DPT + MBA: Physical Therapy and Business Administration Dual Degree, Doctorate , Master's

The DPT program at DeSales accepts applications from qualified post-baccalaureate candidates with degrees from accredited institutions.

Unless otherwise indicated, all items must be submitted to PTCAS by the final deadline date for the application to be considered eligible for review:

• Submission of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, with evidence of completion of all required prerequisite courses, or plan for completion no later than June 30 prior to the start of the session to which the applicant has applied.
• Submission of completed Prerequisite Coursework form. Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a recommended minimum 3.2 GPA in mathematics and science prerequisite courses at time of application. No grade below C and no more than one re-take on any prerequisite course will be accepted. Prerequisite coursework GPA will be calculated to include all occurrences, including retakes, of all required prerequisite courses.
• Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores – recommended minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 300. Visit www.ets.org for additional information. DeSales University’s institutional reporting code is 4460.
• Demonstrate understanding of and ability to meet all Technical Standards and Essential Functions required of physical therapy practice.
• Answer all required program questions detailing your interest in the field of physical therapy, and including a description of academic, employment and volunteer preparation and experiences to support the application.
• Complete 40 hours of observation/volunteer/internship/employment hours in a single physical therapy facility. Additional observation hours in a variety of physical therapy practice settings is highly recommended, i.e., outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics, acute care/hospital, extended care facility, geriatrics, home health, sports medicine, etc. Referring PTs should submit their evaluation directly to PTCAS.
• Two references, completed by non-relative, professional individuals, including, but not limited to, professors, employers, and coaches, and excluding the licensed physical therapist(s) with whom clinical observation was performed. All completed references should be submitted directly to PTCAS by the individuals that complete them—not by the applicant.
• If selected for application review, qualified candidates must complete an on-campus interview with DPT program faculty for final determination of admission.  
• All international applicants from a country where the official language is other than English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and present documentation of scores with the minimum requirement of 104 for the Internet-based test.  Please visit www.ets.org for additional information.
• All transcripts from any degree-granting institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES approved evaluation service with the resulting report submitted with the DPT program application to PTCAS.  Please visit www.naces.org for additional information.

In the DPT/MBA dual degree program, you'll simultaneously complete courses across both professions.

• Students will use the University’s gross anatomy laboratory, with dissection creating a deeper foundational knowledge of the human body.
• Each student will participate in a research project with a faculty mentor, including a literature review, project design, data collection and data analysis.
• The program has 36 weeks of clinical education experience distributed across four courses.

Your MBA degree with have a concentration in Healthcare Management, where you'll be taking courses such as:

• Fiscal Issues in Health Systems Management,
• Legal Aspects of Health Systems Management,
• Issues in Quality Management for Healthcare Systems,
• Healthcare Payment Systems and Value Based Reimbursement,

among many others to choose from.

The Area's Only Gross Anatomy Lab

Complete with cadavers, our Gross Anatomy Laboratory enhances the training of our students, giving them a real understanding of the human body. Most DPT programs only have cadaver labs if they are associated with medical schools. However, because DeSales has the only cadaver lab in the region, we offer opportunities for shared use in partnership with area hospitals.

Classroom and Labs in Wills Hall

Most of the Physical Therapy classes at DeSales will take place in dedicated physical therapy classrooms, skills, and research laboratory facilities in Wills Hall and Chappuis Hall. Our facilities are outfitted with new, contemporary equipment currently used in physical therapy practice settings.

The Community Wellness and PT Clinic

Physical therapy is available for community members at the Community Wellness and PT clinic, which offers evidenced-based physical therapy services to decrease pain and improve function of patients. The Clinic provides greater access to PT services for the community, while giving students hand-on learning opportunities. This clinic is embedded in the curriculum, so a referral for service is not required.

DeSales Simulation Lab

The Health Care Simulation Lab features state-of-the-art technology, including mannequin simulators, audio/video technology, integrated simulation management, and skills-evaluation software. The advanced capabilities of the sim lab greatly improve the learning experience by providing life-like situations in a low-risk setting. This gives our students the confidence they need to provide high-quality patient care when they eventually perform procedures on actual patients.

Program Costs

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

• Tuition per year ($11,050 per term): $33,150*
• Professional fees per year ($500 per term): $1,500
• Books (estimate for entire program texts): $2,400
• Clinical Education (estimates for entire program): $1,020
• Graduation Fee: $120
• Licensure Exam - NPTE Registration Fee: $485; plus state license application fee (varies by state) **

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Tuition/credit hour: $880*

*Tuition per term will remain the same for the 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition costs are subject to change with notice.
**These fees are incurred by the student after graduation in order to acquire a license to practice as a physical therapist and are not paid to the university.

Tuition Deferment

DeSales University offers graduate students the opportunity to defer payment of their tuition when they will be receiving reimbursement from their employer or when they are eligible to receive financial aid. A copy of your employer's tuition reimbursement policy must be forwarded to the Treasurer's Office and/or all necessary financial aid paperwork must be filed with the Financial Aid Office before tuition deferment is granted. 

Tuition deferment is a privilege given to graduate students at DeSales and can be revoked if this privilege is abused. Please note that you, as the student, are responsible for payment of your tuition balance in the event that your financial aid/loans or employer reimbursement is not received by the Treasurer's Office.

Tuition Reimbursement

When a student is eligible for tuition reimbursement from his/her employer, written evidence of eligibility is required. The student is responsible for requesting this reimbursement from his/her employer. In cases where reimbursement is contingent upon successful completion of the course(s) and the student either withdraws or does not achieve a grade sufficient to warrant maximum reimbursement, the student is ultimately responsible for payment for the course(s).