What is CSULB doing to advance to a DPT?
The CSU physical therapy program department chairpersons have been instrumental in a request from their respective University Presidents to CSU Chancellor Reed to support a bill for an Independent DPTfor the next legislative session.
CAPTE passed the mandate for the DPT. The expected timeline is that our first DPT class would enter in fall, 2012. To maintain accreditation, the first DPT class must be accepted by fall, 2014.
CSULB is still discussing a joint DPT program with faculty at UCI but this does not look feasible in time to meet the mandate. The joint program is contingent upon UCI establishing a new Department of Rehabilitation Science. Due to a change in administrators at UCI, the concept of a Department of Rehabilitation Science and joint DPT degree has not been advanced to their Faculty Senate as of Spring, 2009. The concept of a joint DPT degree with UCI passed the CSULB Faculty Senate in 2009.
What is the present alternative for our graduates?
Many graduates have earned t-DPT degrees. Local programs are available. We have been in communication with Western University to insure credit for our MPT courses towards their t-DPT degree. Two universities from which our graduates have earned distance-learning t-DPTs are Temple and Boston Universities.
