Pre-Physical Therapy 4+D.P.T Pathway

About the 4+D.P.T. Pathway

This is a 4+D.P.T. pathway leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree from Arcadia University. Students frequently pursue an undergraduate major in a discipline such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Business or Health Administration, but students can choose any major that captures their interest and that enables them to complete the prerequisite courses.

Prerequisite courses needed for graduate-level study include Biology, Human Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Statistics. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) advocates a strong liberal arts background and doctoral training. Its Vision Statement says that by 2020, physical therapy “will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy and who may be board-certified specialists.” The 4+D.P.T. year program offered by Arcadia University—four years of study leading to a bachelor’s degree plus approximately 3 years of graduate study leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy—meets these recommendations.

The Pre-Physical Therapy program emphasizes the sciences but also includes a well-rounded background in the liberal arts. This combination prepares students for a health-care profession in helping people to overcome the effects of disease and injury and in the prevention of health problems.

Students who complete the program are prepared to work as physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, sports  medicine centers, private homes, nursing homes, schools, private practices, specialized pediatric facilities, and wellness and fitness centers. They also can work as educators, researchers and consultants in a wide variety of organizations.

Students are strongly urged to work closely with the adviser from the chosen major to coordinate the requirements of the major and the prerequisite courses for graduate-level professional work. It is expected that the prerequisite courses listed below are taken at Arcadia University.

Pathways to Study Abroad and Pre-Physical Therapy

Pre-Physical Therapy students are encouraged to spend a semester studying abroad. Many exciting opportunities are available. Sophomore year is the most convenient time for students to study abroad. Fall semester of the junior or senior year also is possible.

Since 1997, students have taken a range of biology courses in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, students have completed Undergraduate Curriculum requirements while studying abroad at some of the top universities around the world through Arcadia’s College of Global Studies. Students also have completed independent research projects or internships.

Visit the University’s website for more information about study abroad and for suggested course sequences. Since it is important that students plan ahead for study abroad, they should consult with their advisers as soon as possible and make their intentions known to the Department Chair and the Associate Dean of International Affairs.

Applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

For those who are trying to meet the Assured Admission requirements, all of the criteria in the Arcadia University Undergraduate Catalog (by appropriate year of entry) must be met at the time of the application deadline; however, not all of the prerequisite courses need to be completed to apply or to be accepted. If accepted, any remaining prerequisite courses need to be completed with a “C” or better in order to start the Physical Therapy program.

Arcadia University students applying for Assured Admission must submit their completed applications electronically to PTCAS by November 1 of the academic year of graduation. A completed application is the application and all of the supporting documents (recommendations, GRE scores, and transcripts). Applications are NOT reviewed until ALL materials are received by Arcadia. (This includes the PTCAS application, the required recommendations, and GRE scores.)

Upon acceptance into the program under the Assured Admission category, students will be required to pay a deposit in order to reserve a seat in the class. Scholarships are based on merit, and any offer of scholarships or other assistance will be made known to the student along with the letter of acceptance.

Students whose credentials do not meet the requirements that assure them admission to the D.P.T. program still may apply. They will be considered in relation to other qualified candidates in the general applicant pool. Please see the Graduate Catalog for the minimum requirements.

To maintain the ongoing quality of the Physical Therapy program, the University reserves the right to limit the enrollment in all its offerings.

Requirements for Assured Admission

Requirements for Students Who Enter Arcadia University as First-Year Students

These requirements apply to students who begin their undergraduate education at Arcadia University as first-year students.

1. Students are encouraged to complete all of the prerequisite coursework at Arcadia University. Prerequisite courses must be taken through the appropriate department; e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Computer  Science & Mathematics.
   • Four courses in Biology:
     • BI 101 ,
     • BI 102 ,
     • BI 205  or BI 211  
     • BI 206  
   • Modern Chemical Concepts I & II with lab (CH 101  & 102  or 111  & 112 )    
   • Physics I and II with lab (PH 201  & 202  or 211  & 212 )
   • One course in Psychology and one course from the following: Anthropology, Psychology, or Sociology
   • One course in Statistics
2. In consultation with the student’s undergraduate advisor, up to four (4) courses taken through another accredited institution may be counted as fulfillment of the required prerequisite courses. Courses must be directed towards science majors as appropriate.
3. A minimum 3.2 overall GPA is required, calculated on all courses taken at any college or university. The GPA requirements must be met by the November 1st application deadline.
4. A minimum 3.2 GPA is required in all courses taken in prerequisite areas at Arcadia and elsewhere. A grade of “C” or better must be earned in the minimum prerequisite courses listed above. (A “C–” is unacceptable for prerequisite credit.) When calculating the prerequisite GPA, the University includes all courses in the various areas. The GPA requirements must be met by the November 1^st application deadline.
5. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to the D.P.T. program. Students are strongly encouraged to take the exam after their first year of undergraduate study and no later than the summer preceding their fourth undergraduate year. Applicants are expected to meet the minimum required scores in all areas of the GRE: (1) individual Verbal ≥ 151 and Quantitative ≥ 150, (2) Combined Verbal and Quantitative ≥ 303, (3) Analytical Writing ≥4. NOTE: the GRE code for the D.P.T. program is 7637.
6. Students must have knowledge of the profession through documented work or volunteer experiences in at least one inpatient and one outpatient setting as defined by PTCAS. These observations must be completed by November 1^st of the year of application to the program.
7. Students must provide three letters of recommendation, at least one from a currently practicing physical therapist and one from a college professor who is able to judge the applicant’s academic qualification and readiness for rigorous work at the graduate level.
8. Students must complete the last four semesters as full-time students at Arcadia University. This requirement may be waived for students who choose to study abroad during one of their last four semesters.
9. Students must earn a bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University.
10. Students desiring assured admission must submit their completed applications electronically to PTCAS by November 1 of the academic year of graduation from Arcadia University.

Essential Functions to Participate in the D.P.T. Program

Essential functions are the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills necessary for a student to participate in the physical therapy program and become a physical therapist. Below are the “Clinical Performance Criteria for the Physical Therapist Student” as outlined in the “Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument for Students” developed by the American Physical Therapy Association. Students must have the physical and mental capacity, with or without reasonable accommodations, to meet all of the below criteria. These essential functions apply in the classroom, lab, community, and clinical settings as part of the physical therapy program. Independent facilities used for clinical education may or may not be willing or able to provide the same reasonable accommodations provided by the university.

1. Practices in a safe manner that minimizes the risk to patient, self, and others.
2. Demonstrates professional behavior in all situations.
3. Practices in a manner consistent with established legal and professional standards and ethical guidelines.
4. Communicates in ways that are congruent with situational needs.
5. Adapts delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs.
6. Participates in self-assessment to improve clinical and professional performance.
7. Applies current knowledge, theory, clinical judgment, and the patient’s values and perspective in patient management.
8. Determines with each patient encounter the patient’s need for further examination or consultation by a physical therapist or referral to another health care professional.
9. Performs a physical therapy patient examination using evidenced-based tests and measures.
10. Evaluates data from the patient examination (history, systems review, and tests and measures) to make clinical judgments.
11. Determines a diagnosis and prognosis that guides future patient management.
12. Establishes a physical therapy plan of care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, and evidence-based.
13. Performs physical therapy interventions in a competent manner.
14. Educates others (patients, caregivers, staff, students, other health care providers, business and industry representatives, school systems) using relevant and effective teaching methods.
15. Produces quality documentation in a timely manner to support the delivery of physical therapy services.
16. Collects and analyzes data from selected outcome measures in a manner that supports accurate analysis of individual patient and group outcomes.
17. Participates in the financial management (budgeting, billing and reimbursement, time, space, equipment, marketing, public relations) of the physical therapy service consistent with regulatory, legal, and facility guidelines.
18. Directs and supervises personnel to meet patient’s goals and expected outcomes according to legal standards and ethical guidelines.

Sample behaviors for each of the above performance criteria are available upon request. Please send requests to ptadmission@arcadia.edu.

From: Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument: Version 2006. American Physical Therapy Association: Alexandria, VA; 2008.