will not be substituted for an anatomy course.
Admission Rates: PTCAS Cycle 2018-2019
| Admission window | Total applicants | Number of placements | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 55 | 26 | 47% |
| Regular Admit* | 56 | 0 | 0% |
| Overall | 111 | 26 | 23% |
*Low due to announcement of class filled in early decision. We had 125 applicants in progress, not submitted.
Meet With Your Advisor
Meet With Your AdvisorProspective Students
Prospective applicants who have questions about pursuing physical therapy are encouraged to seek advising from the Pre-Physical Therapy advisor in the College of Health Sciences Office of Student Affairs. Prospective applicants are encouraged to carefully review the entirety of this website and the program’s information packet prior to scheduling an advising appointment.
Completed Baccalaureate Degree: Prospective applicants who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and are interested in taking courses at UWM to satisfy DPT program prerequisites should apply for admission to UWM. On the application, applicants should identify their reason for applying as “Undergraduate courses as a visitor/guest student” and their “applying as” status as “Undergraduate non-degree student with a bachelor’s degree.” Applicants should apply as a second degree student only if they plan to complete a second bachelor’s degree. Questions regarding financial aid for non-degree students should be directed to Gayla Jenkins (jenkinsg@uwm.edu) in the UWM Department of Financial Aid.
Admitted Students
Admitted students receive advising from designated program faculty. Additional information will be made available to you after admission.
Curriculum
CurriculumThe program is a sequenced, competency-based curriculum of 110 credits including 36 weeks of internship in the final year of the program. Students will enroll as full time students for each term of study (Summer, Fall, Spring) and will enroll during UWinteriM of their first year in the program. There is no part-time option for students, nor can courses be taken out of sequence in the DPT program.
Summer I (10 Weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 12 | |
| KIN 525: Human Anatomy | 120 | 6 |
| KIN 526: Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice Examination Technique | 80 | 3 |
| PRPP 737: Medical Physiology I | 45 | 3 |
Fall I (15 Weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 15 | |
| KIN 527: Biomechanics/Kinesiology of Human Movement | 75 | 4 |
| PRPP 701: Introduction to Clinical Education and Professional Development | 15 | 1 |
| PRPP 702: Ethics in Healthcare | 15 | 1 |
| PRPP 736: Physiological Regulation of Exertion & Disease | 45 | 3 |
| KIN 541: Clinical Foundations of the Physical Therapy Examination | 120 | 5 |
| PRPP 703: Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 15 | 1 |
UWinteriM (2 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 1 | |
| KIN 680: Fieldwork I | 80 | 1 |
Spring I (15 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 15 | |
| PRPP 753: Medical Physiology II | 45 | 3 |
| KIN 640: Scientific Principles of Interventions | 120 | 5 |
| PRPP 758: Physical Agents | 30 | 2 |
| KIN 566: Neuroanatomy | 45 | 3 |
| PRPP 705: Research Methods | 30 | 2 |
Summer II (8 weeks instruction & 4 weeks fieldwork)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 10 | |
| PRPP 764: Motor Behavior | 45 | 3 |
| KIN 643: Integument System | 45 | 2 |
| KIN 741: Musculoskeletal - Lower Extremities | 60 | 3 |
| KIN 681: Fieldwork II | 160 | 2 |
Fall II (15 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 16 | |
| KIN 641: Cardiopulmonary Evaluation and Treatment | 45 | 3 |
| KIN 718: Clinical Radiology | 15 | 1 |
| KIN 742: Musculoskeletal - Upper Extremities | 60 | 3 |
| KIN 765: Neuromuscular - Adult | 90 | 4 |
| KIN 550: Psych Aspects of Human Movement | 45 | 3 |
| PRPP 709: Research Practicum | 30 | 2 |
Spring II (15 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 16 | |
| KIN 745: Health/Wellness in PT | 45 | 2 |
| KIN 740: Musculoskeletal - Spine | 60 | 3 |
| KIN 766: Neuromuscular - Pediatric | 90 | 4 |
| KIN 746: Case-based Clinical Decision Making (CDM) | 45 | 2 |
| PRPP 744: Healthcare System and Administration | 60 | 3 |
| PRPP 709: Research Practicum | 30 | 2 |
Summer III (12 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 8 | |
| KIN 880: Internship I | 480 | 8 |
Fall III (12 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 9 | |
| PRPP 704: Professionalism and Leadership in Healthcare | 15 | 1 |
| KIN 881: Internship II | 480 | 8 |
Spring III (12 weeks)
| Course | Contact Hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits: | 8 | |
| KIN 882: Internship III | 480 | 8 |
Get Involved
Get InvolvedDoctor of Physical Therapy Student Association
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Association is an organization that promotes student involvement, physical therapy research, teamwork, and cooperation among UWM students and faculty, and it educates and serves the community through its knowledge of physical therapy.
Contact
Carlynn Alt, Faculty Advisor
Clinical Associate Professor
414-229-1742
altc@uwm.edu
For more information about the Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Association, please visit orgsync.com/24372/chapter
Volunteer Service
The Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership, and Research provides the UW-Milwaukee campus with different opportunities to volunteer throughout the city and beyond. Each week of the year there are opportunities to make a real difference in Milwaukee and beyond by working to improve the environment, mentoring local kids, stocking shelves at a food pantry, serving breakfast to Milwaukee’s homeless community, engaging in an alternative spring break, and helping older adults.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at uwm.edu/community/students
Clinical Education
Clinical EducationThe Doctor of Physical Therapy program has clinical education contracts with nearly 400 clinical sites throughout the U.S.
The number and types of affiliations vary each year depending on the level of affiliation (1st, 2nd, or 3rd internship) and the staffing patterns at a particular clinical site.
Types of clinical settings
- Hospitals (acute care, sub-acute, ICU/critical care)
- Out-patient clinics or offices
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) (long term/extended care and acute)
- Home care
- Schools (preschool, primary and secondary)
- Hospices
- Corporate or industrial health centers
- Industrial, workplace or other occupational environments
- Athletic facilities (collegiate, amateur and professional)
- Fitness centers and sports training facilities
Clinical education experiences are planned to reflect a variety of practice settings and experiences. The clinical education program offers collaborative learning experiences to engage students, instructors, practitioners, administrators and faculty.
The program includes 5 formal clinical experiences. Students participate in 2 formal full time clinical education experiences that are integrated into the didactic portion of the curriculum.
- The first occurs during the WinteriM session between your first fall and spring semesters. This clinical experience lasts 2 weeks and is completed using a collaborative education model.
- The second integrated clinical experience is a 4-week experience that occurs in the summer between your 1st and 2nd years of the program.
- Three 12-week full time internships occur at the conclusion of the didactic curriculum.
The clinical education curriculum is designed to provide a broad clinical preparation, including experience in various practice settings (acute, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient), with different populations (neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary), and includes an additional focus in experience at one end of the life spectrum (pediatric or geriatric).
New Clinical Education Sites
If you would like to become a clinical education site affiliated with the UWM Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, please complete this survey and/or contact the following faculty members:
Ann Dietrich
Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education
414-229-2822
dietrica@uwm.edu
Renee Mazurek
Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
414-229-1741
mazurekr@uwm.edu
Clinical Education Program Curriculum
Courses
- KIN 680 Fieldwork I: Introduction to Physical Therapy Clinical Practice
- KIN 681 Fieldwork II: Basic Skills
- KIN 880 PT Clinical Internship I
- KIN 881 PT Clinical Internship II
- KIN 882 PT Clinical Internship III
- KIN 699 PT Clinical Internship Elective
Helpful Documents
- Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI)
- Professional Behaviors Assessment
- PT Student Evaluation: Clinical Experience and Clinical Instruction
- Weekly Planning Form
Student Compliance Requirements
UWM requires the following of all Doctor of Physical Therapy students:
- TB skin test or chest x-ray (annual)
- Titers indicating immunity to:
- Varicella
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Rubeola
- Vaccines for:
- Tetanus/Diphtheria (within last ten years)
- Hepatitis B (or signed statement of declination)
- Flu (annual)
- Physical Exam (annual)
- Current health insurance
- Current professional liability insurance coverage
- Current CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers
- Annual infection control training (including blood pathogen)
- Annual HIPAA training
- Screening of student in EPL and OIG websites
- Caregiver Background Check and Criminal History (one completed for all students upon enrollment in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program).
Timeline to Completion
Timeline to CompletionIn addition to formal coursework, students complete a third year which involves three, twelve week clinical rotations.
It is expected that the DPT degree will take a full-time student at least three years to successfully complete.
Graduation
Graduation- Payment of graduation fee on the PAWS system
- GPA 3.0 or higher
- Completed KIN 881 with a B or better
- Completed KIN 882 with a B or better
- Completed KIN 889 with a B or better
- 110 degree credits required
Use UWM’s Graduation website to review campus-wide graduation requirements, graduation application deadlines, applying for graduation, and ordering your cap and gown.
Employment Outlook
Employment OutlookEarnings
The median annual wage for physical therapists was $87,930 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,390, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $123,350.
Expected Growth
Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for physical therapy services will come in part from the large number of aging baby boomers, who are staying more active later in life than their counterparts of previous generations. Older people are more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries that require physical therapy for rehabilitation.
Professional Organizations
Professional OrganizationsThere are many resources available for DPT students. Below are links to some professional organizations. For additional assistance, please use the advising process.
Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff- Carlynn A. Alt, PT, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor - Ann Dietrich, PT, MS
Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Education - Kyle T. Ebersole, PhD, LAT
Associate Professor, Chair - Yeeilianna Hamilton
University Services Program Associate - Wendy E. Huddleston, PT, PhD
Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director - Renee Mazurek, PT, DPT
Clinical Assistant Professor, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education - Victoria A. Moerchen, PT, PhD
Associate Professor - Lori Woodburn
University Services Program Associate