Physical Therapy Specialization Tracks

Enhance Your DPT with a Specialization Track

The Omaha PT program specialization tracks create opportunities for physical therapy students to gain knowledge and practical experiences in specialty areas of physical therapy beyond the required entry-level curriculum.

Like a minor for an undergraduate degree, specialization tracks prepare students for advanced career opportunities, residency education, or the pursuit of an advanced degree. Any student in good academic standing is eligible to apply during the 4th semester of the DPT curriculum. Upon meeting all specialization track requirements, graduates will earn a special designation on their transcripts.

Female patient with doctor and assistant in sports therapy

Sports Specialization Track

The Sports Specialization Track is comprised of electives and specialty experiences focused on sports physical therapy. This track includes topics addressing the acute management and clinical management of sports related injuries, referral and return to activity decisions, injury prevention, and performance enhancement.

Sports Specialty Track Requirements

“The program offered practical applications specific to sports physical therapy. We learned how to implement strength and conditioning principles related to return-to-sport rehab and how to use objective measures to assess strength, rate of force development, and implement return-to-sport criteria.”

— Connor Chambers, DPT’22

“I can say without a doubt that the connections I made through these specialized tracks helped propel me into the sports residency I am currently completing at one of the best pediatric hospitals in the country, Texas Children’s Hospital.”

— Paige Swanson, DPT’22

“It was a taste of sports residency. We spent time taping ankles, collaborating with the strength and conditioning and athletic training staff at Creighton, and we discussed sport-specific case studies, which, it turns out, are a big part of residency interviews.”

— Alex Harms, DPT’22

Research Specialization Track

The Research Specialization Track is focused on scientific inquiry in rehabilitation science. This track includes opportunities for participation in a seminary series exploring critical questions, problems, and contemporary issues in rehabilitation research. It also provides opportunities for students to conduct research projects, under the direction and guidance of a faculty member. In collaboration with the faculty advisor, students establish specific learning objectives, a defined scope of work, and specific products to be completed which may include a presentation or publication.

Research Specialization Track Requirements

Young man running on track being timed by two researchers

Physcial Therapist performing ultrasound on female patient

Women’s Health Specialization Track

The women’s health specialty track provides electives and specialty experiences in pregnancy, postpartum and pelvic health. Students will have an opportunity to gain experience in assessment and treatment techniques for women’s health conditions as well as to engage in literature to explore critical issues and questions in this specialty patient population. Students will have culminating experience in developing scholarly activity or patient education materials under the supervision of a faculty advisor

Women’s Health Specialization Track Requirements