Prospective Students

Prospective Students

Entry-level DPT students must earn a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution prior to beginning the professional program. (Degree completion is not required to apply.) Students wishing to pursue graduate work in physical therapy may major in any discipline as long as they meet the prerequisite, GPA and additional admission requirements.  (UTC does not offer a pre-physical therapy major.) 

This page includes information and links specifically for prospective students. After reviewing this page and the related sections of our web page, please contact the program coordinator at [email protected] with any admissions questions.

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All applicants are asked to respond to their understanding of and ability to follow the UTC DPT dress code, essential functions, and UTC DPT statement of ethical and professional standards of the physical therapy profession as part of the PTCAS application.

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Acceptance & Matriculation Rates

Application & Deposit Information 

A $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit is required for accepted applicants. The deposit will be due within 10 business days of receiving an offer from the program. For students who enroll in the program, this $1,000.00 will be applied to the first semester's tuition.  We do not require an application to the graduate school unless an offer is made. The nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants is $35.00 and $40.00 for international applicants.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the program in the spring or summer leading up to the application deadline. If an applicant waits until an offer is extended to schedule a visit, we will make every effort possible, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate that request before the deposit deadline.

Application Agreements (via PTCAS)

All applicants are asked to respond to their understanding of and ability to follow the UTC DPT essential functions, dress code, departmental core values and the UTC DPT statement of ethical and professional standards of the physical therapy profession as part of the PTCAS application.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

The goal of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s (UTC) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is the broad preparation of students for the practice of physical therapy. This goal is achieved in part by undergraduate education, postgraduate physical therapist education, and preparation for life-long learning. Modern physical therapist education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behavior. Our faculty has the responsibility to graduate the best possible physical therapists; thus, admission to the DPT Program is offered to those who present the highest qualifications for the study and practice of physical therapy. 

Applicants to the UTC DPT Program must possess the following general qualities: critical thinking, sound judgment, emotional stability and maturity, empathy, physical and mental stamina and the ability to learn and function in a wide variety of educational settings. In all phases of physical therapy education, students must use their intellectual ability and must maintain emotional stability, particularly when under stress. Graduates of the program must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. 

The UTC DPT Program maintains that prospective students must meet certain minimum technical standards. These standards must be maintained throughout a student's enrollment and graduation. Students must have the following essential functions: motor skills; sensory and observational skills; communication skills; conceptual, integrative and quantitative skills; and behavioral and social skills and professionalism. 

Motor Skills: Students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. Students should be able to execute motor functions necessary to ensure patient/client safety and provide general care, and emergency treatment to patients. 

Sensory and Observational Skills: Students must be able to observe demonstrations and participate lab activities as required in the curriculum. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance, as well as, close at hand and be able to obtain a medical history directly from the patient, while observing the patient's medical condition. This observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision, hearing and other sensory modalities. 

Communication Skills: Students must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively in oral and written form with patients. These skills must be performed at times in clinical settings when the time available for communication may be limited. 

Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Skills:  These skills include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. Problem-solving and diagnosis, the critical skills demanded of physical therapists, require all these intellectual abilities. In addition, students must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures. 

Behavioral and Social Skills and Professionalism:  Empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all important personal qualities for a physical therapist. Students must possess the emotional well-being required for the full use of their intellectual abilities; the exercise of sound judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities involved in patient care; and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. Students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively when stressed. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainty inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. 

In summary, the chief objective of the Physical Therapy Department’s faculty is to prepare students for the comprehensive practice of physical therapy. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s DPT Program, in accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, has established these essential functions of physical therapy students. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s DPT Program will consider for admission applicants who demonstrate the ability to perform or learn to perform the essential skills listed in this document. The DPT Program must ensure that patients are not placed in jeopardy by the students or physical therapists with substantially impaired intellectual, physical or emotional functions. Students will be assessed not only on their scholastic accomplishments, but also on their physical and emotional capacities to meet the full requirements of the DPT Program's curriculum and to graduate as skilled and effective physical therapists.

The essential functions listed in this document can be accomplished through direct student response, the use of prosthetic or orthotic devices, or through personal assistance (e.g., readers, signers, note-takers). The responsibility for the purchase of prosthetic or orthotic devices serving a student in meeting the abilities noted remains with the student and/or agency supporting the student. The DPT Program will assist with the administration of approved accommodations, as required by law and institutional policy.

Upon admission, a student who discloses a properly certified disability will receive reasonable accommodation but must be able to perform the essential functions of the curriculum and meet the standards described herein for the program in which the student is enrolled. Possible accommodations include opportunities for individual and group counseling, peer counseling, linkages with community services, faculty advisory committees whose members are aware of disabled students and their needs, career counseling, assistance with job searches and interview skills, and extended test taking time, when appropriate. Students seeking accommodations should initiate their request in the UTC Center for Student Accessibility. 

If at any time during the application and admissions process and/or during enrollment in the DPT Program a student should question their ability to perform these essential functions, they should immediately discuss their concerns with the program/admissions coordinator, their faculty advisor and/or the department head. Subsequent actions will be based on individual student need but could include support in referral for disability diagnosis, reasonable accommodation determination and application, as well as physical or mental health referral.   

An offer of admission may be withdrawn and/or a student may be dismissed from the program if it becomes apparent that the student cannot complete the essential functions even with reasonable accommodation, the needed accommodations are not reasonable and would cause undue hardship to the DPT Program, or that fulfilling the functions would create a significant risk of harm to the health or safety of the student and/or others.

Essential Functions are applicable in classroom, laboratories, and clinical settings. UTC's DPT Program partners with independent clinical education sites that may or may not be able to offer the same reasonable accommodations that are made available by the program.

Individuals who have questions regarding reasonable accommodations should contact the UTC Center for Student Accessibility: 423-425-4006 (V/TTY); 423-425-2288; [email protected]. 

Professional Appearance and Dress Code: 

Students who are not willing to abide by the following dress code rules have the option of not attending the UTC DPT program. Lack of compliance with the dress code is considered a violation of professional conduct.

For clinical education experiences, students are expected to abide by the dress code of the assigned facility. A lab coat worn over street clothes may be required by some facilities; Other sites may require a specified color of scrubs (common in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities). At a defined time prior to their clinical education course, students will be directed to contact the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education to inquire about dress code policies. Students are personally responsible for obtaining the clothing needed to meet the dress code required by the assigned site.

When patients and/or guests are invited to UTC DPT facilities, and when the class participates in scheduled educational activities off campus, students are expected to abide by the following dress code:

• Students are expected to dress in smart casual or business casual attire unless the day’s tasks require otherwise.
• Students must always present a clean, professional appearance. Everyone is expected to be well-groomed and wear clean clothing, free of holes, tears, or other signs of wear.
  • Clothing with offensive or inappropriate designs or stamps is not allowed.
  • Jeans, shorts, sleeveless tops, shirts with midriff exposure, or logoed t-shirts are not allowed.
  • Athletic wear is not allowed (e.g., leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, joggers).
  • Clothing should not be skintight or revealing. Students should stand in front of a full-length mirror and move, noting whether skin shows between pants and top. Skin should not be revealed when practicing physical therapy. Move = deep squat, bend, and reach to floor and overhead.
• Flat closed-toe shoes with appropriate socks/hosiery. Clean athletic shoes are acceptable.
• Jewelry may only be worn conservatively. Pendant necklaces, bangle bracelets, large dangling earrings, and fashion rings are not allowed. Other than small earrings, no visible piercings are permitted, to include nose and/or tongue. Nose piercings must be plugged, matching skin tone.
• Hair must be kept neat and clean. No unnatural hair color is allowed. No hats are allowed.
  • Hair should be secured back away from the face, in support of communication and infection control.
• Perfumes and colognes are not allowed.
• Natural nails must be kept closely trimmed and less than 1/16 inch long.
  • If nail polish is worn, it cannot be chipped, cracked or peeling.
  • Artificial (acrylic) nails are not allowed. Artificial nails are defined as substances or devices applied to natural nails to augment or enhance the nails. This includes, but is not limited to tips, wrappings, tapes, gels, dips, and inlays. These nail requirements are important for infection control.
• Students must wear their UTC ID tags at collar or chest level indicating “PT Student.”
• Clothing and grooming styles dictated by religion or culture may be exempted by the department head.
• Chewing gum is not allowed.

Request for professional appearance and/or dress code accommodation should be submitted to the department head.

Lab Attire: It is necessary for students to wear athletic attire for many lab experiences. Women, on occasion, will need to wear sports bras for lab sessions. Men, on occasion, will need to remove their shirts for lab sessions. Students are expected to respect and honor the religious and cultural values of all individuals with respect to attire. Requests for lab attire accommodation should be submitted to the department head.

CORE VALUES: 

The Physical Therapy Department is committed to:

1. respecting the inherent dignity and value of each individual;
2. engaging with honesty and integrity;
3. providing a diverse student population high quality educational experiences for mastering entry-level physical therapist practice;
4. enhancing the educational experience with research, technology, laboratory, and clinical experiences;
5. developing and teaching a curriculum that is foundationally strong and contemporary;
6. expanding the body of knowledge in physical therapy through research and other scholarly activities;
7. providing services for the university, college, the profession of physical therapy and the community-at-large; and
8. graduating competent, engaged physical therapists as evidenced by service as clinical instructors, service and leadership to the profession, and achievement of advanced certifications. 

STATEMENT OF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROFESSION: 

The UTC DPT Program expects students to abide by the UTC Student Code of Conduct and Honor Code. The Student Code of Conduct and Honor Code are designed to foster and ensure a safe and respectful learning environment. The Honor Code is based upon the assumption that each student recognizes the fundamental importance of honesty and integrity. 

The UTC DPT Program also expects students to abide by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Professional  This Code of Ethics describes the behavioral standards for physical therapists as they function in their multiple roles (e.g., management of patients and clients, consultation, education, research, and administration), addresses multiple aspects of ethical action (individual, organizational, and societal), and reflects the core Ethical Commitment and Standards of Conduct of the physical therapist (respect, integrity, accountability, maintaining professional relationships, compassion and trust, responsible business and organizational practices, direction and supervision, professional expertise, and societal responsibility).

Professional success depends upon factors other than those measured by typical evaluations in course work. The faculty has the right to separate from the DPT Program any student who is not likely to succeed professionally despite earning acceptable grades. Failure to maintain the high ethical and professional standards of the physical therapy profession can result in required remedial action, suspension and/or dismissal from the DPT Program. The DPT Program’s faculty are responsible for student performance documentation, evaluation, and determination of action with regard to ethical and professional standards and/or a student’s failure to comply.