Applicants for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program must
1.  Complete a baccalaureate degree in any field prior to admission (with a recommended GPA of at least 3.0)
2.  Submit application fee
3.  Complete and submit online application
4.  Submit at least three letters of recommendation on UTSW form
5.  Complete and submit scores for the Graduate Record Examination
6.  Earn credit in the following Prerequisite Courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to entrance into the program:

Prerequisite Courses
1.  College Algebra or Higher - 3 hours
2.  Statistics (must include hypothesis testing) - 3 hours
3.  Physics (must be for science majors and include a lab) - 8 hours
4.  Chemistry (must be for science majors and include a lab) - 8 hours
5.  General Psychology - 3 hours
6.  Abnormal or Developmental Psychology - 3 hours*
7.  Biology (for science majors, may be lower or upper division) - 8 hours
8.  Two semester sequential Anatomy and Physiology courses #¢ (A&P I and II totaling 8 semester hours) OR Human Anatomy - 4 hours of Human Anatomy and 3 hours of upper-level Human Physiology (total 7 semester hours)

*  Child Developmental Psychology will NOT satisfy this prerequisite
#  Exercise Physiology will not satisfy the prerequisite
¢  For Dallas, Tarrant, and Colin County Colleges, Biol 2401 and Biol 2402 will satisfy both anatomy and physiology prerequisites.

Recommended Courses
Medical Terminology
Exercise Physiology (does not fulfill the human physiology requirement)
Kinesiology
Neurobiology/neurophysiology

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program accepts only full-time students. Factors considered for selection among applicants include cumulative GPA, last 60 hours GPA, and prerequisite course GPA.  Also considered are individual qualities ascertained through application, letters of recommendation, and an in-person interview.  Selection for admission to the Physical Therapy program is highly competitive.
 
Profile of the average PT student

Essential Functions

All individuals, including people with disabilities, who apply for admission for Southwestern of Health Professions School must be able to perform specific essential functions, which differ depending upon the academic program.  Essential functions are the basic activities that a student must be able to perform to complete the program’s curriculum.  Applicants who cannot perform the program’s essential functions – either with or without reasonable accommodations – may not be considered for admission.

Each Southwestern School of Health Professions student must be able to:

• Attend scheduled classes and laboratory sessions and be present for examination and testing.
• Travel to practicum sites and have mobility within and around the sites.
• Assimilate information presented via lecture, handouts, videos, discussions, computer, and/or other educational modalities.
• Complete assignments such as written assignments, oral presentations, class participation, examinations, and computer-based activities.
• Apply the assimilated information to appropriate clinical situations.
• Effectively communicate with patients/clients, their families, faculty, and other professionals using oral, telephonic, written, and computer modalities in private and group settings.
• Make effective use of learning resources at UT Southwestern and affiliated facilities.

In addition to essential functions for all students, each student in the Physical Therapy Program must be able to:

• Participate in supervised clinical activities for eight-hour days.
• Demonstrate sufficient vision to perform such tests as interpreting a medical record, inspecting and debriding wounds, and determining gait deviations.
• Demonstrate sufficient arm strength, coordination, and sensation to perform such activities as (but not limited to) manual muscle testing, palpation, soft-tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Demonstrate sufficient problem-solving skills to learn to make a differential diagnosis, establish appropriate treatment plans, determine effectiveness of those plans, and make appropriate modifications.