Pre-Physical Therapy

Preparing for a Career as a Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. But PTs also care for people who simply want to become healthier and to prevent future problems. Physical therapists examine each person and then develop a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability (www.apta.org).

The path to becoming a medical practitioner begins with a genuine desire and interest in helping other people. The strong foundation built as an undergraduate student at Westminster College includes demonstrating the knowledge, skills and personal growth attributes that contribute to a strong program application and future success as a medical professional. Students can choose different paths to PT school, but must be mindful of the core requirements for competitive applications, preparing for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) exam that is required as part of an application to some programs, gaining appropriate experiences in the field and completing their respective majors. While it is possible for a pre-PT student to do virtually any academic major, it is imperative for all pre-PT students to work closely with both academic and health professions advisors to ensure completion of all requirements for PT schools and for their undergraduate degree. Most often, a student on a pre-PT track will choose a biology major since the curriculum includes most, if not all, required and recommended courses for PT schools. Students will typically apply to PT programs between their junior and senior years, allowing for a direct transition following graduation, but some wait until after they graduate to apply in order to further their education and gain more relevant experience.

Pre Physical Therapy Track at Westminster College - Pennsylvania

The academic and extracurricular experience at Westminster College, ranging from coursework to on- and off-campus service and experiential activities to international study and/or travel, contribute strongly to the appeal of the well-trained and well-rounded individuals who graduate from our school.

Core Requirements for PT School (and for GRE Exam Preparation) generally are:

• Biology (with labs) – Cell Biology and Genetics (BIO 201), Organismal Biology (BIO 202)
• Anatomy and Physiology (with labs) Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 335), Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 336)
• General Chemistry (with labs) – Principles of Chemistry (CHE 117) and CHE180/230/231
• Organic Chemistry (with labs) – Organic Chemistry I (CHE 261), Organic Chemistry II (CHE 262)
• Physics (with labs) – Foundations of Physics I (PHY 141), Foundations of Physics II (PHY 142)
• English – Writing (WRI 111) and an additional course (ENG ---) that requires extensive reading, writing and discussion in the English language

The following courses should also be completed prior to taking the GRE exam:

• Sociology – Principles of Sociology (SOC 101)
• Psychology – Introduction to Psychology (PSY 101)
• Biochemistry – Biochemistry Principles (CHE 381)
• Statistics – Biostatistics (BIO 206)

Additional course requirements may vary from one professional program to another, so it is the responsibility of the student to be aware of specifics regarding their schools of interest. Good planning and working closely with academic and health professions advisors are essential to maximize chances of success in the highly competitive medical school application environment.

What would a typical Pre-PT schedule look like?

A sample schedule for a biology major preparing to take the GRE exam between their junior and senior year and matriculating to PT school following graduation is below.

With the exception of the core requirements and courses strongly recommended ahead of the GRE exam, there is curricular flexibility within any chosen major and among the elective courses that are part of the liberal arts curriculum at Westminster College. Students planning to study abroad for a semester must also plan accordingly to meet all requirements and timelines. It is also advisable for students to budget time during the spring semester of their junior year to prepare for the GRE exam that will test knowledge in Biology, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry as well as Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and Quantitative Reasoning.

Extracurricular and Off-Campus Experiences

• Volunteer or paid experience in a PT setting with direct patient contact (150 hours strongly recommended)
• Shadowing physical therapists and other medical professionals in both office and hospital settings
• Any experience working with children (e.g. day camp, Science camp)
• Any experience working with disabled people or individuals with special needs

Where have Westminster students matriculated recently?

• Duquesne University
• Slippery Rock University
• Youngstown State University

Web Resources

• apta.org – American Physical Therapy Association – General information about the physical therapy (PT) profession.
• ptcas.org – Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service