Bachelor of Science in Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is a profession, which develops and utilizes selected knowledge and skills in planning, organizing, and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury. Physical Therapy deals primarily with those individuals whose potential or actual impairment is related to the neuro-musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems. It focuses on methods of evaluating the functions of those systems and on the selection of appropriate therapeutic procedures to maintain, improve, or restore these functions. Physical Therapy serves a wide population in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, public health agencies, school districts, private practice, and the armed forces.

Following the completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in pre-physical therapy, students may apply to an entry-level doctoral physical therapy program at an accredited institution. The minimum educational requirement for entry into the profession is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT).

Program Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in pre-physical therapy is not a professional degree and the degree cannot be used to seek employment as a physical therapist.  Following completion of the BS degree in pre-physical therapy, students will have acquired the qualification needed for admission into an entry-level Master’s or doctoral (professional) degree program at an accredited institution.

Upon successful completion of the BS degree in pre-physical therapy, the graduates will:

• Apply the language of health professions in documenting patient history and progress of treatment.
• Apply psychological and sociological theories in explaining human behaviors in different clinical scenarios.
• Apply knowledge of physical and medical sciences in explaining disease pathology, physical therapy diagnosis and intervention.
• Demonstrate knowledge of physical therapy as a health care profession.
• Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the members of the health care team.
• Comprehend published research in allied health.

Admission Progression and Graduation Requirements

The Physical therapy program admits freshmen and transfer students. Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year. Students must complete the general university admission requirements and successfully complete the required university examinations in English, mathematics and reading.

The requirement for admission into the Pre-Physical Therapy program is a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. After the student has completed a total of 90 credit hours, the student must attain a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale to be able to graduate from the program. Students will be required to change their major if they fail to attain the GPA benchmark

Students in the Pre-Physical Therapy program are expected to graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or better in order to be competitive for admission into the entry- level doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) program.

Program Requirements (120 Credits)

Core Curriculum Requirements indicated by asterisk mark (*)

English (6 hours)	Math and Computer Science (12 hours)
Eng 1270	Math 1710
Eng 1080	Math 1410
	Computer 1060*

Humanities (15 hours)	Physical Therapy / Physical Education(15 hours)
Foreign Language I 101	PT 3301
Foreign Language II 102	PE 3010
Speech 2030	PE 2363 or PT 3316
Philosophy 2710 or 1030	PE 3030
Fine Arts	PE 3301 or PT 3314

Natural Sciences (32 hours)	Health Sciences  (24 hours)
Biology 1710 or Biology 1080	H SC 1104
Zoology 2050*	H SC 2150
Zoology 2610*	H SC 2250
Zoology 2040	H SC 3316
Physiology 2040	H SC 3375
Physics 1510 & 1520	H SC 3321
Chemistry 1550 & 1560	H SC 3200
	H SC 3329 OR PSYC 4190

Social Sciences (12 hours)	Management (3 hours)
Anthropology or Sociology 1010*	Intro to Modern Business Systems MGMT 1030 or
Psychology 1100*	Entreprenuership in Health Care HSC 4414
Psychology 2000*
Psychology 2155*
Elective (6 hours)	Health & Safety (3 hours)
Health Sciences electives	First Aid & CPR HS 1575

Curriculum Pattern

Freshman year

Fall Semester	Credit Hrs	Spring Semester	Credit Hrs
ENG 1270	3	ENG 1128	3
PSYC 2155	3	CPTR  1060	3
MATH 1710	5	HSC 2150	3
CHEM 1550	4	CHEM 1560	4
		HSC 2150	3
	15		16

Sophomore year

Fall Semester	Credit Hrs	Spring Semester	Credit Hrs
BIOL 1710 or 1080	3	ZOOL 2040	4
PHIL 2710 or 1030	3	SPCH 2030	3
ANTH 1010 or Soc 1010	3	HSC ELECTIVE	3
HSC Elective	3	PE 2363	3
HSC 1104	3	H SC 2250	3
	15		16
Summer
HSC 3321	3
PSYCH 2155	3
	6

Junior year

Fall Semester	Credit Hrs	Spring Semester	Credit Hrs
PHYS 1510	4	PHYS 1520	4
ZOOL 2050	4	ZOOL 2610	2
FOREIGN LANG	3	FOREIGN LANG.	3
HSC 3316	3	PE 3010	3
	16		15

Senior year

Fall Semester	Credit Hrs	Spring Semesters	Credit Hrs
PSLY 2040	4	PE 3030	3
MGMT 1030 or	3	HSC  3200	3
HSC 4414	3	HS  1575	3
PT 3301	3	MATH 1410	4
HSC 3329 or Psych 4190	3	HSC 3375	3
	16		16
		Total: 123 credit hours

*HSC 3321 (Service Learning in Health ) and HSC 2150 ( Introduction to Health Professions) are mandatory interdisciplinary courses for all students enrolled in the College of Health Sciences, including pre-physical therapy majors

Prospective students should contact the College of Health Sciences advisor for further information on the BS degree in Pre-Physical Therapy at (773) 995-2579.