PhD in Physical Therapy/Therapist (PhD)

At Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, tuition is LSUHS offers Louisiana's most affordable DPT program, supported by a strong record of licensure outcomes.; the deadline to apply for the May 2027 intake is Oct 1, 2026.

Students complete live, in-person lectures and lab sessions Monday through Friday in Shreveport, or a hybrid format with online lectures and on-campus labs in Lafayette. Clinical education begins early in the program and includes rotations in local hospitals and outpatient clinics. Both campuses are located in buildings with active physical therapy clinics, allowing students to learn from practicing clinicians. The program prepares students for patient care through structured coursework and hands-on experience across diverse settings.

The program requires 9 semesters over three years, with 36 credits for the Shreveport Residential Program and 24 credits for the Lafayette Hybrid Program. Coursework includes didactic instruction, clinical labs, and supervised clinical experiences, with a focus on diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic intervention.

Graduates work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and pediatric or school-based settings.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisite coursework. The application deadline is October 1st. Admission requires submission through PTCAS and includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

The programme totals about 90 credit hours. Full-time, with the Shreveport campus offering in-person instruction and the Lafayette campus using a hybrid model with four weeks on-campus per semester. Both programs begin in the summer semester. For international students, tuition is around the median for US programmes.

LSU Health Shreveport has grown into a health sciences center encompassing the School of Medicine, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Health Professions & Sciences. Its School of Medicine is the only medical school in north Louisiana and one of three in the state. Graduate Medical Education provides residency training for physicians after medical school. The health professions school offers degrees in Cardiopulmonary Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physician Assistant, Communication Disorders, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Public Health, and Rehabilitation Science. Graduate students can pursue degrees in areas including Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Microbiology & Immunology, Molecular & Cellular Physiology, and Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Neuroscience.

Research spans basic science discovery, treatment protocols, and new diagnostics. LSU Health Shreveport has four designated Centers of Research Excellence, three centers approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents and LSU Board of Supervisors, and three NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence. Current work includes microbiology and immunology research on how the immune system detects herpes simplex virus type 1. By combining genetics, molecular biology, virology, and immunology, researchers investigate immune pathways that may also relate to cancer, inflammatory disease, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular conditions. The campus is located in Shreveport and serves learners preparing for health care, teaching, and research careers. International students should note the institution's strong focus on professional health education, biomedical research, clinical training, and interdisciplinary collaboration.