Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Requirements

Education Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. No specific degree is required.

GPA Requirements

  • An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.
  • A GPA of 3.2 or higher is required for prerequisite courses (listed below).

Course Requirements

Prerequisite courses are as follows:

  • Chemistry (8 credits): General College Chemistry I and II with labs.
  • Physics (8 credits): General College Physics I and II with labs.
  • Biology (8 credits): General Biology I and II with labs (Botany, Ecology, and Zoology courses are unacceptable) or General Biology I and upper-level Biology with labs. Suggested courses include Microbiology, Embryology, and Cellular Physiology. Exercise Physiology may be accepted, at the discretion of the admissions committee, in lieu of the upper-level Biology course.
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits): Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II or individual courses of Human Anatomy and Human Physiology with a lab in each.
  • Statistics (3 credits): Introductory Statistics.
  • Psychology (6 credits): Two semesters of Psychology, including General Psychology and one additional Psychology course. Suggested courses include Developmental Psychology, Child Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, or Psychology of Disability.

Notes regarding prerequisite requirements:

  • A minimum prerequisite course GPA of 3.2 is required, and have no prerequisite courses with a grade below a “C.”
  • At the time of application, candidates are expected to have no more than two prerequisite courses remaining to be taken during the spring semester after the application closing date. Exceptions may be considered at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. All prerequisite courses must be completed before starting the DPT Program.
  • Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Chemistry prerequisite courses must have been completed no earlier than 10 years before application. Work experience or graduate-level education in a related field (e.g., athletic training, exercise physiology, etc.) may be accepted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee in lieu of the 10-year prerequisite course time limitation.
  • Advanced placement credits are not accepted for prerequisite courses.

Observation Hours

Observation hours in a physical therapy setting are not required but are strongly recommended. The program recommends a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer experience, clinical employment, or other clinical activities to be completed across multiple settings.

Applicants who have completed observation hours across multiple settings tend to demonstrate the strongest knowledge of the profession and responsibilities of a physical therapist.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required from each applicant. One must be from a physical therapist, one from a professor, and one from a professor or a physical therapist.

Foreign Graduates: Completion of Degree Outside of the United States

  • Applicants must have their transcripts evaluated by the World Education Services (WES) to determine if the degree is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the United States. If the evaluation determines work done outside the US is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, the applicant has met the degree requirement. If the evaluation does not determine equivalency to a bachelor’s degree, the applicant does not meet the requirements for entry into the program. Degree equivalency is the only item of importance the program will consider on the WES evaluation.
  • If the applicant has degree equivalency on the WES but lacks specific prerequisite courses, any prerequisites that are lacking must be taken in the United States to be considered for admission.
  • Non-native speakers of English foreign graduates must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The program will not allow the substitution of an English course or certificate in place of TOEFL scores. Minimum scores are noted in item 6.b.i. and ii. above.
  • Foreign graduates must follow the same application process through PTCAS.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Methodist University’s (MU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program requires successful completion of all clinical education experiences to meet professional program requirements for graduation. MU DPT professional curriculum requires two part-time and three full-time clinical education experiences. The program utilizes medical centers, private practices, and federal facilities for clinical education experiences, which are known to require proof of full and up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19. Any DPT student who is not vaccinated may be required to submit an exemption request for each clinical facility they are placed in that requires the COVID-19 vaccination. Matriculating students must acknowledge that the university’s COVID-19 policy is separate from clinical facilities and does not guarantee the facility’s exemption will be granted. MU DPT shall not make accommodations for the student if the clinical site exemption is denied and the student cannot complete the clinical education experience, which may result in a delayed graduation or failure to complete the program. Clinical education placements remain at the sole discretion of the affiliated clinical education facilities and the MU Department of Physical Therapy.