Doctor of Physical Therapy—DPT

Physical therapy is a health profession dedicated to evaluating, treating, and preventing physical injury and disease. Physical therapists design and implement the necessary therapeutic interventions to promote fitness, health and improve the quality of life in patients. They also become active in consultation, education and research.

Physical therapists work closely with their client's family, physician, and other members of the medical team to help their client return to their home environment and resume activities and relationships of normal daily living.

This three-year program begins after a student completes 92 semester credits of specific college prerequisites. Students taking the appropriate prerequisites will earn a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) after the first year in the professional program and the DPT degree upon successful completion of the program. A previous bachelor's degree is not required however applicants holding a bachelor's degree are eligible to apply as well.

The DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). After receiving the DPT degree graduates may apply to take the physical therapy licensure exam in the state of their choice.

Program length

This 116-credit program can typically be completed in three years.

Application deadlines

Fall Acceptance only

Students completing the PTCAS and holding a science and overall GPA of 3.5 or higher may be accepted before December 31 of each year. Those with a science and overall GPA of 3.3 or higher may be accepted beginning January 1. All remaining applicants meeting our minimum GPA of 3.0 will be considered until our February 15 final application deadline. Applications will not be accepted after February 15.

Prerequisites

FOR STUDENTS WITHOUT AN EARNED BACHELOR'S DEGREE
Prerequisite courses including general education requirements (includes 92 semester credits with at least 15 credits being upper-division). Applicants are considered when a minimum of 4 or more prerequisite science courses and a minimum of 60 semester credits have been completed.

• Religion: One religion course per academic year of attendance in a Seventh-day Adventist college or university. Minimum of three courses prior to entering program.
• Language/Communication
• History
• Fine Arts/Humanities
• Life Science:
  • A full sequence of anatomy and physiology or general biology with labs.
  • An upper division science course(s) related to human physiology or human biology.
• Physical Science:
  • Option 1: A full sequence of general physics with labs as required for physics majors or pre-med students plus any two chemistry courses with labs.
  • Option 2: A full sequence of general chemistry with labs as required for chemistry majors or pre-med students
  • Plus any two physics courses with labs.
• Mathematics: A basic statistics or research methods course.
• Service: Fulfilled through professional components of the program.
• Psychology: An introductory psychology course.
• Human Development: A course which covers physical, social, and psychological development beginning with conception.
• Fitness Education: Recommend Andrews freshmen take HLED120 and one additional course from personal fitness, outdoor skills or team activity. Non-Andrews students take two from the three categories.
• Medical Terminology: A course in basic medical terminology. May be taken by distance learning.
• Electives: To fulfill the 92 total semester credits with at least 15 in upper division courses required, some course suggestions include business courses, ethics, cultural and diversity courses, arts and humanities, nutrition and physical activities.

FOR STUDENTS WITH AN EARNED BACHELOR'S DEGREE

• Life Science:
  • A full sequence of anatomy and physiology or general biology with labs.
  • An upper division science course(s) related to human physiology or human biology.
• Physical Science:
  • Option 1: A full sequence of general physics with labs as required for physics majors or pre-med students plus any two chemistry courses with labs.
  • Option 2: A full sequence of general chemistry with labs as required for chemistry majors or pre-med students plus any two physics courses with labs.
• Mathematics: A basic statistics or research methods course.
• Psychology: An introductory psychology course.
• Human Development: A course which covers physical, social, and psychological development beginning with conception.
• Medical Terminology: A course in basic medical terminology. May be taken by distance learning.

Eligibility and admission requirements

All applicants applying for admission to the DPT professional entry program must apply via the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).

There are three tracks for admission into the DPT program. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

Freshman Acceptance (Requires PTCAS application, but no interview or confirmation deposit). Freshman enrolling as a BHS: Physical Therapy major are guaranteed acceptance into the DPT program if they complete at least 90% of prerequisite course requirements at Andrews, maintain at least a 3.4 science and overall prerequisite GPA, meet all program admission requirements, uphold University standards and display professional behavior.

Preferred Acceptance (Requires a PTCAS application, interview and confirmation deposit). Acceptance into the program is PREFERRED when a student transfers into Andrews University for at least their last semester of prerequisite requirements, has at least a 3.3 science and overall prerequisite GPA, meets all program admission requirements, and upholds University standards and display professional behavior.

General Acceptance (Requires a PTCAS application, interview and confirmation deposit). The Andrews University physical therapy program enrolls students from a nationwide pool of applicants. GENERAL Acceptance includes any student who has completed all prerequisite requirements from any U.S. accredited college or university (or U.S. equivalent), maintains at least a 3.0 science and overall prerequisite GPA, meets all program admission requirements, and upholds University standards and displays professional behavior.

International applicant requirements

Additional requirements for students with and without an earned bachelor’s degree:

• GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required in science courses and a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all core PT prerequisite courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in each prerequisite course.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): A minimum composite score of 800 (Verbal + Quantitative), and a minimum written score of 3.0. The GRE must be taken within five years of enrollment into the program.
• Clinical Observation: Document 80 hours (including 20 hours in an inpatient setting) supervised by a licensed physical therapist. All hours must be completed within three years prior to enrollment.
• Personal Interview: Applicants who meet eligibility requirements are invited for a personal interview. Phone interviews may be acceptable.
• English Proficiency: Students whose language of education is not English must submit a minimum TOEFL or MELAB score of 80.

Financial summary

$9700 per semester

Next steps

You can learn more about the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program including how to apply on the Physical Therapy Department website.