Pre-Physical Therapy Program

Westminster College and Chatham University

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Up to two (2) currently enrolled Westminster students in the Pre-Physical Therapy Program will be guaranteed acceptance into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Chatham University upon the attainment of their bachelor’s degree, if the following criteria are met. The Chatham DPT program requires seven terms of study (or 2.3 years), which includes 36 weeks of supervised clinical practice. Upon the successful completion of all requirements, students in the program will attain a bachelor's degree from Westminster and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham.

Each Pre-Physical Therapy student from Westminster who declares intent to complete DPT program at Chatham shall be advised by an assigned member of the faculty at Westminster. The student will also be assigned a Chatham faculty advisor in the DPT program. It is highly recommended that the students in the program meet with their Chatham faculty advisor (either in person, by phone or by e-mail) during their sophomore year.

 

Admission Requirements for Chatham's DPT Program

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Students must satisfactorily complete the following criteria at Westminster in order to be admitted to the DPT program (See suggested 4-year schedule below):

• A minimum of a grade of C in each pre-requisite course (C- not accepted), with the exception of Anatomy, which requires a minimum of a grade of B-. Prerequisite courses include:
• Biology with lab, two courses
• Chemistry with lab, two courses
• Physics with lab, two courses
• Anatomy and Physiology with lab, two courses
• Statistics or Research Methods
• One course in Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development. Alternatively, a combination of developmental psychology courses that cover the lifespan.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a scale of 4.0.
• A cumulative pre-requisite GPA of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 with at least 60% (24 credits) of the ten pre-requisite courses completed by the interview date.
• Successful campus interview and writing sample.
• Successful completion of all Chatham University DPT admission requirements*, which include:
• Completion of the online application through Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), submitted by the admissions deadline;
• Volunteer or work experience in a minimum of two different physical therapy locations OR two different physical therapy settings; and
• Three (3) letters of reference (two professors and one licensed physical therapist OR one professor and two licensed physical therapists.

Note: Students pursuing this program should visit Chatham's website to verify current DPT admissions requirements and for more information about required volunteer/work experiences.

Additionally, Westminster students who are not participating in the articulation agreement described above will be guaranteed an interview for consideration of acceptance into Chatham’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program if the following criteria are met:

• A minimum of a grade of C in each pre-requisite course listed above (C- not accepted), with the exception of Anatomy, which requires a minimum of a grade of B-.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a scale of 4.0.
• A cumulative pre-requisite GPA of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 with at least 60% (24 credits) of the ten pre-requisite courses completed by the interview date.
• Successful campus interview and writing sample.
• Successful completion of all Chatham University DPT admission requirements*, which include:
• Completion of the online application through Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), submitted by the admissions deadline;
• Volunteer hours in a minimum of two different physical therapy locations OR two different physical therapy settings; and
• Three (3) letters of reference (two professors and one licensed physical therapist OR one professor and two licensed physical therapists.

Note: Students pursuing this option should visit Chatham's website to verify current DPT admissions requirements and for more information about required volunteer/work experiences.

 

Suggested Westminster Curriculum for the 4+3.2 Physical Therapy Program

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This sample schedule assumes a major in Biology, though the sequence of courses may be altered to pursue other majors with the consent of the academic advisor and the Health Professions Advisor. Intellecutal Perspectives (IP) courses are indicated by their two-letter code in parentheses. Students must succesfully complete their degree at Westminster prior to matriculating to Chatham's program.

 

For More Information

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For more information about the program, please contact Westminster’s Health Professions Advisor, Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett.