Mercy College

What you'll study

The DPT curriculum combines advanced coursework, hands-on laboratory training and longitudinal clinical education to develop clinical reasoning, technical proficiency and scholarly practice. Core themes include anatomy and kinesiology, pathophysiology across the lifespan, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal management, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, paediatrics and geriatrics, and differential diagnosis for primary care settings.

• Foundational sciences: advanced human anatomy, biomechanics, neuroanatomy and physiology, pharmacology relevant to rehabilitation.
• Clinical practice: musculoskeletal orthopaedics, neurorehabilitation, cardiopulmonary care, paediatric and geriatric practice, integumentary and wound management.
• Clinical skills and procedures: therapeutic exercise prescription, manual therapy techniques, therapeutic modalities, gait and movement analysis, assistive device selection.
• Evidence-based practice and research: research methods, biostatistics, critical appraisal of literature and a scholarly project or capstone focused on clinical questions or quality improvement.
• Professional development: ethics, interprofessional practice, healthcare systems and policy, practice management, cultural competence and communication skills.
• Clinical education: multiple full-time clinical placements across outpatient, inpatient, community and specialty settings with progressive levels of responsibility and assessment through practical exams and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).

Entry requirements

Applicants are typically required to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a background in the biological or health sciences. Competitive applicants will have completed prerequisite coursework such as human anatomy & physiology, biology, chemistry, physics and statistics.

• Official academic transcripts demonstrating a strong undergraduate record.
• Evidence of prerequisite coursework completed at an accredited institution.
• Practical exposure to physical therapy practice (observation or volunteer hours) is normally required or strongly recommended.
• Personal statement outlining motivations and professional goals, and letters of recommendation from academic or clinical referees.
• Successful candidates may be invited to an interview; additional requirements may include a background check and immunisation records prior to clinical placements.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared to practice as licensed physical therapists in a wide range of clinical environments. Common career paths include outpatient orthopaedics, neurological rehabilitation, acute hospital care, community and home health services, paediatric and geriatric care, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

• Clinical practice in hospitals, private clinics, sports and performance centres, schools and community health organisations.
• Post-professional residency and fellowship programmes leading to advanced clinical specialisation (e.g. orthopaedics, neurology, paediatrics, sports).
• Academic and educational roles teaching in allied health programmes or contributing to clinical education.
• Research and quality improvement positions in clinical research groups, industry or healthcare organisations following completion of scholarly projects and further research training.
• Leadership, management and private practice ownership, or roles in policy, advocacy and population health initiatives.

Why study at Mercy College

Mercy College offers a DPT programme with a strong emphasis on hands-on clinical education supported by experienced faculty who are clinicians and scholars. The programme benefits from local clinical partnerships across hospitals, outpatient centres and community settings, providing diverse placement opportunities and real-world experience.

Students also gain access to practical learning resources such as cadaver and simulation laboratories, small-group instruction that emphasises clinical reasoning, and structured support for transition to professional practice. The curriculum is focused on evidence-based care, interprofessional collaboration and preparing graduates for a broad range of clinical and leadership roles within physical therapy.