Welcome

To the CSU Sacramento Department of Physical Therapy.  The Physical Therapy Department offers a graduate professional entry-level education program designed to follow the completion of a four-year bachelor's degree. The Master’s of Physical Therapy (MPT) program is designed to prepare competent, caring, culturally sensitive, and reflective physical therapist practitioners.

The Department of Physical Therapy at Sacramento State was established in 1995. Since its inception, our faculty has been dedicated to the success and professional development of our diverse students so that they will be prepared to provide excellent care to the communities they serve.   The faculty value cultural diversity to enrich the learning experiences for all students. Our goal is to educate competent physical therapist generalist practitioners who demonstrate ethical and professional behavior, and who utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills in life-long learning.  The program provides a comprehensive foundation in the science and art of physical therapy, preparing graduates to serve as primary care practitioners who use evidence to inform clinical practice. 

Physical Therapy
The profession of physical therapy appeals to people who enjoy physical activity, service to others, and one-on-one therapeutic relationships. Physical therapists work with individuals with movement or mobility impairments in order to prevent, restore or resolve the dysfunctional condition.  Physical therapists find work in hospitals, private clinics, public schools, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and home health agencies. Currently, a conservative estimate of the annual full-time salary for a new graduate is $68,000.

Curriculum & Accreditation
The Department of Physical Therapy has been graduating professional physical therapists since 1997.  Sacramento State’s MPT curriculum is a 28 month, full-time program that integrates didactic instruction, laboratory experience, and clinical education. The clinical component consists of thirty weeks of full-time, off-campus clinical externships leading to a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Physical Therapy. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) has awarded full accreditation to our program through 2014.  Accreditation through this national professional organization ensures that our graduates become highly skilled practitioners of Physical Therapy, who are recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice. Graduates earn a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree and are eligible to take the national Physical Therapy licensing exam in any state.  Our graduates are highly successful in passing the licensure exam: The 2008 graduates had a 94% first-time pass rate, compared to the California and U.S. average of 85%.  Our three-year average pass rate is over 97%.  In addition, our program in Physical Therapy is the most affordable on the West Coast and we offer an inexpensive pathway to obtain your post-professional DPT online through our agreement with A.T. Still University. A.T. Still University's Admissions & Articulation Agreement

Physical & Mental Requirements to succeed in the PT Program
We strive to ensure that our graduates become fully competent and caring physical therapists. In addition to personal integrity, compassion, and the intellectual capacity necessary to practice physical therapy, certain essential skills are required in order to complete the physical therapy program. For more detail on these standards, please read our MPT Program Essential Functions and Technical Standards document.