Department
Physical Therapy
Explore Physical Therapy Programs at Samford University, designed to prepare you for successful clinical practice. Gain hands-on experience and expert training in a supportive environment.
A Calling to Serve
Physical therapy is rooted in service, collaboration and movement. For those who feel called to help others heal and thrive, physical therapy offers a meaningful way to make a difference. Samford’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is designed to prepare students for evidence-based clinical practice to make informed decisions for their patients and their families.
Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others.
1 Peter 4:10
Why Samford?
Our programs offer a purpose-driven path to becoming a compassionate, skilled clinician through rigorous academics, interprofessional collaboration, extensive experiential learning and meaningful service with a Christ-centered mission. Students are equipped not only to treat patients but to lead with integrity in a dynamic health care environment.
Faith-Integrated Learning
Coursework and clinical experiences reflect Christian values and a commitment to serving others.
Integrated Service
Students participate in service-learning activities every semester, serving alongside classmates and faculty members, addressing health and wellness needs of the local and international communities.
Interprofessional Education
Students learn alongside peers in nursing, pharmacy, public health and other disciplines to build effective teamwork and communication in patient care.
Mentorship and Support
Faculty and staff invest in each student’s academic, professional and spiritual growth throughout the program.
Shape Your Academic Journey
Samford’s Department of Physical Therapy offers two distinct pathways for earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, both designed to prepare students for careers in movement science and health care:
Fast-Track Doctor of Physical Therapy (BS/DPT)
This six-year, 14 semester pathway is designed for incoming freshman who declare an exercise science major, meet specific admissions requirements, and maintain specific academic standards. Students can save time and money with this pathway that allows the first year of the graduate program to count as elective credits for the final two undergraduate semesters.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (Graduate Entry)
The traditional graduate-entry DPT program is for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and completed required prerequisites. This full-time, eight-semester curriculum focuses on foundational and clinical sciences, clinical decision-making, hands-on patient care skills, and faith-in-health practices.
Experiential Learning
Students work directly with patients with a range of mobility challenges across diverse care settings, including acute care, inpatient and outpatient clinics. Clinical rotations are supervised by experienced, licensed physical therapists who serve as mentors and educators, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while developing confidence and clinical judgment.
Simulation-Based Learning
Simulation allows students to practice clinical decision-making and hands-on skills in a safe, controlled environment that mirrors real-world patient scenarios and environments. These experiences build confidence, improves competence, and better prepare students for independence and high-stakes clinical practice.
Service to Others
Service is a defining part of the Samford experience. In addition to clinical training, students participate in local and global service opportunities. These trips—some tied to missions and others to community engagement—reinforce our commitment to using physical therapy to serve and uplift others. At Samford, we view health care not just as a profession but as a calling.
Clinical Education
There is no substitute for real hands-on experience. The program concludes with three 10-week clinical practicums across diverse patient care settings. Students are supervised by licensed PTs who are dedicated to student development and success. Individuals interested in becoming clinical faculty should contact our clinical education team at 205-726-4438 or sudptclined@samford.edu.
Clinical Faculty Resources Policy for External Comments and Complaints
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Samford University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Sarah Ross at 205-726-4438 or email sross@samford.edu.
