Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008

What do physical therapists do?

What can I do to help me learn more about physical therapy?

What high school courses should I take in preparation for physical therapy?

How long does it take to become a physical therapist?

What type of courses should I take in college?

Can I major in pre-physical therapy?

What are the most common majors selected by pre-physical therapy students?

How do the prerequisites for the physical therapy program fit into different majors?

Can I enter physical therapy school after only three years of undergraduate study?

Why a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree instead of a master's degree?

How competitive is admission to the physical therapy program?

What makes the University of Indianapolis attractive to undergraduate students interested in physical therapy?

What are some of the strengths of your program?

I'm still interested in physical therapy, what are my next steps?

What can I do to help me learn more about physical therapy?

You should work or volunteer in various health care settings to see how physical therapists and other health professionals work. Examples of settings include hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. You should observe the type of care physical therapists give, as well as talk with them about their careers. What do they like best? What frustrates them most? What changes do they foresee for the profession in the future?

What high school courses should I take in preparation for physical therapy?

Becoming a physical therapist requires a strong math and science background in high school. Taking math and science courses in high school—including advanced algebra and trigonometry, chemistry, biology and physics—will prepare you for success in similar courses in college.

How long does it take to become a physical therapist?

Students who wish to become physical therapists generally complete 3 to 4 years of undergraduate education, followed by 3 years of physical therapy school at the graduate level. This means that a total of 6 to 7 years of university-level education is required.

       At the University of Indianapolis the degree awarded on completion of the Professional PT program is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Students who desire a shorter route into the field should consider physical therapist assistant programs, which require only 2 years of undergraduate education.

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