The Department of Physical Therapy prepares future health care practitioners and researchers with a transformative education rich in clinical experiences, community outreach, and research opportunities to develop leaders guided by the core Catholic, Jesuit values of Cura Personalis and Cura Apostolica.

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT) PROGRAM

Vision

The Physical Therapy Department at Marquette University will be among the best educational programs in preparing Physical Therapy graduates who excel in academics, leadership, clinical practice, and service to others.

Mission

To graduate autonomous entry-level physical therapists who are evidence-based and ethical practitioners, proficient in applying their knowledge and skills to diverse clinical settings. Our graduates will be lifelong learners empowered to serve as leaders and innovators within their profession and communities.

Our graduates will be recognized by individuals and interprofessional colleagues as movement and function experts, equipped to optimize health, activity, and participation across diverse populations and environments. Our graduates will be prepared to diagnose health conditions within the scope of physical therapist practice and to assess and address impairments in body function and structure, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, while considering the environmental and personal factors that influence health and well-being.

In alignment with Catholic, Jesuit values, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is committed to supporting programs of outreach that will enhance the enrollment and training of underrepresented students and service to populations in need in the Milwaukee community and beyond.

Philosophy

Consistent with the Ignatian practice of Examen which makes a Jesuit education unique, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program aspires to transform students into critical thinkers who respect the dignity and worth of others, through the process of reflection and discernment.

The teaching-learning process is recognized as a dynamic interaction of shared responsibility among the faculty, clinicians, and students. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program supports the educational view that students learn in a myriad of ways, necessitating a variety of learning experiences. These experiences are important for the development of a life-long autonomous learner who is self-motivated and self-directed. Furthermore, the program prioritizes the well-being of all members of the department and is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program faculty are a resource and role model in the development of these traits by providing quality instruction, contributing to the general body of knowledge through an active research agenda, maintaining personal clinical competence including the operation of on-campus Physical Therapy, NeuroRecovery, and ProBono clinics, demonstrating professionalism, respecting the dignity of others and advocating for patient and professional causes. It is the goal of the faculty to help students to become educated members of society, active members of their profession and role models for peers and future physical therapists.