Meet Doctor of Physical Therapy recent graduate Koleton Cochran

2020 graduate Koleton Cochran came to Iowa from out of state and immediately recognized a good "fit" for his educational goals.  He shared some insights about the clinical preparation he received at Iowa and provided some wise advice for aspiring Physical Therapy students.

We offer the opportunity for highly qualified students to pursue studies in both clinical physical therapy (DPT) and rehabilitation research (PhD). The DPT is the degree required to practice physical therapy, whereas the PhD provides the training to become an independent scientific investigator. An education in both areas provides unique preparation for a successful career in clinical and translational rehabilitation research. The goal of combined studies is to train clinician-scientists who will become physical therapy researchers at the university level and generate new knowledge for the fields of physical therapy and physical rehabilitation science

The University of Iowa Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program has a long-standing history of training both physical therapists (45+ years) and PhD rehabilitation scientists (30+ years). If you desire to become a physical therapist and a rehabilitation scientist, this opportunity may be for you.

The program begins with the DPT phase of education where students learn clinical skills along with their classmates. During this clinical training period, however, the student will also begin their initial research training, being mentored by one of the PhD faculty and integrated into a research laboratory. Some of the coursework and research done during the DPT program will be applied to the PhD coursework reducing the student’s time in the PhD by approximately one year. At the end of the DPT curriculum (~2.5 years), the DPT/PhD student will be eligible to sit for the national licensure exam. The average time to completion of the combined DPT/PhD studies is approximately 7 years.

Students interested in this opportunity should apply for admission to the DPT program through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) and also contact the Chair of the department, Dr. Richard Shields.

PhD Program

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences is to advance the health of humankind by excellence in education, discovering new knowledge, and developing leaders in healthcare and science. The PhD program supports this mission through training of future professors and researchers in rehabilitation science. The program emphasizes, through coursework and participation in research, the development of an individual’s expertise as a researcher in Rehabilitation Science.

The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences is located within the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa with the PhD administratively coordinated through the Graduate College. Our program awards a PhD in Physical Rehabilitation Science. Requirements for admission to the program would include a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related undergraduate field including but not limited to: physical therapy, occupational therapy, engineering, biology, chemistry. Applicants must meet the admissions requirements of the Graduate College.  They should have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least a 3.00 and scores at or above the 50th percentile for each section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. A minimum of two years of clinical experience may be considered desirable, depending on the area of research interest. Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Applicant materials must include a complete Graduate College application form, test scores, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Graduate assistantship support is available and graduate assistants are eligible for in-state tuition and fees. At the time of application, the student is required to identify an area of interest for alignment with a faculty advisor in this area of interest.

MA Program

The MA program also supports our Department's mission through training of future researchers in rehabilitation science. The program emphasizes the development of an individual’s expertise as a researcher in Rehabilitation Science.  Requirements for admission to the MA program are the same as listed above for the PhD program.  MA students are accepted with exceptional circumstances.

Faculty advisors who are currently accepting MA/PhD students:

• Darren P. Casey, PhD
  • Human Integrative and Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory
• Laura A. Frey Law, PT, PhD
• • Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory
• Jason M. Wilken, PT, PhD
• • Human Performance and Clinical Outcomes Laboratory

For more information or questions about the MA/PhD program contact the Director of MA/PhD Studies, Dr. Darren Casey.  

For additional information about The University of Iowa, you may also visit the UI General Catalog.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum at The University of Iowa requires 2½ years post baccalaureate degree study and clinical experiences. Based on the number of outstanding applicants, ~50 students are enrolled per year. New students begin in July each year and graduate in December 2½ years later.

Education is enhanced by close association with University of Iowa Health Care, one of the nation’s largest university-owned teaching hospitals. Students work closely with a faculty which includes expert clinicians and internationally renowned scientists.

Evidence-based practice is the curriculum’s focus. Our goal is to foster the development of problem solving and clinical reasoning skills of the students so they are ready to provide excellent patient care and assume the responsibilities and diverse roles and obligations of a professional physical therapist.

Our program consistently ranks among the top physical therapy programs in the United States. We are proud of the tradition of excellence that has been established here since the program’s inception in 1942. To learn more about the DPT degree program, please visit the rest of our website.

The following DPT student outcomes reflect students who have completed the DPT program in December 2022 and 2023 (2-year average):

• Employment rate: 100 percent
• Graduation rate: 100 percent
• Licensure first time examination pass rate: 98.86 percent
• Licensure ultimate examination pass rate:  98.86 percent

Program costs:  Program Financial Fact Sheet

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Iowa 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: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 319-335-9791 or email physical-therapy@uiowa.edu.

Degree Programs

The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science offers a unique learning environment in a leading medical education center. Resources are available to complement the mission of excellence in teaching, research and clinical service. Organizationally, the department is located in the Carver College of Medicine. The Department of Rehabilitation Therapies (Physical Therapy Clinic) is a separate department in the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center.  

The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences offers three degrees, the DPT, MA, and PhD:

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

A professional clinical entry-level program that based on the number of outstanding applicants admits ~50 students in July of each year into a 2½ year curriculum including 35 weeks of full time clinical education experience. Satisfactory completion of the curriculum qualifies the candidates to take a state-administered national licensing examination.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A program designed to prepare the student for a career in research, teaching, and scholarship. Students take a mix of coursework designed to support a research career in Rehabilitation Science. Students will also perform independent research in one of the core laboratories under the guidance of their primary mentor. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.

Combined DPT/PhD

We offer the opportunity for highly qualified students to pursue studies in both clinical physical therapy (DPT) and rehabilitation research (PhD). The DPT is the degree required to practice physical therapy, whereas the PhD provides the training to become an independent scientific investigator. An education in both areas provides unique preparation for a successful career in clinical and translational rehabilitation research. The goal of combined studies is to train clinician-scientists who will become physical therapy researchers at the university level and generate new knowledge for the fields of physical therapy and physical rehabilitation science.

Master of Arts (MA)

A program designed to prepare the student for a career in research and scholarship. Students take a mix of coursework designed to support a research career in Rehabilitation Science. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.