• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main navigation
Baylor University
Military-Baylor Graduate Programs
Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • Nutrition
    • Welcome
    • About
      • Mission, Vision, Values
      • Typical Day Overview
      • Advantages & Benefits
      • Didactic Coursework and Supervised Experiential Learning
      • Graduation Requirements
      • RD Exam Eligibility
    • From the Director
    • Become a Military Dietician
    • Admission Requirements
      • Application Process
      • Tours
    • Research
    • Military Nutrition in Action
      • Military Readiness Course
      • History of Military Dietitians
      • What Graduates Are Doing
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
  • Occupational Therapy
    • Entry-Level (OTD)
      • About
      • Leadership
      • Admissions
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Curriculum
      • Graduation Requirements
      • FAQ
      • Connect
    • Post-Professional (DScOT)
      • About
      • Prospective Students
      • Prerequisites
      • Curriculum
      • Research
      • Publications
      • Faculty
      • Contact
  • Physical Therapy
    • Physical Therapy (DPT)
      • About
      • Admissions
      • Curriculum
      • Clinical Education
      • Accreditation
      • Research
      • Alumni Association
      • COL Kersey Course
    • Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (DScPT)
      • About
      • Program History
      • Curriculum
      • Research Activity
      • Physical Facilities and Resources
      • Admissions
      • Program Outcomes
      • Financial Fact Sheet
    • Sports Medicine Physical Therapy (DScPT)
      • About
      • Background & History
      • Curriculum
      • Research Activity
      • Grant Funding and Publications
      • Facilities and Resources
      • Faculty
      • Program Outcomes
      • Admissions
      • Financial Fact Sheet
  • Physician Assistant
    • Emergency Medicine (DScPAS)
      • Program Overview
      • History
      • Program Rationale
      • Prospective Students
      • Prerequisites
      • Residency Training Program
      • Program Design
      • Faculty
      • Curriculum
      • Research Overview
      • Research Requirements
      • Student Research Activity
      • Military EMPAs in Action
      • Civilians
      • Helpful Links
    • Orthopedics (DScPAS)
      • Program Overview
      • Program Curriculum
      • Civilians
      • Resources
    • Surgery and Critical Care (DScPAS)
      • Program Overview
      • Program History & Rationale
      • Program Curriculum
      • Civilians
      • Resources
Baylor BU Military-Baylor Graduate Programs Physical Therapy Physical Therapy (DPT) About Program History
  • Physical Therapy (DPT)
    • About
      • Mission
      • Program History
      • Faculty
      • FAQ
      • Links
    • Admissions
    • Curriculum
    • Clinical Education
    • Accreditation
    • Research
    • Alumni Association
    • COL Kersey Course
  • Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (DScPT)
  • Sports Medicine Physical Therapy (DScPT)

Program History

The long and proud tradition of physical therapy education in the United States Army was born of necessity. No rehabilitation services, civilian or military, existed to meet the needs of American soldiers when we entered World War I. After a quick study of European rehabilitation systems, Army Surgeon General Gorgas consolidated the use of various physical modalities under the term "physiotherapy." His Reconstruction Aide training program was conducted at civilian higher education facilities across the country. The enthusiastic "120-day wonders" who graduated from these emergency programs would later form the nucleus of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Historical Picture for DPT

The Army Medical Center of Excellence recognized the need for a formalized physical therapy course of instruction during the early 1920s. Such a course began in the fall of 1922 at Walter Reed General Hospital. The course, only four months long at that time, went through numerous changes in length and content in the following two decades. The program received its first accreditation in 1928. The students were civilians, and worked as civilians in military hospitals after graduation.

In 1942, therapists were granted relative military rank and graduates could apply for commissions upon completion of the program. Enlisted women were also allowed to become students and then receive a commission. World War II increased the need for therapists, and from 1942 through 1946, the Army course (26 weeks in length) was run concurrently, on a quarterly basis, at not only Walter Reed, but at other locations which included Fort Sam Houston, TX; Hot Springs, AK; Brigham City, UT; and White Sulphur Springs, WV.

After the war, the need for therapists declined and the training of new therapists was suspended. The physical therapists already on active duty were included in the newly established Women's Medical Specialist Corps (WMSC) in 1947. The program was restarted in 1948 at which time the trainees were commissioned as second lieutenants during their schooling. The course work was moved to its current location at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Male therapists were accepted into the Corps in 1955 and the name of the Corps was changed to the Army Medical Specialist Corps (AMSC).

In 1971, Baylor University and the Army partnered to establish and conduct an entry-level Master's degree program. Curriculum changes reflected the growing role of our profession in the military. Prior to the early 1970s, physical therapists worked in a prescriptive environment during peace time. Then, once again, a major change occurred. After the Vietnam conflict, the Army had too few orthopedic surgeons to manage large numbers of soldiers with neuromusculoskeletal injuries--both battle and non-battle related. Based on our performance record, and on the way we had met the expanded scope of practice required in Korea and Vietnam, physical therapists were identified as "physician extenders," credentialed to evaluate and treat neuromusculoskeletal patients without physician referral. Army physical therapists have been functioning in a direct access setting since that time. The US Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy is tasked, therefore, to prepare the student for entry-level competence in all traditional physical therapy skills as well as to emphasize those skills needed as part of the neuromusculoskeletal evaluation process within the military health care system. Students are commissioned in the Army Medical Specialist Corps, Navy Medical Service Corps, the Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps usually at the rank of second lieutenant or ensign and receive the DPT degree upon successful completion of the Baylor University curriculum.

In July 2002, the program was approved by Baylor University to transition to granting a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and CAPTE subsequently granted approval for the change. The first Doctor of Physical Therapy class began the program in December 2003 and graduated in April 2006. The program was accredited in 2007 for eight years by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program is scheduled for re-accreditation in 2017.

US military PTs have a proud history of providing medical care during operational deployments of US forces. US Army PTs were first placed in the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2000, a move that positively influenced medical readiness of the battalions. Subsequently, PTs were assigned to Special Forces Groups, Naval Special Warfare units, and Army Brigade Combat Teams. Over the 10 year period from 2001 to 2011, 162 Army PTs deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan with an estimated 222 deployments. This effort has reduced unnecessary medical evacuation of service members with musculoskeletal injuries approximately 18%. Military PTs are functioning in a primary care direct access role and managing musculoskeletal injuries and providing evidence based PT care within a model coined by Colonel Josef Moore called "Sports medicine on the battlefield."

  • Military PT Direct Access
  • Role of Military PTs in Recent Combat Campaigns
  • Clinical Diagnostic Accuracy and MRI: Military PTs and Orthopedic Surgeons
DPT

Physical Therapy (DPT)

Military-Baylor Graduate Programs

Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy
3630 Stanley Road, Bldg 2841, Suite 1301
Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston,
TX 78234-6100

armybaylordpt@baylor.edu
Baylor BU Military-Baylor Graduate Programs Physical Therapy Physical Therapy (DPT) About Program History
  • Nutrition
    Back
    • Welcome
    • About
      Back
      • Mission, Vision, Values
      • Typical Day Overview
      • Advantages & Benefits
      • Didactic Coursework and Supervised Experiential Learning
      • Graduation Requirements
      • RD Exam Eligibility
    • From the Director
    • Become a Military Dietician
    • Admission Requirements
      Back
      • Application Process
      • Tours
    • Research
    • Military Nutrition in Action
      Back
      • Military Readiness Course
      • History of Military Dietitians
      • What Graduates Are Doing
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
  • Occupational Therapy
    Back
    • Entry-Level (OTD)
      Back
      • About
      • Leadership
      • Admissions
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Curriculum
      • Graduation Requirements
      • FAQ
      • Connect
    • Post-Professional (DScOT)
      Back
      • About
      • Prospective Students
      • Prerequisites
      • Curriculum
      • Research
      • Publications
      • Faculty
      • Contact
  • Physical Therapy
    Back
    • Physical Therapy (DPT)
      Back
      • About
        Back
        • Mission
        • Program History
        • Faculty
        • FAQ
        • Links
      • Admissions
        Back
        • Admission Requirements
        • Interactive Engagement Opportunities
        • Application Timeline
        • Admissions Process
        • Recruiting Information
        • Military Eligibility Requirements
      • Curriculum
        Back
        • Degree Plan
        • Course Descriptions
      • Clinical Education
        Back
        • CCCE/CI Resources
      • Accreditation
      • Research
        Back
        • Research Requirements
        • Research Laboratory
        • Publications
      • Alumni Association
      • COL Kersey Course
    • Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (DScPT)
      Back
      • About
      • Program History
      • Curriculum
      • Research Activity
      • Physical Facilities and Resources
      • Admissions
      • Program Outcomes
      • Financial Fact Sheet
    • Sports Medicine Physical Therapy (DScPT)
      Back
      • About
      • Background & History
      • Curriculum
      • Research Activity
      • Grant Funding and Publications
      • Facilities and Resources
      • Faculty
      • Program Outcomes
      • Admissions
      • Financial Fact Sheet
  • Physician Assistant
    Back
    • Emergency Medicine (DScPAS)
      Back
      • Program Overview
      • History
      • Program Rationale
      • Prospective Students
      • Prerequisites
      • Residency Training Program
      • Program Design
      • Faculty
      • Curriculum
      • Research Overview
      • Research Requirements
      • Student Research Activity
      • Military EMPAs in Action
      • Civilians
      • Helpful Links
    • Orthopedics (DScPAS)
      Back
      • Program Overview
      • Program Curriculum
      • Civilians
      • Resources
    • Surgery and Critical Care (DScPAS)
      Back
      • Program Overview
      • Program History & Rationale
      • Program Curriculum
      • Civilians
      • Resources
  • General Information
  • Academics & Research
  • Administration
  • Admissions
  • Gateways for ...
  • About Baylor
  • Athletics
  • Ask Baylor
  • Bookstore
  • Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Directory
  • Give to Baylor
  • News
  • Search
  • Social Media
  • Strategic Plan
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary
  • Graduate School
  • Hankamer School of Business
  • Honors College
  • Law School
  • Louise Herrington School of Nursing
  • Research at Baylor University
  • Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering & Computer Science
  • School of Music
  • University Libraries, Museums, and the Press
  • More Academics
  • Athletics
  • Compliance, Risk and Safety
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Office of General Counsel
  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Provost
  • Operations, Finance & Administration
  • Senior Administration
  • Student Life
  • University Advancement
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • goBAYLOR
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Baylor Law School Admissions
  • Social Work Graduate Programs
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary Admissions
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Virtual Tour
  • Visit Campus
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Parents
  • Prospective Faculty & Staff
  • Prospective Students
  • Students
  • Anonymous Reporting
  • Annual Fire Safety and Security Notice
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Digital Privacy
  • Legal Disclosures
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination
  • Report It
  • Title IX
  • Web Accessibility
 
Baylor University
Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved.
Baylor University • Waco, Texas 76798 • 1-800-229-5678