Dual-Degree Options

After admission into the DPT program, students interested in the DPT/MPH dual‑degree option may submit an application with additional requirements for consideration of admission to the DPT/MPH dual‑degree option. There is a cap of 2 students per year for acceptance into the DPT/MPH dual‑degree option.

Admissions Overview

Application Requirements
Students interested in the combined DPT/MPH option must first be accepted for admittance into the DPT program. After admission into the DPT program, students interested in the DPT/MPH dual degree option must apply for admission to the MPH program by March 1st of the second year of the DPT program. The student should follow all outlined dates for consideration for the DPT/MPH dual degree option. All students accepted into the DPT program are eligible to apply to the DPT/MPH dual degree option. Students interested in the DPT/MPH program must be in good academic standing with the DPT program and have the support of the Director for Student Affairs to apply.

Application Deadlines
All applications for the DPT/MPH dual degree option will be reviewed by the MPH Program Director. The DPT Director of Faculty and Student Affairs and the Director of the MPH program will notify students accepted into the DPT/MPH dual degree by April 1st. Enrollment into the MPH portion of the DPT/MPH dual degree option will occur during the second year of the DPT program.

Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition and fees vary based on the year in which the student is enrolled in the DPT/MPH dual degree program and whether you are a Maryland state resident. Students will pay DPT tuition and fees for the first and second year of their time at UMB, MPH tuition and fees the third year, and DPT tuition and fees for the summer and fall of their fourth. See Tuition and Fees for DPT Program
See Tuition and Fees for MPH Program

Curriculum

Throughout the curriculum, specific course content is determined by the goals and threads of the curricular plan, feedback from clinicians and students, the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, current literature on physical therapy teaching and practice, and competencies specified in the Associations of Schools of Public Health, Education Committee Report, Master's Degree in Public Health Core Competency Development project.

Advancement Criteria
The student is required to successfully complete the following for advancement:

• Meets all criteria outlined for academic advancement in the DPT program.
• Meets all criteria outlined for academic advancement in the MPH program.

Graduation Requirements
The student is required to successfully complete the following before graduation:

• All required DPT and MPH didactic courses
• Clinical Qualifying Measure using Standardized Patients
• All required Clinical Experiences
• MPH Capstone Project

Goals & Outcomes

In addition to all DPT program Goals & Outcomes, the DPT/MPH option includes the following goals and outcomes:

Program Goals

• Prepare students to apply and integrate classroom training in a public health practice environment. The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science will collaborate with the Department of Epidemiology to provide MPH core and concentration courses
• Expand the students’ ability to infuse a population health perspective into critical analysis of health issues. The dual-degree option will ensure mentorship for a public health capstone project

Student Goals

• Integrate evidence and demonstrate critical thinking to support public health. 100% of the students will successfully complete a capstone experience on a supervised project in their area of specialization. A three-year average of 50% of completed capstone projects eligible for publication

Graduate Goals

• Participate in service and / or professional activities that advance the profession of public health. A three-year average of 50% of graduates will engage in a governance committee within the public health venue on a 6-month graduate outcome survey.
• Graduates will infuse population health perspective into their professional careers. A three-year average of 50% of respondents will report strongly agree or agree to infusing population health into their career on a 6-month graduate outcome survey.

Graduate Outcomes

This is pending due to student outcome data not being available until the first class graduates.

Admissions Procedure
Students interested in the DPT/PhD dual degree option must meet with the Director of the PhD program to discuss their research interest during year one of the DPT program. During this meeting, the Director of the PhD program will advise on student eligibility based on prior academic performance, current academic performance and research background. All students deemed eligible will be invited to apply to the DPT/PhD dual degree option via the Graduate School online application process and must complete all required Graduate School application materials by Dec. 1st of year two of the DPT program. No application fee is required for the DPT/PhD dual degree option. Students must identify as a DPT/PhD dual-degree candidate on the graduate school application form.

Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of Graduate School application materials for the DPT/PhD dual-degree option is Dec 1st of year two of the DPT program.

Admissions Review
Applications will be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Committee with decision for admission to the dual degree option determined by Jan 31st of year two of the DPT program. Completion of the DPT/PhD dual degree application does not guarantee acceptance into the dual degree program.
The PhD Admissions Committee will review the applications of all candidates who meet the minimal criteria for acceptance and give an assessment first on whether the student is acceptable for admission and second on whether they have an open position for a dual degree student.
Students that receive an acceptable rating from at least 75% of the total number of graduate faculty and at least one potential advisor will advance for further consideration. All eligible candidates will then be ranked by the graduate faculty at a meeting for final determination of acceptance into the DPT/PhD dual degree program
Tuition & Scholarships. Students will receive a graduate assistantship for 3.5 years in the PhD program that also includes a stipend and tuition remission.  Student health and fees for the PhD phase of the dual-degree option will be covered by the Department covered for 3.5 years 

Curriculum

Format for the DPT/PhD dual degree Option Curriculum
This dual degree option is designed in a quasi-sequential format so that students focus first on acquiring the DPT in the standard program with the integration and addition of a portion of PhD-related work (outlined above). Immediately following the completion of the DPT portion, students focus exclusively on the PhD. The DPT curriculum is the same as presented in the DPT Program Curriculum with the exception of the composition of one of the three Terminal Full Time Clinical Experiences (see paragraph above). The PhD program requirements are the same as presented in the PhD program curriculum with the exception of the credits carried forth from the DPT program. These credits will reduce the number of remaining course credits required in the PhD phase.

Students enrolled in the Kinesiology (KNES) program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) could be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Science/Doctorate of Physical Therapy (BS/DPT) Dual Degree. All UMD students interested in this option should reach out to the KNES Program Director Polly Schurer for advisement (pollys@umd.edu) 

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Students interested in the BS/DPT Dual Degree will formally apply to the DPT program during the summer following their 2nd year at UMD. During their 1st and 2nd years as undergraduates at UMD, students will have worked closely with advisors in both the UMD KNES and UMB DPT programs to determine they have meet all the requirements to apply. 

All students who have expressed interest and are eligible will complete the following: 

• Engage in accelerated undergraduate coursework
• Application in PTCAS including essay questions
• Take the GRE
• Request 3 letters of recommendation meeting the requirements outlined on the DPT admissions page.
• UMB Supplemental Application

Admissions decisions to the BS/DPT Dual Degree program will be made in November and seat deposits will be due in January. 

Students admitted to the BS/DPT program will begin classes at the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus at the end of the of their 3rd year. Formal enrollment in the DPT will span over the course of 2 years and 7 months. All admitted students will be asked to complete the following to fully matriculate to the DPT program: 

• 50 observation hours in a physical therapy practice
• Retain or maintain current CPR 

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition and fees vary based on the year in which the student is enrolled in the BS/DPT dual degree program and whether you are a Maryland state resident. Students will pay DPT tuition and fees once they enroll in the DPT program at the end of their 3rd undergraduate year. 
Tuition and Fees for DPT Program