Johnson & Wales to launch new Doctor of Physical Therapy program

30-month program will prepare graduates for advanced careers in PT

Johnson & Wales University is seeking accreditation for a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This spring, JWU submitted its formal application for candidacy with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and completed the required site visit with the Commission in July. JWU is accepting applications for the program and anticipates enrolling its first cohort of students in June 2025. 

“The new Doctor of Physical Therapy program builds on JWU’s expertise in health, wellness, culinary arts, and nutrition,” said College of Health & Wellness Dean Maura Daly Iversen, DPT, SD, MPH. “We continue to grow our healthcare programs to meet industry needs in alignment with our community partners to address shortages in the healthcare workforce, both in Rhode Island and nationally.”

The 30-month, eight semester program will include 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE), 40 weeks of Full-Time Clinical Education, along with service-learning, and a research capstone, allowing students to develop a versatile skillset that can be applied to all facets of PT, including outpatient therapy, inpatient rehabilitation, and home health services. 

“Our program is designed to prepare our graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination, and to practice as doctors of physical therapy,” said program director Paul A. Ullucci, Jr., PT, PhD, DPT, ATC, SCS, CSCS. “We are so excited to welcome our students to campus next summer.”

Learn more about the program here. Interested students are encouraged to contact the program director. Formal applications will be accepted once the accreditation process is complete.  

Johnson & Wales University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On May 1, 2024, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the [professional/technical] phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in [professional/technical] courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

About JWU

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provide students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. For more information, visit jwu.edu.