Hybrid Program Course Schedule

The hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is a three-year, full-time program.

The systems-based curriculum integrates online coursework, an engaging virtual classroom experience, on-campus immersions and a total of 50 weeks of clinical experiences that begin in the first year. Through corresponding coursework and clinical rotations, students develop their knowledge and expertise as they are taught by USC’s globally recognized faculty.

Learn more about individual DPT@USC courses and explore the course schedule of each year below.

Year 1

Courses
12 Courses

On-Campus Immersions
4 On-Campus Immersions

Clinical Experiences
1 Clinical Experience

Semester 1a

(5 Credits)

Cellular and Systems Physiology PT 509 | 3 Credits | Course

Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice PT 561a | 2 Credits | Course

Semester 1b

(12 Credits)

Musculoskeletal Anatomy PT 514L | 4 Credits | Course

Basics of Patient Management PT 521L | 4 Credits | Course

Mechanics of Human Gait (Movement Analysis I)PT 582 | 2 Credits | Course

Clinical ImagingPT 606 | 2 Credits | Course

Immersion No. 1On-Campus Immersion

Immersion No. 2On-Campus Immersion

Semester 2

(19 Credits)

Therapeutic Exercise PT 530a | 2 Credits | Course

Analytical Anatomy PT 554L | 3 Credits | Course

Evidence for Physical Therapist PracticePT 561b | 2 Credits | Course

Disorders of the Musculoskeletal SystemPT 566 | 3 Credits | Course

Clinical Biomechanics (Movement Analysis II)PT 574 | 3 Credits | Course

Clinical Management of The Patient with Musculoskeletal DysfunctionPT 621 | 5 Credits | Course

2-Week Clinical Experience¹PT 600a | 1 Credit | Clinical Experience

Immersion No. 3On-Campus Immersion

Immersion No. 4On-Campus Immersion

¹ PT 600A includes both a classroom course and a clinical experience component.

Year 2

Courses
15 Courses

On-Campus Immersions
4 On-Campus Immersions

Clinical Experiences
2 Clinical Experiences

Summer

(9 Credits)

Principles of Disease PT 516 | 2 Credits | Course

Special Topics in Therapeutic Exercise PT 530b | 2 Credits | Course

Therapeutic Application of Physical AgentsPT 551L | 2 Credits | Course

6-Week Clinical ExperiencePT 600b | 3 Credits | Clinical Experience

Immersion No. 5On-Campus Immersion

Semester 3

(18 Credits)

Neuroanatomy PT 534L | 3 Credits | Course

Pathology of Cardiopulmonary Disease and General Medical ConditionsPT 536 | 3 Credits | Course

Clinical PharmacologyPT 539 | 1 Credit | Course

Clinical Exercise PhysiologyPT 549L | 4 Credits | Course

Evidence for Physical Therapist PracticePT 561c | 2 Credits | Course

Clinical Management of Cardiopulmonary DysfunctionPT 571L | 4 Credits | Course

2-Week Clinical ExperiencePT 600c | 1 Credit | Clinical Experience

Immersion No. 6On-Campus Immersion

Semester 4

(17 Credits)

Neuropathology PT 546 | 3 Credits | Course

Evidence for Physical Therapist PracticePT 561d | 2 Credits | Course

Fundamentals of NeurosciencePT 569 | 4 Credits | Course

Clinical Management of the Patient With Neurological DysfunctionPT 581L | 5 Credits | Course

Clinical ElectrophysiologyPT 583L | 1 Credit | Course

Life Span Motor ControlPT 529 | 2 Credits | Course

Immersion No. 7On-Campus Immersion

Immersion No. 8On-Campus Immersion

Year 3

Courses
5 Courses

On-Campus Immersions
2 On-Campus Immersions

Clinical Experiences
3 Clinical Experiences

Summer

(11 Credits)

Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice PT 561e | 2 Credits | Course

Differential Diagnosis in Physical TherapyPT 650 | 2 Credits | Course

Emerging TopicsPT 599 | 3 Credits | Course

8-Week Clinical ExperiencePT 600d | 4 Credits | Clinical Experience

Semesters 5 and 6

(24 Credits)

Integrated Patient Management Clinical Skills PT 630 | 6 Credits | Course

Integrated Patient Management Seminar PT 632 | 5 Credits | Course

16-Week Integrated Terminal Clinical Education Experience With Academic Integration¹ PT 660 | 5 Credits | Clinical Experience

16-Week Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience¹ PT 665 | 8 Credits | Clinical Experience

Immersion No. 9On-Campus Immersion

Immersion No. 10On-Campus Immersion

¹ Note: The Full-Time Clinical Education Experience can occur in either the fifth or sixth semester. The Director of Clinical Education determines when each student completes the integrated or full-time terminal clinical education experience.

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