Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy

For physical therapists interested in a research career

The Department of Physical Therapy in cooperation with the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and the Department of Physiology of the School of Medicine offers two doctoral training programs to qualified physical therapists.

• Anatomy/Physical Therapy
• Physiology/Physical Therapy

The department also works with other schools to offer additional doctoral programs.

• Rehabilitation and Movement Science
• Health Related Sciences

Objectives and goals

Although each program is unique in specific goals, these programs prepare physical therapy academicians who can contribute to the understanding and application of therapeutic procedures through basic and applied research and who can teach both clinical and didactic physical therapy on all academic levels with the goals of:

• obtaining and excelling in faculty positions in all academic levels,
• undertaking the research necessary to develop more scientific models of practice; including developing and testing theories at a basic science level,
• assuming leadership roles within the profession and
• advancing the development and delivery of clinical education.

Research areas of faculty involved in the Ph.D. Programs

Research Labs of faculty involved in the Ph.D. Programs