The D.P.T./M.B.A. dual degree program is offered by the College of Health Professions-School of Physical Therapy (SOPT) and the Lewis College of Business (LCOB). The dual D.P.T./M.B.A. degree will enable students to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree from the School of Physical Therapy and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Lewis College of Business in four years.
The program is designed for physical therapy students who seek knowledge and experience in business administration to propel their physical therapy career. Many physical therapists find themselves in supervisory, managerial, or practice ownership without having the requisite knowledge of accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, finance, decision-making, information systems, business policy, and strategic planning.
Combining a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPTI and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in a dual degree program will prepare students for health care leadership positions and will set Marshall University graduates apart from their peers by providing them with business acumen.
Opportunities for D.P.T./M.B.A. graduates include:
- Physical Therapy department Manager
- Executive positions in the health care industry
- Leadership positions in the American Physical Therapy Association
- Private practice ownership
Students admitted to the D.P.T./M.B.A. program will complete the first two years of the D.P.T. curriculum, plus three foundational courses in business (e.g., accounting, economics, finance). Dual degree students will then "step out" (educational leave of absence) of the D.P.T. curriculum to complete a one-year MBA curriculum. Students will then return to the School of Physical Therapy to complete the third year of the D.P.T. program.
