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?

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

Most students who enter physical therapy school at the University of Indianapolis do so after completing a 4-year undergraduate degree. However, students who attend the University of Indianapolis as undergraduates and who major in Biology, Chemistry, or Psychology may be able to take advantage of an "early admission" opportunity in which the first year of PT school also serves as the last year of undergraduate education. In essence, the basic science courses in PT school are used to complete the Biology or Chemistry major. The other first year PT school classes are used as electives to complete the credit hour requirements for the bachelor's degree. The bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Psychology is awarded following successful completion of the first year of PT school.

       Early admission to PT school is offered to only the most qualified undergraduate students. Students who wish to pursue this option need to be particularly serious students from the very beginning of their college career. The major advantage to the early admission option is the time and money saved by entering PT school a year early. These advantages are a particularly good match for outstanding students who are firm in their commitment to physical therapy.

       Disadvantages to the early admission program are that it restricts the choice of majors, limits flexibility within the undergraduate curriculum, and limits the ability to participate in some traditional undergraduate activities. For this reason, many student athletes, student government leaders, or individuals who want to pursue non-science majors elect to complete a traditional four-year undergraduate experience before entering PT school.

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

Both master's and doctoral degree programs prepare students for the current practice of physical therapy. Doctoral degree programs, such as the DPT program at the University of Indianapolis, are designed to provide additional depth and breadth of content, especially in the areas of health screening, differential diagnosis, and wellness and disease prevention. Our DPT program prepares graduates for these areas of practice, which we believe will become increasingly important in the daily practice of physical therapists. The Professional DPT program replaces the Professional Master of Science in Physical Therapy program that we have offered from 1980 until recently.

NEXT:  How competitive is admission to the physical therapy program?