Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting admission requirements for Graduate Education, requirements for entry into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program include the following:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree with a Health Science or Kinesiology and Health Science major from Bradley University with a “C” or higher in all required courses or
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree with the following courses completed with a “C” or higher:
• Chemistry - 1 year chemistry sequence for science majors (eg. 6-8 semester hours) with laboratory experience
• Physics - 1 year physics sequence for science majors (eg. 6-8 semester hours) with laboratory experience
• Biology/Zoology - 6-8 semester hours with content that includes an introduction to cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics
• Anatomy - 3-4 semester hours of vertebrate, mammalian, human, or comparative anatomy that includes a laboratory experience
• Physiology - 3-4 semester hours of vertebrate, mammalian, or human physiology (a two-semester sequence of combined anatomy and physiology will meet the anatomy and physiology requirement)
• Statistics - 3 semester hours of statistics

The following courses are highly recommended:

1. Kinesiology, biomechanics, or additional courses in human anatomy
2. Exercise physiology, pathophysiology, or additional courses in physiology
3. Upper division psychology and sociology courses
4. Medical Terminology

In addition, an applicant should have:

1. Minimum 3.0 grade point average in all mathematics and science courses taken.
2. Minimum 3.0 grade point average for all courses taken.
3. GRE scores submitted to Bradley.
4. TOEFL score of 600 or higher, TSE of 50 or higher, and TWE of 4.5 or higher for non-native English speaking applicants.
5. Skills in computer literacy, communication (written and verbal), medical terminology, and teaching.

Applicants must apply through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS http://www.ptcas.org/home.aspx). Your submission of courses to PTCAS (verified by official transcripts) will be used to determine if you have required courses or course equivalents. See the department website for further instructions.

No grade lower than a C is acceptable in the required courses.

In order to begin the DPT program the requirements for a Baccalaureate degree must be met with the verification of the Baccalaureate degree being awarded four weeks after the start of the class.

A minimum of 40 observation hours in a physical therapy setting are required, with 100 hours recommended. Applicants should spend time observing a variety of physical therapy settings to facilitate his or her career decision.

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s student health form requirement, and prior to enrollment in the first full-time physical therapy course that includes a clinical experience, each student must verify:

• professional liability insurance (renewable annually)
• immunity to rubeola (measles) by one of the following: - a rubeola (measles) immunization received in 1990 or later, or - written verification from a physician of having had the disease, or - birth date prior to 1957
• immunity to rubella (German measles) by one of the following: - written verification of having had the immunization, or - written verification rubella titer greater than 1:10
• written verification of immunity to Hepatitis B virus
• written verification of tuberculin test results (renewable annually)
• CPR certification (renewable annually)
• Criminal background check, if required by clinical site.

Contact the Department for the most current requirements

Admission is competitive for a limited number of spaces in the class.

Course of Study 

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Summer		Hours
P T 612	Functional Anatomy I	3.0
P T 614	Gross Anatomy I	3.0
P T 622	Functional Anatomy II	3.0
P T 624	Gross Anatomy II	3.0
	Hours	12
Fall
P T 600	Physical Therapy Professional Seminar	0.0
P T 630	Foundations of Physical Therapy	4.0
P T 636	Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I	4.0
P T 640	Clinical Science I	3.0
P T 646	Research Methods	2.0
	Hours	13
Spring
P T 600	Physical Therapy Professional Seminar	0.0
P T 655	Experiential Learning	1.0
P T 662	Neurological Physical Therapy I	4.0
P T 666	The Research Process	2.0
P T 670	Human Development Throughout the Lifespan	3.0
P T 680	Clinical Science II	2.0
P T 686	Supervised Research I	1.0
	Hours	13
Second Year
Summer
P T 710	Clinical Education I (8 weeks)	8.0
	Hours	8
Fall
P T 600	Physical Therapy Professional Seminar	0.0
P T 655	Experiential Learning	1.0
P T 716	Supervised Research II	1.0
P T 720	Teaching and Learning Theory in Physical Therapy	3.0
P T 730	Neurological Physical Therapy II	4.0
P T 740	Clinical Science III	2.0
	Hours	11
Spring
P T 600	Physical Therapy Professional Seminar	0.0
P T 655	Experiential Learning	1.0
P T 700	Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II	4.0
P T 766	Supervised Research III	1.0
P T 770	Applied Exercise Principles	3.0
P T 790	Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Integumentary PT	4.0
	Hours	13
Third Year
Summer
P T 800	Clinical Education II (8 weeks)	8.0
	Hours	8
Fall
P T 600	Physical Therapy Professional Seminar	0.0
P T 655	Experiential Learning	1.0
P T 810	Health and Wellness	3.0
P T 816	Supervised Research IV	1.0
P T 820	Physical Therapy Administration and Professional Issues	3.0
P T 830	Physical Therapy Differential Diagnosis	4.0
	Hours	12
Spring
P T 850	Clinical Education III (10 weeks)	10.0
P T 860	Clinical Education IV (10 weeks)	10.0
	Hours	20
	Total Hours	110

Total required: 110 hrs.

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
P T 760	Independent Study	1.0-6.0
P T 761	Advanced Dry Needling Lower Quarter Integration *	2.0
P T 762	Advanced Dry Needling Upper Quarter Integration *	2.0
P T 840	(optional)	1.0-6.0

*

Additional tuition and fees required. See department for details.