Sample Pre-Physical Therapy Four-Year Academic Plans

See also complete checklist of requirements in Coursework section.

Plan A: Starting with General Chemistry

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

Year 4:

Plan B: Starting with Principles of Chemistry

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

Year 4:

Notes for Sample Plans

^* The UI DPT Program requires Trigonometry or a higher math course. The major will determine which math course is taken.
^** The UI DPT Program requires two psychology courses

Guidelines

Academic Guidelines
An overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is the minimum for consideration for admission to theUniversity of Iowa DPT Program. In addition, a GPA of 3.0 or above in all prerequisite coursework (including elective science courses) is recommended. The mean overall GPA of the UI entering class is typically 3.7. Prerequisite coursework should be under ten years old, and GRE scores should be no older than five years.

Non-Academic Guidelines
A broad exposure to physical therapy in more than one clinical setting is strongly recommended. A suggested minimum for candidates applying to the UI DPT program is at least 50 total hours in two or three different settings, both inpatient and outpatient. Most successful applicants will
have well over this minimum.
 

Application Process

There are over 200 accredited DPT programs in the US. Students can apply to many physical therapy schools, including the UI’s Program, by using the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) (www.ptcas.org). Not all Physical Therapy Programs participate in PTCAS; check the PTCAS website, or the individual school’s website, to determine whether the program is participating. For the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, PTCAS opened on June 15, 2023. The PTCAS application deadline for UI is December 1—but applicants who apply between July 1 and September 15 will be given priority status in the admissions process. Notification of acceptance is by December/January. Some preference is given to well-qualified residents of Iowa. Applications to UI are considered for the July start date only. Application deadlines vary; check the PTCAS website, or the school websites, for deadlines.

Early Admission
PTCAS does not offer an Early Decision option. However, individual schools may choose to have an early decision program; check the PTCAS website, or the school websites, for information.

Diversity in Physical Therapy
The University of Iowa’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science acknowledges the importance of recognizing and understanding cultural diversity. The department’s faculty, staff, and students strive to promote trust, respect, and appreciation for individual differences in matters of practice, research, and education. Efforts are made to provide a supportive environment, one appreciative of human differences, while cooperating with each other in the constructive expression of ideas and actions.

Entrance Examination Requirement (GRE)
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required for admission to the UI DPT Program. Arrange to take the test early to ensure receipt of the scores prior to the application deadline. For more information about the test and to register, visit the GRE website: www.gre.org.

Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required to apply to the UI DPT Program. One letter must come from a physical therapist (or someone who can speak to their skills related to working in ahealthcare field), one from a faculty member in the applicant’s major who has taught them in at
least one course, and one from someone who knows the student well, such as a supervisor oradvisor. Letters are sent electronically to PTCAS.

Interviews
The UI Physical Therapy Admissions Committee requires personal, on-campus interviews. Candidates selected will be contacted to arrange an interview. Interviews are scheduled in October and November. Each interview is 30 minutes in length and conducted by two interviewers from either the DPT faculty or from clinical PT staff at the UIHC and VA Hospitals. The interview includes certain questions asked of all applicants, but also allows for some conversation.

Criminal Background Checks
On the PTCAS application, applicants are required to disclose and explain any felony or misdemeanor convictions. Applicants offered admission to the UI DPT Program are required to provide signed consent for conducting an External Criminal Background Investigation in addition to providing a signed Release of Information Waiver. This occurs at the time applicants confirm the Program’s offer of admission. Enrollment in the UI DPT Program is contingent on a successful background check. Applicants should also be aware that some clinical education sites will require drug screening for students performing clinical rotations.

Citizenship/International Students
Non-U.S. citizens are eligible for admission to the UI Graduate Program in Physical Therapy. However, the UI Program only accepts coursework from U.S. institutions, and only three non- citizens have been admitted over the past 30 years. A small percentage of U.S. physical therapy programs admit non-citizens. Since the odds can be challenging, non-citizen applicants should thoroughly research and carefully consider such a decision and discuss it with their pre-physical therapy advisors early in their undergraduate years

UI Pre-Physical Therapy Coursework Checklist