The Program
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved and authorized Tarleton State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The program is pending approval by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The Tarleton State University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a full-time, post-baccalaureate degree program offered in a traditional face-to-face format within the College of Health Professions, located in Stephenville, TX. As part of a public, doctoral-granting institution with high research activity, the program is committed to delivering a student-focused, high-quality education that prepares graduates for excellence in clinical practice, leadership, and service.
The 3-year (9-semester), 114-credit Doctor of Physical Therapy Program’s mission is to educate and graduate compassionate and skilled primary care physical therapy professionals who advance the profession, promote fairness and social responsibility, and transform the health of society through excellence in education, discovery, leadership, and service. With a focus on improving healthcare access, particularly in rural and medically resource-limited communities. The program is committed to preparing students for patient-centered, high-quality care in a vast range of clinical settings.
The program fosters professional awareness and patient-centered care, emphasizing adaptability, ethical decision-making, and respect in healthcare interactions. Students learn to recognize and address barriers to healthcare access while developing strong communication and critical thinking skills to enhance patient outcomes. The curriculum integrates policy awareness and emotional intelligence to prepare students to serve all patients with confidence and compassion.
Key Focus Areas:
- Primary Care & Direct Access – Students gain expertise in differential diagnosis, early detection of health conditions, and comprehensive patient evaluation to enhance preventative and long-term care solutions.
- Interprofessional Collaboration – Students develop teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution skills, working alongside other healthcare professionals to provide integrated, patient-centered care.
- Evidence-Based Practice & Research – The curriculum emphasizes research literacy, critical thinking, and application of best practices, ensuring graduates contribute to advancing the physical therapy profession.
Through rigorous coursework, hands-on clinical experiences, and a commitment to professional excellence, the Tarleton State University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program prepares students to become competent, compassionate, and ethical physical therapists who can serve all patient populations and improve healthcare outcomes in a variety of settings.
Rural and Community Health
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is committed to improving access to physical therapy services in rural and resource-limited communities by preparing graduates to address healthcare disparities, provider shortages, and geographic barriers. The curriculum integrates primary care and direct-access training, ensuring that students develop the clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills needed to serve as frontline providers in rural settings, where physical therapists often play a key role in early intervention, preventive care, and chronic disease management.
Students gain expertise in developing sustainable, patient-centered solutions tailored to resource-limited environments, including telehealth, mobile clinics, and community-based rehabilitation. Training emphasizes evidence-based practice, research literacy, and data-driven decision-making, equipping students to apply high-impact interventions in settings with limited access to specialty care.
Given the collaborative nature of rural healthcare, students develop interprofessional competencies, strengthening their ability to work within multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes. Clinical education includes immersive experiences in rural or resource-limited environments, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to deliver high-quality care, expand healthcare access, and improve patient outcomes in rural and community-based settings.
This commitment aligns with the mission of Tarleton State University, the College of Health Sciences, and the American Physical Therapy Association, reinforcing the program’s dedication to developing skilled physical therapists who can lead and innovate in rural health care.