Dual Degree DPT/MBA

DPT/MBA Dual Degree

Physical Therapy and Business

Students may choose to pursue a dual degree program to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and an MBA. The dual degree enables students to receive the Doctor of Physical Therapy and MBA degrees in four years rather than the usual five.

DPT/MBA Format

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, students must complete the required 3 full-time semesters at the business school consecutively, so all business school graduation requirements are completed by 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.

Admissions Details

Students must apply separately to the business school and Division of Physical Therapy. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students typically apply to Goizueta's One-Year MBA during their second year of school.

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 standardized test scores, GPA, essays, recommendations, internships, and the interview when evaluating candidates.

Most students interested in a DPT/MBA degree do not possess the average 5-6 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 why the MBA is relevant to 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.

Applicants to Goizueta Business School are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Candidates should prepare vigorously for the quantitative portion of the test as candidates are expected to exceed the 50th percentile on the quantitative section of the exam. Most of our students score at the 75-80th percentile. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions regarding test scores if you have additional questions.

Every applicant who submits a completed application by the Round 3 deadline and is admitted to Goizueta is automatically reviewed for merit-based, school-funded scholarships. No separate application is required; merit-based awards typically range from 20% to full tuition. If a student receives a scholarship, it only applies to the semesters that they are enrolled in the Business School.