DPT Degree Program Requirements
Applicants to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must demonstrate the following to be considered for admission:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree at an accredited university in a discipline other than physical therapy
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, all prerequisites 3.2 GPA, and science prerequisites 3.2 GPA is required
- Completion of all prerequisites and bachelor's degree by the end of the spring semester prior to beginning the program
- At least three professional references
- Personal essay
- Completion of all materials in the
- Participation in a personal interview
- International students must submit the : Internet-based minimum score of 80, or iTEP score of 3.9 (scores must be within the last two years), or proof of graduating from a college where English is the primary mode of instruction.)
- GRE is no longer required for admissions
Observation in two different physical therapy settings is strongly encouraged. This helps potential physical therapy students understand just what physical therapists do, the types of patients they work with and the setting for potential job placement. Knowledge from these observations will also help in-class work as students can draw from the experiences.
List of Physical Therapy Prerequisite Courses
Students must have all prerequisite courses completed before entering the DPT program.
- Fundamentals of Communication (3 credit hours)
Course description and objectives should clearly indicate content coverage of theories that focus on communication in a variety of settings (e.g., interpersonal, small group, work settings). - Psychology (6)
General Psychology (3) and an additional three credit hours; developmental or abnormal psychology preferred - General Biology with lab (4)
- Human Anatomy with lab (or A&PI) (4)
- Human Physiology with lab (or A&PII) (4)
- General Chemistry I and II with labs (8)
- Physics I and II (non-calculus) with labs (8)
- Statistics (3)
- Exercise Physiology (3)
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. Prerequisites that were taken more than 10 years prior to application will only be considered by petition to the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee.
For questions regarding course prerequisite requirements, please contact Terry Forge, director of Academic Advising.
PT Program Requirement for Laptop Computers
Given the need for students to be able to find, analyze and use information, the Department of Physical Therapy Education requires that all students have a laptop computer for use throughout the DPT curriculum. The computer will be used during lecture and laboratory sessions on campus as well as online courses that run concurrently with full-time clinical internships. We do not require a specific brand of computer for these studies. Requirements are subject to change. It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the Office of Graduate Admission or the Department of Physical Therapy and Exercise Science to inquire if there are changes before submitting an application through .
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For more information, contact graduate@rockhurst.edu.