Career Overview
Helping people move better and return to the activities they enjoy is central to this profession. Providers in this field work with patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, neurological conditions and chronic pain by developing treatment plans focused on movement, strength, mobility and long-term recovery. The work combines hands-on care, clinical problem solving and meaningful patient relationships, making it a strong fit for students who enjoy both science and working closely with others. Career settings include hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools and sports medicine facilities.
Common Prerequisites
- Biology I & II with lab: BSC 2010/L and BSC 2011/L
- General Chemistry I & II with labs: CHM 2045/L and CHM 2046/L
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs: BSC 2093C and BSC 2094C OR BSC 2085/L and BSC 2086/L
- Physics I & II with labs: PHY 2053/L and PHY 2054/L OR
PHY 2048/L and PHY 2049/L - Psychology (2 Semesters): PSY 2012 and one additional - DEP 2004, CLP 4143, OR DEP 4053
- Statistics: STA 2023
- Medical Terminology: HSC 4537 (recomended)
* Specific requirements vary by institution. Always verify with individual programs.
Academic Performance
- 14–16 credit hours per semester
- 8–11 credit hours of science prerequisite courses per semester
- No D or F grades
- C grades may be accepted, but repeated low grades weaken applications
- Avoid withdrawing from prerequisite courses
- Strong semester GPAs that match competitive averages
Why does it matter?
Admissions committees want to see that you can succeed in science-heavy course loads
similar to graduate health programs. The term GPA’s for these semesters will also
be reviewed
Competitive Profile
Competitve Applicants Typically Have:
- Overall GPA: 3.4-3.8
- Science GPA: 3.3+
- 100-300+ observation hours
- Multiple clinical settings (Outpatient + inpatient preferred)
- Strong letters of recommendation (Including licensed PT)
One of the best parts of the program was the amazing team of professors, all of whom were deeply invested in our success.
Sarah Wagner, MS - Class of 2009
Internships
Participation in 1–3 diverse, long-term internships or shadowing/observational experiences that provide experience with multiple patient populations, including:
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Rehabilitation
- Acute care
