LSUA, LSU Health Shreveport Expand 3+3 Partnership with New Doctor of Physical Therapy Pathway

ALEXANDRIA, La. (UrbanCast: 10/14/2026) – LSU of Alexandria and LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport have expanded their partnership with a new 3+3 agreement creating an accelerated pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree from LSUA and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from LSU Health Shreveport within six years.

The new pathway builds on an existing relationship between the two institutions that already includes accelerated 3+3 opportunities in the health professions, including a Doctor of Occupational Therapy pathway launched in 2025. Together, the programs are designed to give LSUA students a more direct route from undergraduate study into specialized professional education within the LSU System.

Under the new agreement, eligible LSUA biology students will complete 85 to 90 credit hours of undergraduate and pre-professional coursework at LSUA before transitioning into LSU Health Shreveport’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Approved doctoral coursework will transfer back to LSUA to complete the remaining requirements for the bachelor’s degree, creating a coordinated pathway through both programs. Students can earn their DPT from LSU Health Shreveport either in-person at the Shreveport campus, or through LSU Health Shreveport’s Hybrid DPT program, based in Lafayette, LA.

“Partnerships like this allow us to build an education around where students want to go rather than asking them to navigate those connections on their own,” said LSUA Chancellor Elizabeth Beard, Ph.D. “By working across the LSU System, we can create a clear pathway from LSUA into a highly specialized health profession while allowing students to begin their education close to home. That combination of access, academic quality, and intentional preparation for meaningful careers is exactly what we want an LSU education to provide.”

The agreement also guarantees participating LSUA students an interview for the DPT program if they meet LSU Health Shreveport’s minimum admission requirements and application deadlines. Students will work with a designated LSUA faculty adviser and must demonstrate strong academic achievement, professional conduct, completion of required coursework and experiences, and meet all DPT admission standards before advancing into the doctoral phase.

For students interested in physical therapy, the 3+3 structure provides a more intentional path from undergraduate study into professional education. Students can begin at LSUA with an academic plan designed around the requirements of LSU Health Shreveport’s DPT program while potentially completing both degrees in less time than pursuing them separately.

“The Department of Physical Therapy at LSUHS continues to expand our scholarly and educational reach across the state,” said Daniel Flowers, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at LSU Health Shreveport. “This MOU with LSUA allows students to reduce their time to earn a DPT from seven to six years. This will cut one year of tuition, speed the rate of completion for new professionals, and allow those who have TOPS to apply it to their first year of PT school. This means less college debt, and an earlier entry to the workforce for students in central Louisiana.”

The pathway also responds to growing demand for physical therapists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of physical therapists to grow 12% from 2025 to 2035, compared with about 3% for all occupations, with approximately 13,400 openings nationally each year over the next decade.

The partnership extends beyond curriculum alignment. Faculty from LSU Health Shreveport’s DPT program will have opportunities to engage with prospective and current pathway students at LSUA, while students will have opportunities to connect with DPT faculty and the professional program in Shreveport.

By allowing students to begin their education close to home at LSUA and transition into specialized doctoral training at LSU Health Shreveport, the two institutions can expand access to professional education while preparing more highly trained health care professionals to serve Louisiana communities.

Source: LSUA

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