Doctor of Physical Therapy Admission Requirements

* Due to the impacts of COVID-19, many universities implemented grading policies for the Spring 2020 semester that included the option of pass/fail designations.  The Department of Physical Therapy requires a letter grade (A, B, C) for all prerequisite courses and strongly encourages the use of letter grades for all coursework completed.  Please contact the Department with questions.

Click here to access DPT application instructions for the class entering May 2024. 

In addition to the general admission requirements for UMMC and SHRP, candidates seeking admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Provide evidence of observation in a minimum of two (2) physical therapy clinical departments or practices for total of 40 hours. Additional hours and sites are considered beneficial to enhance the applicant’s knowledge of the professions. A maximum of 20 hours may be used from any one (1) site. Hours earned through employment will not be accepted and no more than 20 hours total can be applied to the observation requirement from hours earned during internship experiences.  All observation hours must be completed in the current year of application and documentation forms must be received by the application deadline. Click here for the form. Note: form will be uploaded as part of the application process in Workday once completed. 
• Past observation hours may be placed on curriculum vitae. 
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• An overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants accepted usually have a higher than minimum grade point average.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for prerequisite courses. Applicants accepted usually have a higher than minimum grade point average.
• A minimum grade of C in each prerequisite course*.  At least 5 of the 8 prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the fall semester in which the application is submitted. Applicants accepted for admission must successfully complete all prerequisite courses by the end of the subsequent spring semester, with final grades documented by the official transcript.
• An official report of Graduate Record Examination scores that includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores. 
• Submit a resume that includes (1) career objective; (2) educational history; (3) work history; (4) community service; (5) honors and activities 
• Submit an essay specific to the topic provided by the DPT Admission Committee. 
• All application and supporting documents (including resume, essay, and transcripts) completed and submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management by the admissions deadline. 

*Science survey courses designed for non-science majors are not acceptable for a required course. Science courses with lab that count for science major credit are considered appropriate. Normally, required science courses must have been taken in the last ten years. All physical or biological sciences listed at a particular college or university do not necessarily satisfy the prerequisite requirements.  Combined Human Anatomy and Physiology is not a prerequisite and will not be accepted as a prerequisite course. Please consult with the UMMC physical therapy pre-admissions counselor, Dr. Joy Kuebler for clarification.

 ¹The statistics course must be taken at a university, not a community/junior college, in one of the three departments specified above. Graduate level courses will not be used to meet prerequisite requirements. 

 ²Must be 300/3000 or 400/4000 level undergraduate courses and taken at a senior college. Associated labs, whether incorporated or offered separately, must also be completed. Courses must be taken in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Graduate level courses will not be used to meet prerequisite requirements. 

Independent study, directed study, or history courses are not accepted as pre-requisite courses and do not meet the requirements of the DPT program.

Click here to apply

*Note. Observation hours are required for students entering May 2024 and later.