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Students practice loading a patient with a spinal injury onto a back board

Programs

The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training includes two programs including the Master of Athletic Training and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  Students in the Master of Athletic Training program earn the entry-level degree that allows them to practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC).  Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program earn the entry-level degree that allows them to practice as a Physical Therapist.  Both careers offer high intrinsic reward and employability.

Students and faculty practice training exercises in a gym setting

Athletic Training M.A.T.

GVSU’s Master of Athletic Training (MAT) Program is a professional graduate program preparing the next generation of high-quality healthcare professionals in the field of athletic training through an innovative blend of rigorous academic coursework and hands-on clinical experiences. Students learn to confidently evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate patients across diverse settings through a wide range of clinical partners throughout the United States.  Students engage with patients from initial injury through return to activity. With the addition of an accelerated combined degree pathway, students can obtain their undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years.

A faculty member demonstrates an adjustment technique on a student

Physical Therapy D.P.T.

Grand Valley State University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program is well-established and features 15 full-time faculty members, 12 of whom hold advanced clinical practice certifications, which provides for an unparalleled breadth and depth of clinical expertise across practice settings and specialties. Our program is well-situated along the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids and enjoys an outstanding reputation among its students and in the community. Our recently modernized curriculum provides extensive, experiential learning opportunities beyond the lecture hall with an emphasis on hands-on labs and case-based small group seminars with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, high fidelity simulations, designing and conducting research, and an integrated clinical education curriculum. The GVSU DPT program outcomes consistently exceed national benchmarks.

Page last modified August 18, 2026