Why you should choose UNE's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Our degree program is distinguished by its curriculum, faculty, and facilities.

Why UNE for your D.P.T.

UNE Facilities: Doctor of Physical Therapy Tour

Alumni Success: Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) 

Tradition of Academic Excellence

  • The UNE Physical Therapy Program has had continuous accreditation and a reputation for excellence in physical therapy education since graduating its first class in 1984.
  • UNE, through its College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Dental Medicine, and College of Health Professions, educates more students and practitioners in the health and healing professions than any other institution in the state of Maine. In addition to the Physical Therapy program, the College of Health Professions includes programs in Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Social Work.
  • Student Outcomes (Averages based on the most recent two years for which data is available)
    • 100% of graduates passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), 90.6% of those on their first attempt (2021)
    • 100% of UNE D.P.T. graduates surveyed were employed within one year of graduation (2020-2021)
    • 95.2% of enrolled students graduated from the D.P.T. program (2020-2021)
Alyssa Gardner
PT school at UNE was an amazing experience combining personal dedication, strong core fundamentals and unyielding support of the faculty
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

A Personal Approach

  • UNE is a small University; we take pride in our personal approach and this is consistently reflected in student evaluations.
  • Our student-oriented philosophy is reflected in a low student-to-faculty ratio and individual advising by PT faculty.
  • Our faculty is friendly and accessible. All core faculty members have teaching responsibilities in the curriculum, serve as advisors, and supervise scholarship activities. Our blend of doctorate-prepared and clinical specialists provides a rich environment for mentorship in a student-centered environment.
  • We work closely with our clinical partners and program alumni. Many of them assist in our labs and classes. This creates a seamless connection between the program and the local clinical community.

What the UNE Physical Therapy Program Offers

  • A curricular approach that is congruent with the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, the primary guide to contemporary physical therapy practice endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association.
  • Thirty-six weeks of clinical experience at clinical sites throughout the United States. The sites represent the continuum of health care practice settings including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient private practices, ambulatory care centers, skilled nursing facilities, school and preschool programs, and home health care.
  • Opportunities for interdisciplinary, travel, and specialty electives. 
  • A full range of outstanding student support services, including counseling, learning assistance, an office for students with disabilities, state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and library services.

Outstanding Faculty and Professional Mentors

  • The D.P.T. faculty is a dedicated group of more than a dozen scholars and clinicians who are entirely committed to physical therapy education. Most faculty members hold doctoral degrees; many have advanced training and clinical certifications representing a variety of specialty training areas.
  • The PT faculty have an established record of scholarship, professional service, and clinical practice, as well as effective teaching skills, as evidenced by student and peer evaluations.
  • Experienced physical therapists, physicians, and other health care practitioners from the greater Portland medical community provide additional lecture and laboratory support in the D.P.T. program.
Alison Stanley
Each faculty member knows you by name and facilitates your individual growth into a competent member of the healthcare team.
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Community Involvement

We work hard to make your education a transformative experience through community-based learning.

Watch D.P.T. student volunteers take part in a sled hockey demonstration with Maine Adaptive.

Maine, The Way Life Should Be

The University of New England is located on the coast of beautiful southern Maine. Our Biddeford Campus is located on a beautiful site in Biddeford, Maine, where the Saco River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Portland Campus home to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is located in nearby Portland and is designated a national historic district.

Recognition We've Received

Title
Best Physical Therapy Schools
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2020