People who search for “Theresa Larson masters” are usually trying to find out what Dr. Theresa Larson studied and which degrees she holds. She is widely known as “Dr. T,” a former Marine officer who became a physical therapist, author, and founder of a movement-health company. This article brings together the facts that can be confirmed about her education and career. It also tells you clearly where the public record stops, so you are not left with guesses.
Who Is Dr. Theresa Larson?
Theresa Larson has worked as a professional softball player, an award-winning fitness competitor, and a Marine lieutenant who led a platoon in Iraq. She is now a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Movement Rx, a company that supports wounded warriors and people with movement problems. She is described as one of the most sought-after experts on movement health in the healthcare and fitness world.
Because several women share the name Theresa Larson, it helps to know which one you are reading about. Searches for the name bring up unrelated students, educators, and academics. The person described here is the Marine veteran and physical therapist from the San Diego area, who is also the author of the memoir Warrior.
What Do We Know About Her Master’s Degree?
This is the part of the keyword that most readers care about, and the honest answer has two sides. One side is confirmed. She has shared that her whole family and identity were tied to the Marines, so she stayed in the Reserves and started working on her master’s degree. That tells us she did pursue graduate study after active duty.
The other side is not confirmed. Some professional profiles mention graduate study in Long Beach, California, between 2008 and 2010, but they do not say which degree she studied or whether she finished it. The exact title of her master’s degree has not been publicly confirmed, so this article does not name one. If you need the precise title for research or citation, the safest step is to ask her team at Movement Rx directly.
The Degree That Is Verified: Doctor of Physical Therapy
Her best-documented qualification is her doctorate. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Diego, and the university has identified her as a 2012 graduate of the program.
You may see a different graduation year elsewhere. Some profiles list the program as running from 2010 to 2013, and her physical therapy licensure by examination was issued in October 2013. These dates are not necessarily in conflict, since graduation and licensure usually happen at different times. The university’s own statement points to 2012 as the graduation year.
This distinction matters for the keyword. A DPT is a clinical doctorate, so people who call it a “master’s” are using the wrong label. Her formal credentials after her name are DPT and CSCS, the second being a strength and conditioning certification.
Early Education and Athletic Career
Her education started at Villanova University, where she studied political science with a minor in military science from 1999 to 2003. She was an All-American Division I softball player there and is also a former Body-for-Life champion. She later played professional softball in Italy and semi-professional softball in the United States.
Sports shaped her career choice as well. She has explained that pain from softball and military life convinced her movement could help people, even though she did not want to become a medical doctor.
Military Service as a Marine Officer
In 2003 she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, following her father and brother into military service. She served as a Marine Corps engineer officer and a combat veteran, and she led a platoon while deployed in Iraq.
Her service ended earlier than planned because of a private health struggle that she has since shared publicly. She has said that she was battling bulimia nervosa, and she was voluntarily evacuated from combat as a result. She has spoken about this openly to help others, and she now supports the National Eating Disorders Association, among other causes.
Movement Rx and Her Work in Physical Therapy
She founded Movement Rx with her husband in 2013 to escape the limits that traditional physical therapy places on practitioners and patients. The idea was to let skilled clinicians give patients real time, care, and movement education. She is also a global speaker on movement and mobility, a published author, an adaptive training expert, and an educator and fellow at the UVA Darden Leadership Institute.
Her professional certifications go beyond the DPT. She holds CSCS, CrossFit Level 1, mobility, Olympic lifting, and Selective Functional Movement Systems credentials. She has taught internationally as a speaker for the CrossFit Movement and Mobility course and as a consultant for MobilityWOD.
Adaptive Athletes, Podcast, and Advocacy
Adaptive training is a major part of her mission. She describes herself as an adaptive athlete and is the co-creator and lead instructor of the Functional Training for Adaptive Athletes program. She also hosts the “My New Normal” podcast, which aims to deliver crucial information to the people who need it most.
She supports several nonprofits, including the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Team Red White and Blue, the National Eating Disorders Association, CrossRoads Adaptive Athlete Alliance, and the Resiliency Project.
The Memoir Warrior
Her memoir Warrior was written with Alan Eisenstock and published by HarperOne in 2016. It tells the story of a former female Marine platoon leader who fought wars on the playing field, the battlefield, and inside herself, and who redefined what strength and “perfect” mean. It also covers her childhood in a log cabin outside Seattle and carries the message that asking for help can be an act of courage.
Where Is She Based Today?
Older biographies place her in San Diego, California. More recent listings show Durango, Colorado, as her location, with Movement Rx as her company. If location matters to you, check her official website for the latest information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Theresa Larson have a master’s degree? She has said she began master’s studies while in the Reserves, but the degree title and completion have not been publicly confirmed.
What is her highest verified degree? A Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
Where did she study as an undergraduate? Villanova University, where she also played Division I softball.
What company did she found? Movement Rx, in 2013, with her husband.
What is her book called? Warrior, published by HarperOne in 2016.
Final Thoughts
For the keyword “Theresa Larson masters,” the most accurate answer is this: she did begin graduate study while serving in the Reserves, but the exact master’s degree is not publicly confirmed, while her Doctor of Physical Therapy is firmly documented. Her path from college softball star to Marine officer to physical therapist and author shows how much she built through education and persistence.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is based on publicly available information, which may change or contain errors. The article makes no claim about a specific master’s degree because none could be verified. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Theresa Larson or Movement Rx. Readers who need exact credentials should confirm them directly with her or the awarding institution. Nothing here is medical or professional advice.
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Written by Hassan, founder and editor of NTX Magazine — an independent news and biography publication. Every article is researched and cross-checked against multiple public sources before publishing; see our Sourcing Standards page for details.