Research-oriented programs vs. Clinical -oriented programs

[jbonilla51]

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When I did a summer internship last year at The University of Iowa, one of the PhD students in the lab I worked with--a former DPT student, as well--told me that there are some DPT programs that aim to prepare the student for research in physical therapy, while there were others whose focus was to prepare the student to work in a clinical setting--just patients, other health care professionals, no research. He told me to use this fact as a critical one to narrow down my DPT target schools.

Is the curriculum the only way to tell them apart? Or is the Carnegie Classification from CAPTE my safest bet? I'm more inclined towards being a clinician rather than a researcher, but I want to make sure that I'm not incorrectly disregarding the programs.

As always, all forms of clarification are most welcome! 👍

 

[HouseDPT]

The DPT is a clinical doctorate. The aim of a DPT program is to graduate clinical generalists, capable of trudging off onto entry-level positions in any clinical setting. I'm not sure what your colleague meant by "no research," but it's to my understanding that every DPT program has its students sit through at least a couple research-oriented classes. When I do side-by-side comparisons of curriculum with friends, the differences are negligible: maybe one guy has to do case studies and in-services for every clinical where one doesn't or maybe one guy's research class was two hours long versus three.

If you'd be interested in research alongside, or in lieu, of your clinical career then by all means wade in these differences between programs. If you're just interested in treating like most of us, breathe easy. You're likely not going to get roped into substantially more research than anyone else (although damn, it'll feel like it). Good luck.

 

[hope4baylor]

In my experience visiting and talking to different PTs and admissions people, there are definitely schools that emphasize research. There are some schools that don't cover research at all. None of the schools I've looked at emphasize research so strongly that you wouldn't be just as good of a clinician, though.

Also, it seems like the trend is that universities have required research in their curriculums (aka you have to complete a lengthy project and presentation) while the more private, for profit type schools do not.

 

[NewTestament]

Some schools emphasize research but as HouseDPT wrote, every program will turn you into a clinician. To be accredited by CAPTE, all schools have to prepare you for the board exam. If you go to a school like UMiami, you're not destined to do research your whole life, but you will have greater exposure. Conversely, if you go to a school that does not emphasize research, that does not mean you will never be able to do research.

Other schools like USA emphasize manual skills. Even here, we have a research course, and other courses require students to sift through the literature.

Kevin