Dominican University and Albertus Magnus College Reach Agreement to Help Aspiring Physical Therapists

Under a new agreement, qualified Albertus Magnus College graduates can enroll in Dominican University’s DPT program.

Dominican University New York and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, have announced a new partnership where qualified Albertus graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology can enroll at Dominican to pursue the Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

Dominican University New York is one of only a few institutions across the country that offers the DPT in a weekend format. Students in the DPT program attend class Friday through Sunday, every other weekend, throughout the year, for 3.3 years to earn their doctorate degree. The intensive weekend program allows students to continue working part time and maintain family responsibilities.

“Albertus Magnus College is excited about this collaborative partnership,” said Mark Barreuther, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. “It is a testament to the quality of an Albertus education, a liberal arts, values-based education where experiential learning takes a central role in the journey of our students and prepares them to enter graduate and professional programs like the DPT at Dominican.”

Emil Euaparadorn, DSc, Director of the DPT Program at Dominican University, said the University is ready to welcome Albertus Magnus students, “I know that students from Albertus Magnus College will excel in our program. We have more than 300 clinical relationships with premier hospitals in New York and New Jersey, allowing students to gain invaluable, hands-on experience. Dominican University is also very proud that recent graduates from the DPT program have a first time pass rate of 100 percent on the PT licensure exam – the best in the nation. On top of that, 100 percent of our former students are
employed within six months of graduation.”

Prior to admission, Albertus Magnus students with a 3.0 GPA must complete prerequisites in biology, anatomy and physiology, physics, chemistry, psychology and statistics. In addition, they must document at least 60 hours of voluntary or work experience in settings where a licensed physical therapist is employed. Students who are interested must apply and submit all documents online through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (TCAS) or submit a letter of intent by October 1 in order to be considered for placement the following academic year.

Dominican University recently opened a new, state-of-the-art physical therapy research laboratory. The Gallucci Physical Therapy Research Laboratory has all the necessary equipment for cutting edge research. In addition, students attend class, have practical exams and hold a Pro-Bono Physical Therapy Clinic in the lab. There are three exam rooms in the laboratory that allow faculty to observe students in real-life scenarios.

Class of 2020 PT Graduates Attain 100% Board Pass Rate

For the third year in a row, 100% of Dominican College physical therapy graduates have passed the board exam within one year of graduation.  In addition to this achievement, the Class of 2020 Doctor of Physical Therapy students also had a 100% graduation rate.

Emil Euaparadorn, PT, DSc, Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, attributes this success to a number of factors, starting with a revamped admissions process, “Besides looking at intellectual ability, we look at emotional intelligence.  We are looking for really mature students who will study – but more importantly – when they struggle, they will seek advice and listen to the advice of faculty.”

Euaparadorn said that other improvements to the program included changes in curriculum, an increase in comprehensive, hands-on tests, and more intensive board preparation.  He says the clinical instructors have given amazing feedback on the quality of Dominican College students, and many students are offered jobs prior to graduation.

Board exams are formally known as the National Physical Therapy Examination and are required to become a licensed physical therapist.