Doctor of Physical Therapy at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University's Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is offered through the College of Health Professions. Physical therapists are valued for their ability to independently evaluate, diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of human movement in a wide variety of clinical and community settings. Our program features 15 full-time faculty members, 12 of whom hold advanced clinical practice certifications. Our program is well situated along the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids and enjoys an outstanding reputation among its students and in the community.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Grand Valley State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 616-331-5700 or email chpss@gvsu.edu.
Grand Valley State University’s physical therapy program received it’s initial accreditation in May of 1985. It’s most recent accreditation visit was November 11, 2014. GVSU is fully accredited through April 30, 2034. Our next accreditation visit will occur in 2033. The degree conferred by the GVSU Department of Physical Therapy is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).
Contact Information
ACADEMIC ADVISING/CHP PROGRAM ADMISSIONS:
CHP Student Services Office @ chpss@gvsu.edu
Pass/Fail or Credit/No credit info
GVSU Physical Therapy requires all prerequisite courses to be completed with LETTER (A, B, C) or NUMERICAL (4.0, 3.0, 2.0) grades. Prerequisite courses completed with Pass/Fail or Credit/No credit will not fulfill the program’s admissions requirements. The program does accept AP credit (advanced credit) as the exception.
Source: EMSI, 2020
CAREER OUTLOOK AND OPPORTUNITIES
According to 2020 EMSI data, opportunities for physical therapists are expected to grow 12% in West Michigan, 11% in Michigan, and 13% in the U.S., which is above average growth when compared to many other occupations. EMSI reported a median annual wage of $85,758 in West Michigan and $87,609 in the U.S. for physical therapists with doctoral degrees. GVSU graduates of the physical therapy program could hold the following job titles:
- Physical Therapists
- Directors of Rehabilitation
- Pediatric Residents
- Travel Physical Therapists
- Clinical Directors
- Therapy Supervisors
Source: EMSI, 2020
The Skills Employers Want
The Doctor of Physical Therapy at GVSU will develop the skills you need to land the job you want. Whether the skills are advanced or general, you will build a resume of qualifications that are sure to attract employers. The following skills correlate with those pulled from actual job postings in the health sciences field.
Advanced Skills
- Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Home Care
- Treatment Planning
- Neurology
- Case Management
- Acute Care
Common Skills
- Presentations
- Communications
- Leadership
- Coordinating
- Research
- Customer Service
- Operations
- Infrastructure
- Management
Source: EMSI, 2020
Other Reasons to Study Physical Therapy at GVSU
- Experiential. The integrated curriculum allows students to use the skills that they learn in the classroom in a variety of clinical experiences.
- Individualized. Advanced topic electives offered in the last semester of the program allow for students to focus their courses on their interests.
- Competitive. The Physical Therapy program at GVSU has received national recognition by the US News and World Report.
- Accredited See below.
ARE YOU A GVSU ALUM?
When you became a Laker, you opened up a lifetime of learning, and now alumni like you can use your Laker Lifetime Learning (L3) account for classes that provide greater knowledge and new skills. Your account is waiting for you to use for future classes at GVSU. All you have to do is click on the button below to find out more.
Also, the 2025 GVPT Distinguished Alumni recipient is Teresa Bisson, PT, DPT, NCS, ATP
Dr. Teresa Bisson is a Michigan native and two-time graduate of Grand Valley State University, with a bachelor’s degree in health science in 2000, and a master’s degree in physical therapy in 2002. She began her career in California, where she spent over a decade as a PT at the Centre for Neuro Skills, Bodyscape Physical Therapy, and the renowned Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, developing expertise in rehabilitation for people with stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or lower extremity amputation. She has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy since 2008.
Teresa first discovered her love of teaching in 2008, as an adjunct professor in the neurorehabilitation curriculum at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. Deborah Diaz. She acquired her transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy (tDPT) degree at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, then joined the faculty of the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota in 2014.
Teresa’s passion is to facilitate access to healthcare services and education for all people, especially in communities where resources are limited. She has been a liaison and preceptor for three student-run pro bono clinics in the Twin Cities, taught and consulted in clinics in Mexico, China, Tibet, and Africa, and currently volunteers with Protez Foundation in Oakdale, Minnesota, which provides prosthetics and rehab care to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who have sustained amputations and other injuries in the war with Russia. Teresa now runs her own wellness practice in the Twin Cities area and continues to serve patients, providers, and organizations locally and internationally. She is deeply grateful to her professors and classmates from GVSU for setting her on this path, and particularly to Dan Vaughn and Cathy Harro for their inspiration, unfailing kindness, good humor, and brilliance as educators, clinicians, and human beings.
Find Out More About Your Laker Lifetime Learning Account (L3)
Teresa Bisson Distinguished PT Alumni 2025
Related Programs
The Physical Therapy Department at Grand Valley State University has partnered with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide students an opportunity for a residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy, Pediatric Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Physical Therapy.