Physical Therapy, D.P.T.
Arnold School of Public Health
Our DPT program will prepare you to become a movement expert to help people maximize their quality of life. You'll learn to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to optimize function and health across the lifespan.
We provide a curriculum that prepares you to excel as clinicians to meet the needs of health care in society. Through inquiry, innovation and integrity, we foster graduates and faculty who are exceptional practitioners, researchers and leaders in a dynamic field that requires lifelong learning, including developing and applying new knowledge.
Program Highlights
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Personal Attention
Enjoy small class sizes and interactions with faculty members who are exceptional practitioners, researchers and leaders.
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Exam Success
Study in a program whose first-time pass rate on the licensure exam ranked 13th out of 261 programs in the nation in 2021-22.
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Real Preparation
Complete 1,600 contact hours during four clinical rotations with our clinical partners and high-quality instructors.
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Diverse Populations
Provide care in a variety of settings like hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools and nursing homes.
Building Skills
Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.
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Empathy
Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and demonstrating compassion and support
Problem Solving
Identifying, analyzing and resolving problems or challenges using creative and effective strategies
Interprofessional Collaboration
Working with professionals from different disciplines to provide coordinated care or services
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Interpersonal Skills
Communicating and interacting effectively in a variety of social and professional situations
Research
Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems
Treat Injuries
Providing medical care to individuals who have been injured or harmed
Using your degree
Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.
Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.
Potential Careers
- Physical Therapist
Job Titles of Alumni
- Physical Therapist
- Clinical Associate Professor
Average Alumni Salary
Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $79,886
Workplace Settings
- Hospitals
- Private Practices
- Outpatient Clinics
- Sports and Fitness
- Schools
- Nursing Homes
Employers of Alumni
- University of South Carolina
- Ascent Total Performance
- Atrium Health
- Lexington Medical Center
- Prisma Health
The USC Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is awesome. It’s hard – you need a lot of dedication and resilience – but the faculty are so caring and helpful and will be there if you ask them. They’re also receptive to and supportive of new ideas.
