Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, an applicant must have participated in the competitive admissions process and must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university, or Canadian equivalent, which would be completed prior to matriculation to the Physical Therapy (PT) program. The minimum last 60 credit hour grade point average (GPA) required to be considered for admission is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The minimum prerequisite GPA required to be considered for admission is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All enrolled students must meet the program’s minimum Health and Technical Standards to participate in the program.

Prerequisite Coursework

The minimum prerequisite coursework requirements cannot be waived and must be completed or in progress by the posted application deadline(s) from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university, or Canadian equivalent. Exceptions are not permitted. Prerequisite courses must be satisfied with a grade of “C” or higher (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). A single course cannot be used simultaneously to meet more than one course prerequisite. All coursework completed by the applicant will be considered in the admissions process.

Coursework is converted to semester credit hours when determining if minimum prerequisite requirements have been met. Meeting the prerequisite requirements generally calls for completion of courses designed for science majors; courses offered for non-science majors do not typically satisfy the prerequisite requirements of anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, or physics. Courses with KIN, KINS, EXSS, PT, or NURS prefixes are not typically intended for science majors and will not satisfy prerequisite requirements. Credit for coursework obtained through distance learning or online courses will be recognized as meeting prerequisite requirements as long as course credit is awarded from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university, or Canadian equivalent.

Foreign Coursework

The program will not accept course work obtained at foreign institutions except Canada.

Transcripts

Upon acceptance of an offer of admission, applicants who were actively enrolled in coursework at the time of application must request final official transcripts from their final institution to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at HSC. Final transcripts must list all courses, including those that were in progress between initial application and final matriculation into the DPT program.

Prerequisite Coursework Substitution

Prospective applicants seeking substitution for prerequisite coursework should submit their request to admissions@unthsc.edu.

A catalog course description or course syllabus from the college or university where the course was completed must be submitted with the request. If a catalog course description is not available, a letter from the academic department that offered the original course describing the content and nature of the course may be substituted. Coursework substitutions and content hours must be equivalent or comparable to the prerequisite. Substitutions are approved on an individual basis. The program reserves the right to approve or deny any prerequisite course substitution requests.

Admission Procedures

Applicants will be considered for admission as early as August during the year prior to matriculation. Applications through PTCAS typically become available in June. The deadline for submitting the PTCAS application is in October of the year prior to matriculation. Early application is recommended. Applicants should not send PTCAS application materials, transcripts, reference letters, or other information to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment unless specifically requested to do so. The Office of Admissions and Recruitment or program does not assume any responsibility for application materials sent to PTCAS and will not forward admissions materials to the application service on behalf of applicants. To allow for timely receipt and processing, it is recommended that all application materials, fees, transcripts, and reference forms be submitted at least 30 days prior to the posted deadline. Applicants submitting after the posted deadline will not be considered. A $50 UNTHSC application processing fee is required for all PTCAS applications.

The admissions process is designed in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or Veterans of the Vietnam Era status.

Information submitted in the application materials must be complete and correct. Prospective and current students must notify the proper institution officials regarding any changes in the information provided on their application. Falsification or omission of any information on the application documents will void a student’s admission, cancel their enrollment, and/or result in appropriate disciplinary action.

All materials submitted during the application process become the property of the HSC and cannot be returned.

Applicant Selection

In reviewing applications for interview selection and acceptance, many factors are taken into consideration. These factors include but are not limited to:

• Academic background
• Understanding of the role of PT
• Letters of reference 
• Community service and achievements
• Other life experiences and extracurricular activities
• Applicant’s personal interview

Although an applicant’s entire academic record is considered, this alone does not ensure acceptance. While prior experience in a healthcare setting is not required, this experience is considered a beneficial attribute and viewed positively by the Admissions Committee. PT mentorship and shadowing experiences are not required, but are highly encouraged. Two letters of reference are required, and one must be from a physical therapist. Evidence of personal integrity, maturity, motivation, communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, writing ability, dedication, and the ability to work with others are additional factors that will be considered. These qualities are evaluated by several means, including letters of reference, the scope and nature of extracurricular activities (including work and volunteer experience), the scope and breadth of prior education, and through the interview process.

Selected applicants will be invited for an admissions interview. Interviews may be on campus or online from August to January. Candidates who are invited to interview will be contacted by phone or email. Declining an invitation or failing to appear for a scheduled interview will result in a withdrawal of your application. Early submission of your application may increase your chances of interview selection. Interview results are confidential and are considered in the competitive selection processes.

Applicants who are admitted to the degree program cohort and plan to enroll are required to submit an Admission Decision along with a non-refundable $500 assurance fee which will be used toward tuition upon arrival. Deferred matriculation is available upon approval for up to one year in unusual circumstances.

Transfer Policy

The program does not admit transfer students from other PT programs.

Accreditation

DPT at HSC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

Program Description

More information regarding the DPT program and curriculum can be found here.