DPT/MBA Program

Students may choose to pursue a joint degree program to earn a Masters of Business Administration and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students typically apply to Goizueta’s One Year MBA Program during their second year of school. The joint degree enables students to receive the Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Business Administration degrees in four years rather than the usual five.

Most students complete Business School requirements in their third year and then return to the School of Medicine to finish remaining DPT requirements. In the One-Year MBA Program for the MBA portion of their joint degree, students must complete the required 3 full-time semesters at the Business School consecutively, so that all Business School graduation requirements are completed at the end of the third full-time semester.

This sequence allows students, if admitted, to enroll in the MBA Program after holding a summer internship in the healthcare field. The arrangement also allows students to return to the School of Medicine to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the MBA experience to their final year of clinical affiliations and DPT course work.

In addition to Statistics, DPT candidates are expected to have taken (or must complete before they enroll) the following business courses:

• Financial Accounting
• Microeconomics
• Corporate Finance

With the exception of full-time work experience, physical therapy students are evaluated for admission in the same manner as all other MBA applicants. We consider the GMAT score, GPA, essays, recommendations, internships and the interview when evaluating candidates.

Students must apply to the business school and Division of Physical Therapy separately.

GMAT

We require that all applicants to Goizueta Business School take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). We do not accept the MCAT, GRE or any other admissions test in its place. Candidates should prepare vigorously for the math portion of the GMAT because, at a minimum, candidates need to score at the 50th percentile on the quantitative section of the GMAT. Our average of 75-80th percentile is significantly higher.

Work Experience

Most students interested in a DPT/MBA degree do not possess the average five years of work experience of our typical MBA candidate. Many students proceed to the DPT program directly from their undergraduate program. However, this does not mean that work experience should not be addressed in your application. The Admissions Committee is most interested in hearing how your life and work experiences will add to MBA class discussions and your career. An internship, part-time job, or family business experience can provide relevant work experience to strengthen your file. MBA classes are highly participatory and lively class discussions are a key part of the learning process. Our recommendation is that you prepare your application in a way that highlights the skills you have gained from your work and organizational experiences.

Career Info

Business decisions will have a broad impact on the delivery of healthcare in the 21st century and physical therapists equipped with the proper management and financial skills will be in a better position to effectively function in this environment. Whether managing an individual or group physical therapy practice, leading a corporate or non-profit hospital department, or contributing to the development of healthcare policy, the understanding of fundamental financial, management, and organizational practices is essential. The combined DPT/MBA degree focuses on giving future physical therapists this necessary skill-set for successfully integrating medicine and business.

Goizueta Healthcare Management Association (GHMA)

The Goizueta Healthcare Management Association focuses on healthcare issues and careers. Recent events have included: Biotech Venture Capital Panel, Healthcare Career Panel, and a networking event with Rollins School of Public Health.

Financial Aid

Every applicant who submits a completed application by the February 1st deadline and is admitted to Goizueta is automatically reviewed for merit-based, school-funded scholarships. Merit-based awards typically range from 20% to full tuition. No separate application is required. If a student receives a scholarship, it applies to the semesters they are enrolled in the Business School.