Getting Started
Physical Therapy
(Degree: DPT)
Admission to physical therapy school involves rigorous academic preparation and student
involvement in healthcare related activities - volunteering, and community service outside the
classroom. Together, each contributes to the development of the individual student and serves in
providing the academic foundation, insight and perspective into what it means to practice physical
therapy, an understanding of the health care needs of our society, and finally toward each students
professional development. Combined, these elements of prephysical therapy preparation are part
of a process of holistic review of applicants.
This guide should be used in conjunction with the following websites that will be a part of your
future as a student and as an applicant. The website for the American PhysicalTherapy Association
(APTA), www.apta.org, is an excellent source of information for prephysical theraphy students
and should become a part of your everyday resources on all things prephysical therapy and
physical therapy. If you are interested in another DPT program, please be aware that there is
some variation in prerequisite requirements, deadlines, and procedures for other DPT schools.
Thus, students are advised to consult individual programs for their specific and most current
information. To search for additional accredited DPT programs, please consult the American
Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at: www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents/
Time Line For Applying to DPT School
For traditional undergraduate students the first three years of
university studies is when the prephysical theraphy courses are
completed. See the back of this document for the application
process. It is more favorable to apply during the first half of the
application cycle, but is not always possible. During the fall of
senior year competitive applicants are invited to interview at
physical therapy schools, and during the final year complete
undergraduate requirements. All prephysical therapy
requirements should be completed prior to the application.
Performance in the prephysical therapy courses determines an
applicants’ academic competitiveness.
UTSA
Pathways to Physical Therapy School
Course work in the basic sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities all
contribute to becoming a well-rounded applicant, and each has relevance to the practice of
physical therapy. Therefore, students should seek a broad education during their
undergraduate years. Students should choose a major that reflects their personal interests, but
also be guided by what will be helpful in preparing for physical therapy school. This should
include course work that provides insight into the practice of physical therapy, health care and
society more broadly. All applicants applying to the University of Texas Health Science
Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, however,
must complete a minimum set of prerequisite courses which are described below in addition to
the course work for the major they choose.
There is no required major for entrance to physical therapy school programs.
All undergraduate majors at UTSA can be found in the university catalog at:
www.utsa.edu/academics/ugrad-degree-programs.html
UTSA Course Prerequisites:
Program Prequisites Must Recieve C or better
UTHSCSA Physical
Therapy School
FR SO JR SR
Apply
Y1
Y2 Y3
For a first time college student, the time required to earn a
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is typically seven years: four
years earning a bachelors degree (and required pre-requisites)
and three years at the physical therapy program.
It is not unusual, however, that a student will decide later in their
academic career to pursue physical therapy. Arriving at the
decision later does not necessarily place a student at a
disadvantage. It will, however, require a student to postpone the
application to physical theraphy school until pre-requisites and
admission requirements are fulfilled.
Prerequisites for UTHSCSA DPT Program
UTSA Prerequisites:
Does the course require a prerequisite? Yes* or No
BIO 1404 Biosciences I
BIO 1122 Biosciences Lab
3 hours Upper-Division (UD) Biology
Tracking your Grades:
Program Prequisites Must Recieve C or better
Overall GPA:
Science & Math GPA:
BIO 1404
________
________
BIO 1122
________
________
UD BIO
________
________
BIO 2083
BIO 2091
or
BIO 3123
BIO 3132
BIO 2083
BIO 2091
or
BIO 3123
BIO 3132
BIO 2083 BIO 2091 or
BIO 3123 BIO 3132 -
Yes*
Yes*
BIO 2103 BIO 2111 or
BIO 3413 BIO 3422 -
Yes*
Yes*
BIO 2103
BIO 2111
or
BIO 3413
BIO 3422
CHE 1103
CHE 1121
CHE 1113
CHE 1131
PHY 1603
PHY 1611
PHY 1623
PHY 1631
PSY 1013
PSY 2503
SOC 1013
Human Anatomy
Human Anatomy Laboratory
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
Human Physiology
Human Physiology Laboratory
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
Advanced Physiology
Advanced Physciology Laboratory
BIO 2103
BIO 2111
or
BIO 3413
BIO 3422
________
________
________
________
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry Laboratory
General Chemistry II
General Chemistry II Laboratory
Algebra-based Physics I
Algebra-based Physics Laboratory
Algebra-based Physics II
Algebra-based Physics II Laboratory
Introduction to Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
CHE 1103
CHE 1121
CHE 1113
CHE 1131
PHY 1603
PHY 1611
PHY 1623
PHY 1631
PSY 1013
PSY 2503
SOC 1013
________
________
________
________
________
_______
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
_______
________
________
COM 1053 Business and Professional Speech
or
COM 2113 Public Speaking
COM 1053
or
COM 2113
________
STA 1053
or
PSY 2073
STA 1053
or
PSY 2073
________
________
________
________
Med. Term.
________
Basic Statistics
Statistics for Psychology
Medical Terminology (1 hour, not offered at UTSA)
BIO 1404 - Yes*
BIO 1122 - Yes*
UD BIO - Yes*: Depends on course selected
CHE 1103 CHE 1121 CHE 1113 CHE 1131 PHY 1603 PHY 1611 PHY 1623 PHY 1631 PSY 1013 PSY 2503 SOC 1013 -
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*: Chemistry placement test or CHE 1073
Yes*: Concurrent registration in CHE 1120 required
Yes*
Yes*: Concurrent registration in CHE 1130 required
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
Yes*
No
Yes*
No
COM 1053 - Yes*
or
COM 2113 - Yes*
________
STA 1053 - Yes*: Math placement test (if required)
or
PSY 2073 - Yes*
Med. Term. - No
*All UTSA course requirement prerequisites can be found in the online UTSA Undergraduate Catalog. Click on “Course Descriptions” within your
assigned catalog. UTSA Undergraduate online catalog at: utsa.edu/ucat/index/html
Developmental Courses
The University Health Professions Office (UHPO)
University of Texas at San Antonio
Students who are not academically prepared to go directly into required prerequisite courses may
Multidisciplinary Studies Building (MS), Room 3.02.10 (Main Campus)
need to enroll first in developmental courses. These include mathematics or writing courses
www.utsa.edu/healthprofessions
which are designed to build your collegiate academic foundation. Placement tests in math and
(210) 458-5185
chemistry are available through UTSA Testing Services: http://www.utsa.edu/testing/
hpoffice@utsa.edu
UTHSCSA Application Process
To be eligible to apply for admission to the UTHSCSA Physical Therapy (DPT) program, student must complete 90 hours of college/university hours (including
required prerequisite courses) by the end of the spring semester prior to enrollment. Starting with the 2016 entering cohort, a bachelor’s degree will be required.
Additionally, students must have a minimum 3.0 science & math GPA and a 3.0 cumulative (overall) GPA. However, these are only the minimum GPA requirements
to be eligible to apply to the program. The average GPA’s for accepted students are significantly higher.
Applying to the UTHSCSA DPT is done via an online Texas Common Application (www.applytexas.org). It is advisable to start the application process as soon
as possible. To be complete, UTHSCSA DPT must recieve 1) All application materials, 2) GRE exam score, 3) the application fee, 3) official transcripts, 4) all
supporting documents by the listed deadline. Students will NOT be notified if documents have not been received by UTHSCSA DPT. It is the student’s
responsibility to check status updates.
Other physical therapy school application processes vary. Due to the variation in application procedures, students should consult individual physical therapy
schools for specific information pertaining to their programs. To locate schools and programs across the country, please visit the website of the American Physical
Therapy Association (APTA) at: www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents/
UTHSCSA DPT - Application Deadlines
Early: August 1 - October 1st - For the following year/Fall Semester (July) - (DPT)
Regular: August - November 1st – For the following year/Fall Semester (July) - (DPT)
All prospective applicants to the UTHSCSA MOT program are encouraged to check the UTHSCSA DPT admissions website directly for any updated
information, deadlines, or procedures at www.uthscsa.edu/shp/pt/index.asp
Additional Information/Resources
The UHPO keeps and maintains resources that will be available to students in our office. These include books, journals, handouts, and other resources. Useful
information about physical therapy as a profession and other DPT programs can be found on the website of the American Physical Therapy Association.
American Physical Therapy Association - www.apta.org/careers
Physical Therapy Information from Physical Therapists - www.moveforwardpt.com
Prospective Students Information from APTA - www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents/ContactaPTStudent/
Prospective students may speak directly with representatives of the UTHSCSA Physical Therapy (DPT) to obtain all pertinent information regarding admissions and,
more generally, the program in Physical Therapy.
UHPO Services & Resources
Community Service/Volunteering/Shadowing
An integral part of preparation for programs in physical therapy entails involvement in community service projects and volunteer work in a hospital or clinical setting.
These activities serve to familiarize prospective physical therapists with the realities of everyday clinical practice as well as to underscore the role of physical therapists
and healthcare in relation to broader community level concerns and issues. Students must exercise personal initiative and develop professional relationships that would
allow them to have this direct contact with physical therapists in everyday clinical experiences. To get you started with your journey, the UHPO has a list of volunteer
opportunities available on the UHPO website. http://utsa.edu/healthprofessions/volunteer.html
We do not, however, provide a list of shadowing experiences as we encourage students to build their own professional network and opportunities. For the DPT
program at UTHSCSA, the documentation of at least 50 hours of volunteer and/or observation of a registered physical therapist is required. A documentation form
must be completed and can be downloaded at http://uthscsa.edu/shp/pt/dpt_app_admit_checklist.pdf or found on the UTHSCSA “DPT Application &
Admission Checklist” section of their website.
Letters of Evaluation
Letters of evaluation are an essential part of the application to many DPT
programs. Because selection committees depend heavily on these letters to gain
insight into applicants’ personal strengths, character, and accomplishments,
students should be sure to request letters of evaluation from individuals, such as
professors, work supervisors, and volunteer supervisors, who know them from
various perspectives and know them well. Letters from family members or other
individuals whom students know only on a personal level are inappropriate. For
further information, refer to the physical therapy program of interest website.
Personal Statement
For initial planning and writing personal statement drafts we
recommend that students visit and utilize “The Writing Center” for
assistance. The UHPO staff will read and provide feedback for
finalized student personal statements given sufficient time;
preferably two weeks prior to when comments are needed.
www.utsa.edu/twc/
Interviews
The UHPO can offer advice as students prepare for interviews and, after interviews, would like to debrief with students about their impressions. The UTSA
University Career Center facilitates interview workshops and conducts mock interviews to provide students with feedback. Not sure what to wear for your
interview or don’t have a suit? They also provide access to their “Career Closet” to check out a suit from their “Career Closet.” For more information about
University Career Center services, please check out their website and contact them for more information. http://utsa.edu/careercenter/
Health Professions Advising
Undergraduate students recieve advising upon entrance to UTSA from a placement advisor, and then from the advisor whom they are assigned once they have
chosen a major. Advising for health professions is a separate process. It should be utilized early in a student’s education and throughout the application process
and beyond. The services of the University Health Professions Office include careful advising for course selection and the timing of prerequisite course work,
choice of apppropriate majors, and guidance with preparation for the application to physical therapy school. UHPO also works with UTSA postbaccalaureate
students, non-degree seeking students, and alumni.
The University Health Professions Office (UHPO)
University of Texas at San Antonio
Multidisciplinary Studies Building (MS), Room 3.02.10 (Main Campus)
www.utsa.edu/healthprofessions
(210) 458-5185
hpoffice@utsa.edu
Revised June 2014