Graduate Programs in Physical Therapy

• University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
• Mayo Clinic
• College of St. Scholastica
• Creighton University
• Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)

University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Prerequisite Coursework

Required prerequisite coursework to be taken before entering the Program is listed below.  Courses must be taken A-F, unless receiving Advanced Placement credit.  A minimum grade of “C” is required in all prerequisite coursework.  It is recommended that these courses be taken within the previous five years.  Courses may be taken at any accredited college.  Students are expected to be skillful with computer applications for word processing and creating spreadsheets.

• General Biology, with lab.
• A second biology course of the student’s choice, with lab.
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• General Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry – minimum two courses, with lab
• General Physics – minimum two courses, with lab – which include mechanics and electricity
• General Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Statistics – ANOVA and regression analysis content strongly recommended
• Introductory Calculus (pre-calculus not acceptable; intro to calculus or short calculus acceptable)
• Medical Terminology

Note: All prerequisite courses and an undergraduate degree must be completed before the student enrolls in the professional program. Students may apply with two remaining prerequisites in progress.

Past students have found that biochemistry, human/animal biology, and medical terminology classes have been helpful preparation for our curriculum.

Regarding Advanced Placement and Distance Learning Courses

NEW for applicants applying for admission in 2012.

Advanced Placement Courses – For all advanced placement (AP) courses on the transcript, a score must be entered.  This will be the score issued by the College Board.  You must also forward a copy of the College Board Report to the Admissions coordinator to keep on file.

Distance Learning Courses – If courses are taken from an accredited college or university for college credit there is no limit to the number that may be taken through distance education.

GPA Standards 

An operational standard GPA for overall grade point average of 3.00 and a 3.00 in the prerequisite coursework are the preferred minimums as indications of probably success in the Program.

Admission Deadlines

Rolling admissions July 1-March 31, but the class usually fills before the final deadline.

Volunteer/Work Experience

Completion of at least 100 hours of volunteer or work experience in a physical therapy setting (preferred) or health care delivery system.  Exposure to multiple and varied areas of practice in physical therapy and additional health care exposure are considered an important prerequisite.

Length of Program 

3 years

Previous Class Statistics

Mayo Clinic

Prerequisite Courses

• Biological Sciences: You must have at least four biology courses, each with laboratory experience, including:
  – One course in human physiology.
  – One course in human anatomy or a combined anatomy/physiology course distributed over two academic terms.
  – Recommended (not required): kinesiology, microbiology, histology, embryology and neuroscience.
  * Exercise physiology may satisfy one of the biological sciences prerequisite requirements.
• Chemistry: Two courses with laboratory study.
• Physics: Two courses with laboratory study.
• Statistics: One course in basic statistics, including elementary probability, descriptive measures, confidence intervals, t-tests and linear regression.
• Social Sciences: At least three courses (minimum of three credits each), including:
  – General or introductory psychology
  – Either abnormal, developmental, growth and developmental, or life span developmental psychology
  – Sociology, anthropology, philosophy, death/dying, logic, ethics or speech/communications.
• Recommended (not required): Medical Terminology

GPA Standards 

You must have at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and a 3.0 or better prerequisite grade point average. Grades from all courses will be used to calculate the cumulative grade point average.

Admission Deadlines

Your application and all supporting documentation must be submitted online on or before January 14 for classes beginning the following August. Online applications are available via PTCAS starting July 1 of the preceding year. Rolling Admissions, begin reviewing applications in September.

Volunteer/Work Experience

Work and/or observation experience: A minimum of 100 hours of observation or work experience in a physical therapy setting need to be completed prior to enrolling in the program (varied practice settings preferred).

Length of Program

33 months

Previous Class Statistics

• Graduation Rate: 100% (3-year average)
• Licensure Exam Pass Rate: 1st time 95%; Overall 100% (3-year average)
• Job Placement Rate: 100% (3-year average)

College of St. Scholastica

Prerequisite Courses

• Chemistry: Full year, full sequence with lab*
• Human or vertebrate anatomy and physiology: Full year, full sequence with lab*
• Physics: Full year, full sequence with labs (intro to physics or a survey course in physics will not fulfill the requirements)
• Course in statistics: may be taken through a psychology department
• Course addressing lifespan developmental psychology
• Abnormal psychology
• Medical terminology

* Must be completed prior to submission of application to the physical therapy graduate program.

GPA Standards 

Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

GRE Standards 

Must have a minimum analytical writing score of 3.5 and a combined score for quantitative and verbal of 870. Recommended minimums 500 quantitative, 400 verbal, 1000 combined and 4.0 for analytical writing.

Admission Deadlines

Application cycle begins July 1. The priority deadline is November 1 for Summer enrollment. Applicants are encouraged to complete the application process prior to the deadline.

Volunteer/Work Experience

Submit documentation of a minimum of 100 hours and 2 sites of observation with a U.S. Licensed Physical Therapist.

Length
33 months

• Job Placement Rate: 100% (3-year average)

Creighton University

Prerequisite Courses

• General Biology I & II with labs*-8 semester hours
• General Chemistry I & II with labs-8 semester hours
• General Physics I & II with labs-8 semester Hours
• Human or Mammalian Physiology- 3 Semester Hours (If enrolled in a combined anatomy/physiology course, 6 semester hours will be required)
• English (including Composition)- 6 semester hours
• Statistics- 3 semester hours

* Coursework in botany, ecology, entomology, anatomy, or physiology will not fulfill the biology requirement.

Prerequisite courses must be completed by August 1 of the desired year of entry

GPA Standards 

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (a C- grade is not acceptable).

Admission Deadlines

The fall 2013 application for admission will be available online through PTCAS in July.
Preferred Deadline: November 1, 2012
Final Deadline: February 1, 2013

Volunteer/Work Experience

Applicants must submit a proof of a minimum of 60 hours of observation supervised by a physical therapist

Length
The program is 8 semesters long and is spread throughout 3 caldendar by attending summer terms.

Student Profile: Jens Matson ’11

Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)

Program Prerequisites

• Course Prerequisites by Program (.pdf)
• Deadlines by Program Name
• Deadlines by Date
• PT Observation Requirements by Program
• Reference Requirements by Program
• Reference Letter Packets
• Supplemental/Custom Requirements by Program
• GRE Requirements and Codes by Program

The PTCAS Course Prerequisites Summary is now available online! The summary is intended to help applicants and advisors more easily compare course requirements across PT education programs.

Programs may change course prerequisites at any time and may have additional requirements, recommendations, or policies that are not reflected in this summary or on the PTCAS website. Programs may also allow applicants to substitute courses or choose different prerequisite tracks. Applicants should review the program-specific data posted in the PTCAS Directory or contact programs directly to determine whether a particular course will fulfill a prerequisite.