Physical Therapy is currently experiencing an undeniable development worldwide. It is an evolving profession in a changing health care environment where physical therapists’ expertise in movement dysfunction is becoming unique. These professionals are more required to relate their personal values and professional behavior and skills to deliver a personalized care using updated techniques.

Since 1977, LGU has been graduating highly ethical and competent physical therapists under the “Institut des Sciences Paramédicales” (ISPM) and “Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Physiothérapie” (IESP). Now it is launching a DPT program whose graduates are empathetic practitioners with critical thinking, active skills, and diagnostic proficiency.

Learning outcomes

Designed for practitioners with a solid background in physical therapy, the DPT program helps physical therapists acquire particular theoretical and clinical skills that sharpen their clinical reasoning within the newly endorsed evidence-based practice in order to improve their services, widen their scope of exercise, and achieve excellence.
It also allows them to enhance their critical thinking skills and in-depth knowledge in applied sciences, develop their professional behavior, and bridge newly-acquired theoretical principles with practice.

More specifically, upon completion of the DPT program, graduates will be able to:

• Integrate theoretical knowledge into evidence-based practice, implement effective therapeutic plans, and participate in scientific research activities leading to innovation in the profession.
• Assume leadership roles within the profession and the community and successfully adapt to a changing health care environment.
• Assess and treat movement disorders in persons, while making appropriate diagnoses in order to intervene most effectively.
• Deliver high-quality interventions targeting disabilities and manage patients with complicated medical history requiring early and progressive rehabilitation to improve their functional performance, optimize their autonomy, and improve their quality of life.
• Create health promotion programs among populations at risk and innovative intervention programs to uphold health in a sustainable development context.
• Hold themselves accountable for independent decision-making and communicate and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team of health professionals.
• Conduct novel research, develop methodologies, and effectively disseminate research findings.

Program description

The DPT program extends typically over 6 semesters. The curriculum is established along five basic educational principles that are instilled in the philosophy and mission of the program.
• An in-depth review of modules in physical therapy related to musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardio-vascular, pulmonary and integumentary systems.
• Incorporation of principles underlying logical reasoning based on scientific methods.
• Professional skills in Management and Leadership, Health Promotion and Prevention, Quality and Accreditation.
• Clinical internships allowing graduates to develop practice that meets the multifaceted health needs of patients in a variety of specialties.
• A professional research project integrating the practical and theoretical skills acquired during the academic program.

Curriculum 

Click here to download the Curriculum

Career prospects

The DPT degree allows candidates to graduate as skilled autonomous doctors in physical therapy who can manage patients suffering from critical types of disabilities, limitations, and social restrictions. They can also assume leadership roles as practitioners, educators, administrators and consultants in a variety of professional settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, homecare programs, prevention and health care maintenance programs in schools and private practices.

Program Structure

• Courses are delivered mainly in French on Saturdays to accommodate work schedules. Seminars given by international speakers are held intensively over one week.
• Highly qualified industry-related professors from Lebanon and partner universities are in charge of interactive courses for international exposure.

Admission Conditions

• A B.S degree in Physiotherapy from a recognized university with a good GPA level;
• Interview with the Graduate Admission Committee.