South Dakota Board of Regents
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
For more information: Janelle Toman, 605-773-3455

Physical Therapy Doctorate, New Minors Approved

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The University of South Dakota received approval Wednesday to move its existing master’s program in physical therapy to a doctorate, while the South Dakota Board of Regents also approved several new minors at South Dakota State University.

USD has offered an M.S. in physical therapy since 1991, but most programs nationwide are now converting to doctoral-level study, university officials said. The American Physical Therapy Association estimates 96 percent of accredited programs have either converted to the doctorate already or notified the association of their intent to do so. 

“In order to maintain an accredited program that is attractive to potential students and to secure the necessary licensure for our physical therapy students, it is prudent to move this program to the doctoral level,” said Regents President Harvey C. Jewett. USD admits 26 new students each year into its physical therapy program.

The regents also approved new undergraduate minors at SDSU in dance and in hotel and food service management. Both of the new minors requires 18 credit hours of study, and may be added to any undergraduate degree offered at the Brookings campus. 

Jewett noted that all these programs are being funded with existing university resources. No new state funds were requested by the Board of Regents to develop or implement them.

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