College of Health, Education and Professional Studies
Physical Therapy
Associate Professor Catherine R. Smith, Acting Head
Doctor of Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UTC is designed to prepare graduates to meet entry-level practice expectations of the physical therapy profession. The curriculum addresses current approaches to the evaluation and management of movement system disorders while simultaneously preparing the graduate to assume a role in prevention, wellness, and health promotion. Classroom and clinic-based instruction provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to practice competently in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. By integrating current theory and research into all foundational science and applied clinical science courses, the DPT program of study prepares students to develop and implement evidence-based intervention plans leading to outcomes that enhance the movement competencies of clients with disorders of the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular or integumentary systems.
The program’s 3 + 3 structure requires three years of prerequisite course work followed by three years of full time enrollment in the professional program. Students who are accepted into the professional program must be enrolled on a full-time basis for each of the eight semesters of the physical therapy curriculum. The curriculum combines classroom and laboratory training with independent study and clinical experiences in multiple healthcare settings. A variety of instructional methods are employed to enable students to develop the essential manual and clinical skills. The course work is arranged according to a prescribed sequence and schedule that all students must follow.
The DPT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-physical therapy students admitted to the program with undergraduate standing must meet all undergraduate admission requirements of the University. The prerequisites for the professional program for undergraduate students include the general education requirements of the University, which are outlined elsewhere in this catalog. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree at the time of application to the program are not required to complete the general education requirements of the University unless they choose to earn a second bachelor’s degree. Students interested in pursuing physical therapy should seek advisement from the physical therapy faculty by calling the program office to schedule an appointment.
Admission to the Professional Physical Therapy Program
Application procedure and admission to the University does not assure acceptance into the physical therapy program. Enrollment is limited, and the number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of students who can be admitted.
Selection by the admissions committee is based upon a number of factors including overall GPA (calculated for all academic courses attempted up to the point of application to the program), GPA for science courses alone (including biology, chemistry, physics and psychology courses), references and interviews.
Applicants with the best combination of these factors will be selected for the class. Students may apply who have a minimum cumulative GPA and science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and meet the minimum prerequisite requirements. Entrance into the program is contingent upon the completion of all prerequisites with a minimum grade of C.
Application forms are available on-line at the physical therapy web site. The completed application packet must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the deadline posted on the physical therapy website.
Applicants are responsible for assuring the completion of the packet prior to the deadline. Following initial review of the application materials, invited interviews are conducted, and the decision of the admissions committee is mailed to each applicant. Students are asked to verify their acceptance to the program in writing. Classes begin in late August.
Undergraduate students who are admitted into the program will be required to apply to and be admitted into the Graduate School at the completion of the first year of the physical therapy program. Upon the successful completion of the first year of the professional program, undergraduate students will be granted a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Science. Applicants who have previously earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution must apply and be admitted to the Graduate School prior to admission to the DPT program.
If a student is admitted to the DPT program, but declines to accept a position in the class to which he or she has been admitted, the student must reapply to be considered for admission to the program at a later date.
Prerequisite Courses
Undergraduates must complete ninety-six semester hours of course work prior to initiating study within the professional program. Prerequisite eligibility requirements to apply are as follows:
Block One: Fall Application Deadline
Note: Consult www.utc.edu/physicaltherapy for specific deadline dates.
Undergraduate applicants must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of the prerequisites by the end of the preceding summer semester to include two English composition courses, two biology courses, one chemistry or physics course, one mathematics course, and one psychology course.
Applicants having already earned a degree from a regionally-accredited institution and planning to apply through the Graduate School must complete the following prerequisites by the end of the preceding summer semester: two biology courses, one chemistry or physics course, one mathematics course, and one psychology course.
Block Two: Spring Application Deadline
Note: Consult www.utc.edu/physicaltherapy for specific deadline dates.
Undergraduate applicants must complete a minimum of 75 semester hours of the prerequisites by the end of the fall semester to include two English composition courses, two biology courses, one chemistry course, one physics course, one mathematics course, one psychology course, and an additional two courses in chemistry, physics or psychology.
Applicants having already earned a degree from a regionally accredited institution and planning to apply through the Graduate School must complete the following courses by the end of the fall semester: two biology prerequisite courses, one chemistry course, one physics course, one mathematics course, one psychology course, and an additional two courses in chemistry, physics or psychology.
A total of 19 semester hours of electives is included in the prerequisites. Students are encouraged to select elective course work that could be applicable to an alternative bachelor’s degree in the event that admission to the program is denied.
Applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are required to complete only major-related prerequisite courses. Transfer students should enroll in courses with course descriptions equivalent to the UTC course prerequisites.
2530 - Rehabilitation Science (B.S.)
- General Education (see for list of approved courses)
- Rhetoric and Composition: English 121, 122 (6 hours)
- Mathematics: Mathematics 131 or higher level approved Mathematics course* (3 hours)
- Statistics: One approved statistics course* (3 hours)
- Natural Sciences: Biology 121* and Chemistry 121/123* (8 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts: Two approved humanities and fine arts courses, one from fine arts and one from either (6 hours)
- Cultures and Civilizations: Option (a) Western Humanities I and II and Non-Western cultures and civilizations OR Option (b) World Civilization I, II, III (9 hours total)
