Elon University has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree, and will enroll its first D.P.T. class in January 2003.
This accreditation makes Elon one of only 42 colleges and universities in the nation to offer the D.P.T. degree. In addition, Elon and Duke University are the only two schools in North Carolina offering the degree.
“This is a major step forward for our program,” says Elizabeth Rogers, associate dean and chairperson of the department of physical therapy education. “With a D.P.T. degree in hand, our graduates will be well-prepared to enter the workforce and to provide excellent care for their clients.”
The American Physical Therapy Association has determined that the entry-level program for physical therapy will transition from the current Master’s of Physical Therapy (M.P.T.) degree to the D.P.T. by 2020. Elon’s first D.P.T. students will graduate in December 2005.
Elon’s department of physical therapy education was created in 1996 in partnership with Alamance Regional Medical Center. The Elon M.P.T. program received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in May 2000. Elon’s D.P.T. degree has also been accredited by CAPTE.