Residential Pathway Course Schedule

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

The systems-based curriculum integrates lecture and laboratory experiences on campus and a total of 44 weeks of full-time equivalent clinical experiences that begin in the first year. Through corresponding coursework and clinical rotations, students develop their knowledge and expertise in each area alongside USC’s globally recognized faculty.

Learn more about individual courses and explore the course schedule for each year in the residential pathway below.

Year 1

  • Courses
    12 Courses

  • Clinical Experience
    1 Clinical Experience

Semester 1

(17 Credits)

  • Cellular and Systems Physiology
    PT 509 | 3 Credits | Course
  • Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice
    PT 561a | 2 Credits | Course
  • 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 Imaging
    PT 606 | 2 Credits | Course

Semester 2

(19 Credits)

  • Therapeutic Exercise
    PT 530a | 2 Credits | Course
  • Analytical Anatomy
    PT 554L | 3 Credits | Course
  • Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice
    PT 561b | 2 Credits | Course
  • Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System
    PT 566 | 3 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Biomechanics (Movement Analysis II)
    PT 574 | 3 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Management of The Patient with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction
    PT 621 | 5 Credits | Course
  • 2-Week Clinical Experience1
    PT 600a | 1 Credit | Clinical Experience

Year 2

  • Courses
    15 Courses
  • Clinical Experiences
    2 Clinical Experiences

Summer

(9 Credits)

  • Principles of Disease
    PT 516 | 1 Credit | Course
  • Special Topics in Therapeutic Exercise
    PT 530b | 2 Credits | Course
  • Therapeutic Application of Physical Agents
    PT 551L | 3 Credits | Course
  • 6-Week Clinical Experience
    PT 600b | 3 Credits | Clinical Experience

Semester 3

(18 Credits)

  • Neuroanatomy
    PT 534L | 3 Credits | Course
  • Pathology of Cardiopulmonary Disease and General Medical Conditions
    PT 536 | 3 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Pharmacology
    PT 539 | 1 Credit | Course
  • Clinical Exercise Physiology
    PT 549L | 4 Credits | Course
  • Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice
    PT 561c | 2 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Management of Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction
    PT 571L | 4 Credits | Course
  • 2-Week Clinical Experience
    PT 600c | 1 Credit | Clinical Experience

Semester 4

(17 Credits)

  • Neuropathology
    PT 546 | 3 Credits | Course
  • Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice
    PT 561d | 2 Credits | Course
  • Fundamentals of Neuroscience
    PT 569 | 4 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Management of the Patient With Neurological Dysfunction
    PT 581L | 5 Credits | Course
  • Clinical Electrophysiology
    PT 583L | 1 Credit | Course
  • Life Span Motor Control
    PT 529 | 2 Credits | Course

Year 3

  • Courses
    5 Courses
  • Clinical Experiences
    3 Clinical Experiences

Summer

(11 Credits)

  • Evidence for Physical Therapist Practice
    PT 561e | 2 Credits | Course
  • Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy
    PT 650 | 2 Credits | Course
  • Emerging Topics
    PT 625 | 3 Credits | Course
  • 8-Week Clinical Experience
    PT 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

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. 

Interested in applying to USC’s DPT Program – residential pathway?