School of Physical Therapy

Make A Difference

Are you looking for a physical therapy program that will prepare you to make a real difference in the health and well-being of rural and underserved communities? Look no further than PNWU’s School of Physical Therapy (SOPT). With a dynamic, collaborative learning environment that emphasizes patient-centered care and interprofessional education, PNWU is committed to training a new generation of physical therapists who can revolutionize healthcare delivery across the lifespan.

As a student in the PNWU DPT program, you’ll gain hands-on experience working with patients and developing innovative, evidence-based approaches to physical therapy. You’ll learn to advocate for access to care in underserved areas and to translate the latest research into real-world solutions. With a focus on movement and function, PNWU graduates are movement system experts who can make a real impact in rural and medically underserved communities throughout the Northwest. Join us at PNWU SOPT and become part of a community making a real difference in healthcare.

Program Goals + Objectives

The SOPT (School of Physical Therapy) will prepare competent, entry-level physical therapists who are: 

Movement system experts
Prepared to practice in rural or medically underserved areas or with medically underserved populations
Innovative and committed to life-long learning 
Valued members of the interprofessional team 
Advocates for access to physical therapy in rural and medically underserved communities. 

Students in, and graduates from, the SOPT will exhibit:

Compassion and respect 
Inclusivity and cultural sensitivity 
Evidence-informed practice  
A commitment to service and leadership in the community and the profession  
An understanding of the interprofessional team 

The SOPT will recruit and retain core faculty who: 

Embrace the missions of the university and SOPT 
Welcome interprofessional teaching, learning, and scholarship 
Strive for excellence in research and scholarship
Maintain contemporary expertise in their content area of teaching
Participate in ongoing and continuous assessment to ensure mission fulfillment

The SOPT program will exemplify PNWU’s mission commitment to rural, Northwest, and medically underserved communities through a model of:

Recruit
Educate, and
Return

The DPT Program
At a Glance

Location
Yakima, WA

Format
In Person, Full-Time

Students Per Cohort
Maximum 50

Program Length
3 Years

Average Cost Per Academic Year
$41,200

Accreditation
CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education)

Why PNWU?

Tobin Rewa-Ehley
Class of 2025

Join Tobin on an exciting journey to discover the PNWU DPT program! With practical learning and a supportive faculty invested in your success, you’ll have a blast becoming a physical therapist. Take advantage of this opportunity – become a PNWU DPT student today!

Dr. Rebeca Segraves, PT, DPT
Assistant Professor for the DPT Program

Discover the inspiring story of how physical therapy changed Dr. Rebeca Segraves’ life. Despite being told by multiple orthopedic surgeons that a knee replacement was necessary, Dr. Segraves found her passion for long-endurance mountain biking, climbing, and running thanks to physical therapy. Through perseverance and hard work, she overcame her body’s limitations and discovered her true potential. Watch this video to learn more about Dr. Segraves’ journey and be inspired to go beyond your degree and bring your services to communities in need.

SOPT News + Updates