student resources

• Panopto (video content manager)
• DPT Class Officers
• Funding Opportunities for DPT to PhD Students
• Career Planning
• DEI Resources
• PHYT Course List
• Program Policy Document

• UD Student Resources (All)
• Center for Counseling & Student Development
  • Counseling Information for Students Helpline: 302-831-1001 (available 24/7/365)
    
• Student Health Services

University of Delaware (UD) Physical Therapy Clinical Services are private, outpatient facilities located on the University of Delaware Campus. The Sports, Orthopedic, Neurologic and Older Adult clinics are located in the STAR Health Sciences Complex. These clinics are very closely integrated with the Physical Therapy program and serve primarily as  teaching clinics for students of the entry-level graduate program. In addition to working with clinical instructors who are board certified clinical specialists, students work with a number of faculty members during consultations and treatments. Other opportunities such as observing surgery, physician office hours, writing case studies, and participating in clinical research are also available to the students. All affiliation rotations will be in a 2:1 model (student to CI ratio).

Three terminal full-time clinical education experiences occur at the conclusion of the didactic curriculum. Each clinical internship is 10 weeks in length. Students are required to complete internships in the following areas: multisystem complexity (inpatient), rehabilitation (outpatient), and elective (practice setting or population of choice). The identification and development of quality clinical partners has been a strategic priority and has resulted in the maintenance of clinical contracts with over 321 facilities throughout the United States. Students are also required to complete three, semester-long, part-time, integrated clinical education experiences (ICEs) during the first two years in the program. All students will complete ICEs in the following areas: sports and orthopedics, neurologic and older adult and pediatrics.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The University of Delaware is required to comply with state and federal laws regarding the delivery of distance education.  Please see the University’s State Authorization page for more information.

DPT Program

• Program Policy Document
  

Clinical Education Manual

Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI)

• Link to CPI website https://cpi2.amsapps.com/

 Please contact Dr. McGee with questions regarding service-learning.

Graduation awards

Graduates are nominated and voted on by faculty. Awards presented at graduation.  

• Binder-Macleod Faculty Award

Recognizes a student who has made significant contributions to the DPT Program. These include working to improve the DPT program, helping to fulfill the department’s mission towards education, scholarship, and service, and demonstrating potential for leadership within the Physical Therapy profession. The recipient is awarded a plaque.

• Clinical Impact and Leadership Award

This award recognizes three graduating DPT students who, during the full-time clinical education phase of the curriculum, have demonstrated excellent professionalism, initiative, and leadership that has promoted remarkable impact upon a clinical facility through means of a value-added clinical project. The recipient is awarded a plaque.

• John Scholz Faculty Award

Recognizes a student for exemplary qualities of integrity, cooperation, initiative and leadership in the University of Delaware Physical Therapy (UDPT) Program. The recipient is awarded a plaque.

Second Year Send Off Awards

DPT2 Students must self-nominate for these awards in Spring.  Email will be sent with form to complete and a one-page essay about why they are deserving of the award must be provided for consideration. Faculty vote based on application received.  Awards presented at Second Year Send Off event.  

• Paul Mettler Service Award

Awarded to a second year student with current or previous military service or whose life in the Physical Therapy Program has been directly impacted by a first-generation family member serving their country. The recipient is awarded $500 and a plaque.

• Carol Van Dyke Physical Therapy Fellowship Award

Given to a second year student for funding of clinical education expenses. The recipient is awarded $1,500 and a plaque.

• Catherine Doetzer Kohlenstein Scholarship

Given to a second year student for funding of clinical education expenses. The recipient is awarded $1,500 and a plaque.

• Cossoy/Lucca Scholarship 

Awarded to a second year DPT student who demonstrates substantial promise and ability to contribute to the advancement of the profession. The recipient is awarded $1,500 to $2,000 and a plaque.

• Stauffer Fellowship

Given to a University of Delaware alumni pursuing doctoral training in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware. The recipient is awarded $1,000 to $2,000 and a plaque.

• John P. Scholz Memorial Scholarship

Given to a second year Doctorate in Physical Therapy student who exemplifies excellence in academics and on the athletic field or in the arts. The recipient is awarded $1,500 to $2,000 and a plaque.

• Mae D. Hightower-VanDamm Memorial Scholarship

Presented to a second year DPT student who demonstrates substantial promise and has expressed a financial need. The recipient is awarded $1,500 to $2,000 and a plaque.

• The Tupin Family Fund for Physical Therapy

Presented to a second year DPT student for community service and engaging community partners as a DPT student or undergraduate.  This is not an annual award.  This award is given based on the Chair’s decision on how to spend funds each year.  The recipient is awarded $1,500 to $2,000 and a plaque.

Fellowships

Fellowships offer additional funding opportunities to undergraduate or graduate students.  Current opportunities include:

• Peter White Fellowship

Peter White Fellowships are for University of Delaware undergraduate sophomores or juniors who wish to do a 10-week research fellowship during the summer prior to their junior or senior year.

Graduate Assistantship

The assistantship provides a stipend, tuition coverage, and assistants are eligible for coverage by the University's Health Insurance Plan at a reduced cost. Graduate assistants will be on an annual contract, and appointed for twenty hours each week. Current opportunities include:

• Social Media GA

One DPT1 and one DPT2 student will work with the Department Chair and Administrative Specialist on the development of a social media strategy for the Department. The social media strategy is to promote the activities in the UDPT department in all three of our primary areas: education, clinic, and research.  Appointments typically run for two years and begin in the Fall of the first year in DPT program. Openings are shared as they become available.

Summer Scholars Program

The Summer Scholars Program enables selected undergraduates, generally sophomores and juniors, to conduct in-depth research or creative work with University faculty. Students in the Summer Scholars Program work on their projects full-time for ten weeks in the summer.  Research and creative work is generally completed under the close supervision of a faculty member. Each Scholar will receive a stipend of $4,000.  Openings are shared as they become available.  

Through participation in the ADaPT program, undergraduate students could have the opportunity to interact with physical therapy faculty here at UD, learn about the various training opportunities available, meet other like-minded students who are pursuing a similar career path and participate in programs that will increase the likelihood of successful entry into a top-tier program such as UDPT.