Physical Therapy

About Our Programs

Nova Southeastern University, Physical Therapy Department offers several exciting opportunities including:

Mission Statement

The mission of the Nova Southeastern University Physical Therapy programs is to develop doctorally prepared practitioners in a rich learning environment that is interdisciplinary and culturally diverse. Technology is used to enhance teaching and to cultivate a learning community that transcends time and distance.

Graduates are prepared to practice legally, ethically, and autonomously and are recognized as practitioners of choice in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of movement-related dysfunction, and in the promotion of health and wellness.

The physical therapy programs foster clinical reasoning, life-long learning, and critical inquiry that integrate both evidence and expert practice. Faculty and students are committed to serving all community populations, including the medically underserved and uninsured, through service learning and clinical education experiences.

Vision Statement

The Physical Therapy programs of Nova Southeastern University foster dynamic learning communities that develop doctorally prepared practitioners who learn, practice, educate, and lead in interdisciplinary environments. Graduates are proactive, primary care professionals who engage in lifelong learning and who practice with integrity and accountability to the profession and the community.

The programs are locally, nationally and internationally recognized through scholarly contributions, and are acknowledged as valuable resources for physical therapy information and services related to movement, function, health, and wellness.? Faculty and students are recognized as leaders within the profession through collective service to the American Physical Therapy Association and other professional and community organizations.

Entry Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT)

The Entry-Level Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Nova Southeastern University is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree that takes 36 months to complete. The Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The entry level program has been accredited since 1996, and was granted Accreditation status for an additional period of ten years on April 24, 2002. For further information, please contact Dr. Shari Rone-Adams.

Hybrid Entry Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (HE-DPT)

The Hybrid Entry Level DPT (HE-DPT) Program is a flexible program that combines online learning for flexibility and face-to-face learning for instruction and feedback on hands-on skills. The curriculum mirrors the full time E-DPT program at NSU Ft. Lauderdale except that it is completed in 4 years instead of 3. Students attend classes at the Tampa campus 4-5 days per month. The fourth year of the program consists of full-time clinical internships in a variety of settings. For further information, please contact Dr. Mary Blackinton.

Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (TDPT)

The Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a post-graduate program designed for working physical therapists that want to advance their clinical knowledge and skills to that of the Doctor of Physical Therapy. The T-DPT Program accepted its charter class in June, 2002. This program is delivered primarily online, augmented with on campus sessions once per semester. Physical therapists with either a bachelor's or master's degree are eligible to apply for admittance. For further information, please contact Dr. Bini Litwin.

Doctor of Philosophy Program (Ph.D., PT)

The Doctor of Philosophy Program is the first Ph.D. in Physical Therapy degree program in the nation that is offered in a distance education format with minimum residence requirement. The Ph.D., PT program is designed for physical therapists whose professional interests include both the aspiration to teach and the commitment to research. This program is for practicing physical therapists that entered the profession through entry-level bachelor-, master-, and doctoral (or T-DPT) degrees. For further information, please contact Dr. Samuel Cheng.

Manual Therapy Certification Program

The Physical Therapy Program of Nova Southeastern University is proud to offer a hybrid (on-line and on campus) manual therapy certification program. On campus courses are offered at the Ft. Lauderdale Campus in the Health Professions Complex, 3200 S. University Dr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328.
Please click on the links below for further information on:

For more information, please contact Dr. Carlos Ladeira at cladeira@nova.edu

Process for filing a complaint with CAPTE