Dual Degree - Physical Therapy

Students apply to the dual degree program as incoming freshmen and are admitted directly into the graduate program at the same time as their admission as undergraduate students.  Dual degree students are guaranteed a place in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program provided they continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress into enrollment in the graduate program.  Dual degree students, therefore, have a space reserved for them in the graduate program beginning in their first year, with clear criteria and achievements required to progress into the graduate program.  Combined with advisement from their undergraduate academic advisor, students' engagement with the College of Health Professions, and participation in activities offered by the Physical Therapy program provide strong support toward successful progression into graduate study.  Students admitted to the Dual Degree program may pursue one of two pathways to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Accelerated 3+3 Bachelor's - DPT Option

In the accelerated 3+3 option, students complete three years of undergraduate coursework and three years of graduate coursework, earning both a bachelor's degree and a DPT degree within six years.  All requirements for the bachelor's degree are completed by the end of the third year.  Students choosing the 3+3 option work closely with their undergraduate advisor to follow a specific sequence of study in their chosen undergraduate major.  The 3+3 option requires coursework in the summers between the freshman and sophomore years, regardless of undergraduate major, with the summer work varying by major.  With appropriate planning, summer coursework may be completed at other universities offering equivalent courses.  Students initially pursuing the 3+3 option may move to the 4+3 option by consulting with their academic advisor.

The 3+3 bachelor's - DPT option is available to students pursuing one of the following undergraduate majors:

• Biology 3+3 Model
• Exercise Science 3+3 Model
• Psychology 3 + 3 Model

4+3 Bachelor's - DPT Option:  In the 4-3 option, students complete the bachelor's degree in the traditional four year timeframe and complete three years of graduate study in the DPT program.

Criteria for Admission as a Incoming Freshman.

Students apply to the bachelor's - Doctor of Physical Therapy dual degree program by selecting the dual degree program on the Common Application.  Admission to the dual degree program is competitive, with minimum criteria including:

• Overall high school GPA of 3.3 or higher
• High school GPA of 3.3 or higher in math and science coursework
• Successful completion of four years of science including Physics, if offered by the high school

The professional phase of the Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy is an additional three years.  Students admitted to the dual degree program must continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria in order to progress to enrollment in the DPT program, as outlined below.

Criteria to progress to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

• 3+3 students must complete their undergraduate degree by May of their junior year and 4+3 students must complete their undergraduate degree by May of their senior year.  Note that participation in the accelerated 3+3 dual degree program requires successful completion of the bachelor's degree in Biology, Exercise Science or Psychology
• The Dual Degree Physical Therapy preparation includes completion of an undergraduate degree plus the necessary prerequisites for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  Some undergraduate majors have course overlap with some of the prerequisites.  Students must complete all required undergraduate coursework for their selected major, inclusive of major course requirements and core course requirements, to be eligible for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts.
• Students must meet the cumulative GPA of 3.2 and maintain this GPA until enrollment in the DPT program.

• Successful completion of all required prerequisite courses (see below) with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and no prerequisite course grade below a "C".  Dual degree students may retake a maximum of two courses one time each for a grade replacement.
• Students must maintain this prerequisite GPA until enrollment in the DPT program.  

• Completion of a minimum of two different observation experiences in different types physical therapy practice settings, totaling 50 contact hours.   Examples of physical therapy practice settings include hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation agencies, outpatient departments, private practice, etc. (Examples: Observation in 1 outpatient practice and 1 hospital inpatient; Observation in 1 outpatient practice and 1 nursing home.  Observation experiences may be either volunteer or paid. 
  • SHU provides an Observation Form for students to document this experience

• Attendance at all Dual Degree PT advising meetings
• Demonstration of academic ability and potential to be successful in the DPT Program as evidenced by a letter of attestation from a SHU faculty member who has had the student in class
  • SHU provides an Academic Attestation Form
• Demonstration of strong work ethic and interpersonal skills as evidenced by a letter of attestation from an employer who can speak to work performance
• Submission of a reflection statement, approximately one double-spaced page, addressing each of the following topics:
  
  • Briefly describe the types of experiences you have had in physical therapy and/or health care thus far.  Include some indication of how extensive (comprehensive) each exposure was and how it contributed to your continued pursuit of a physical therapy career.
  • Identify a project you completed that you believe required the most independent learning on your part.  The project does not have to be something you did as part of your schooling.  Briefly describe what the project involved.  Identify why you considered the experience to have been "independent" learning.  Identify whether you consider the experience to have been successful, including why.  Identify one way you would change the experience if you had it to do again that would make it a better or more positive learning experience.
• DPT faculty evaluate students' progression in the development of the professional and inter-professional skills necessary for successful participation in the DPT program and practice as a Physical Therapist during the PT Dual Degree days in the fall of their junior (3+3) or senior (4+3) year.
• Successful demonstration of collaboration and problem solving skills during a mock tutorial session on PT Dual Degree Days
• Successful demonstration of students' potential for success in the Program Basked Learning curriculum of the DPT Program as evidenced through a meeting with a PT faculty member on PT Dual Degree Days
• A GRE score is not a factor determining progression into the graduate program; there is no required minimum score.  However, the SHU faculty utilizes information gained from GRE test results to support students during the graduate program, including developing test-taking skills, as all practicing physical therapists must pass a standardized test (licensure exam).  As such, students are required to take the GRE before progressing into the DPT program.
• Submission of a form attesting to the student's ability to fulfill Essential Functions of the Physical Therapy profession
• Visit the Essential Functions of the Physical Therapy Profession page for details, including details on the essential functions, student responsibilities regarding essential functions and information for students with disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements

Required Physical Therapy Prerequisite Courses (45 credits)

Requirements

BI 111	Concepts in Biology I: Molecules to Cells	3
BI 112	Concepts in Biology II: Cells to Organisms	3
BI 113	Concepts in Biology I Laboratory	1
BI 114	Concepts in Biology II Laboratory	1
BI 206	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	3
BI 208	Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory	1
BI 207	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	3
BI 209	Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory	1
CH 151	General Chemistry I	3
CH 152	General Chemistry II	3
CH 153	General Chemistry Laboratory I	1
CH 154	General Chemistry Laboratory II	1
MA 131	Elementary Statistics	3
MA 140	Precalculus	4
PY 111	General Physics I	3
PY 112	General Physics II	3
PY 113	General Physics Laboratory I	1
PY 114	General Physics Laboratory II	1
PS 110	Introduction to Psychology	3
PS XXX	PS XXX	3

Upper level Psychology course - student's choice