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Pre-Physical Therapy/Pre-Occupational Therapy

Preparing for Admission to a Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Program

To meet accreditation standards, all physical therapy graduate programs must lead to a doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT).

Most programs have transitioned to doctorate programs, but a few schools still offer a master’s degree. If you are seeking admission to a physical therapy graduate program, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in any field, plus the prerequisite coursework listed below.

While many of these courses are not required for occupational therapy, following the Pre-Physical Therapy track makes students strongly competitive for a master’s in occupational therapy (MOT). There are doctorate programs in OT called the OTD, as well.

The main pre-physical therapy and pre-occupational therapy track is the BS in Applied Human Sciences. You should contact individual PT and OT schools for their admissions requirements or consult the or websites.

General Biology BIO 2101, 2102, 2103 15
Human Anatomy and Physiology BIO 2129, 2130 10
General Microbiology BIO 3351 5
General Chemistry CHM 1211, 1212 10
Survey of Organic Chemistry CHM 1330 5
Introductory Inorganic Chemistry CHM 2540 5
General Physics PHY 1101, 1102, 1103 15
Statistics MAT 2360  5
General Psychology PSY 1180 5
Life Span or Developmental Psychology PSY 2470 or 4420 5
Abnormal Behavior   PSY 3360 5
Biomechanics PE 3570 5
Exercise Physiology PE 3580 5
Total   95

Suggested additional courses include human nutrition, communication, and two courses in English. Check the requirements of the individual schools that interest you.

Important Dates
Academic Calendar

Time Schedule
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SPU students

Health Sciences Graduate Programs Consider:

  • Grades
  • Scores on standardized tests (e.g., MCAT, DAT, GRE)
  • Health-related clinical experience
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Leadership and service experience
  • Research experience