Physical Therapy

Internationally recognized for academic excellence and accomplishments

Located in the heart of the Illinois Medical District, UIC’s Department of Physical Therapy gives you access to state-of-the-art educational, clinical and research facilities, with proximity to major medical centers in a large urban setting.

Rather than extending the life span (the number of years a person lives), we are committed to prolonging the health span–emphasizing high quality of life, free of debilitating disease and dependence. Healthspan is a proactive healthy living model that moves away from the traditional healthcare model, where individuals primarily seek care in the hospital and clinics, oftentimes after becoming well-entrenched in poor health, toward an embedded culture of healthy living right where we live, learn and work.

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100% of our DPT graduates pass licensing exam & are employed 6 months after graduation

U.S. News & World Report ranks us the

#17

doctor of physical therapy program among public universities and

#34

program out of 239 in the country

7 clinical research laboratories Labs and centers

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Physical Therapy Degrees

Learn through innovative teaching methods and philosophies, including standardized patients, problem-based learning, team-based learning and situative perspective. Gain experience in the full continuum of care, from acute to rehabilitation to outpatient.

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Name	Type	Description	Apply
Doctor of Physical Therapy	On Campus	Training tomorrow's leaders in physical therapy practice	Apply
MS in Healthspan Promotion and Rehabilitation	On Campus	For scholars and researchers interested in movement dysfunction, functional limitations and the outcomes of rehabilitation on the human body	Apply
Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation and Technology Research	On Campus	Enhance your communication and scientific writing skills while preparing for graduate curriculum in rehabilitation	Apply
Healthy Living Practitioner™ Certificate	On Campus or Online	For health professionals who want to assess lifestyle behaviors and subsequently develop and implement Healthy Living Interventions	Apply
Technology-Based Health Communication and Promotion Certificate	Online	Become proficient in using the web, social media and mobile applications to deliver healthy living interventions and promotions	Apply

Physical Therapy Residencies

Gain real-world clinical experience, mentorship and knowledge needed to become a well-rounded specialist.

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Name	Type	Description	Apply
Residency in Sports Physical Therapy	On Campus	For licensed physical therapists looking to perfect their skills as sports practitioners and educators with some of the world's best practitioners	Apply
Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy	On Campus	For licensed physical therapists looking to perfect their skills as orthopedic practitioners and educators with some of the world's best practitioners	Apply

What makes us great

Shane Phillips

Studying obesity and the control of blood flow and cardiovascular responses to diet and exercise interventions
- Meet Shane
Brain Plasticity Laboratory

Sangeetha is testing non-invasive brain stimulation paradigms as candidate adjuvants to gait therapy to enhance walking capacity in stroke survivors
- Explore the BPL's work
Gay Girolami

Investigating the impact of parent administered interventions for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit
- Meet Gay
State of the Department

Watch the 2019 State of the Department presented by Ross Arena
- Watch the address
Sangeetha Madhavan

Developing individualized therapeutic approaches to advance existing neurorehabilitation practices using state-of-art technologies
- Meet Sangeetha
Developing alternatives

Educating physicians on how physical therapy can be an effective alternative to prescribing opioids
- Learn more

Closeup of physical therapist's hands using stethoscope and tuning fork on patient's leg

Physical Therapy Faculty Practice

Our orthopedic outpatient physical therapy faculty practice offers expert consultations, evaluations and interventions without a referral. It’s also home to a unique residency program that provides experience in patient care to Doctor of Physical Therapy students throughout their studies. Undergraduates, residents, DPT students and faculty all learn and work together.

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International partnerships

We value international collaborative relationships, and have institutional and individual partnerships around the world. With these partners, we take part in: