Pre-Physical Therapy Requirements

Requirements

Prior to admission, a minimum of 90 semester hours of credit from an approved college or university is required. Students should be broadly educated in the sciences and humanities. The Department of Physical Therapy recognizes that, since physical therapy deals with people, an understanding of literature, art, history, ethics and philosophy is an adjunct to a physical therapist. Science and humanities are both are viewed as necessary for the practice of physical therapy.

The following list of courses and credits indicates the core prerequisites that all applicants must complete prior to admission to the physical therapy program. It is strongly recommended that students be computer literate prior to entering the professional program. Students may take additional electives from any field of study; however the depth of the pre-physical therapy education should demonstrate that students have progressed from simple to complex studies in at least one content area. This requirement might typically be demonstrated by a discipline major, but in any case should demonstrate a basic comprehensiveness and integrity of study within a particular content area. This does not suggest that a separate undergraduate degree must be awarded, however the breadth and depth in a discipline should be demonstrated. Course credits equivalent to minor (20 credits at UND) in a particular discipline could accomplish this requirement. The prospective student should have at least 8 of the 20 credits from upper level (i.e. 300 and 400 numbers) courses.

Technical Standards

Prospectve students should review the UND PT Technical Standards on this website to make sure they meet the requirements of the professional program.

Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum at UND

Prospective students need 90 credits, including the following requirements:

• Engl 110, 120. Composition I, II or Engl 125 (6 cr.)
• Arts and Humanities (9 cr.)
• Biol 150, 151. Introduction to Biology (8 cr.)
• Chem 121, 122. General Chemistry I, II (8 cr.)
• Soc 110. Introduction to Sociology (or approved substitute) (3 cr.)
• Psy 111. Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)
• Phys 161, 162. Introduction to College Physics (8 cr.)
• Anat 204. Anatomy for Paramedical Personnel (3 cr.)
• Phy 301. Mechanics of Human Physiology (4 cr.)
• Comm 110. Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr.)
• Psy 250. Developmental Psychology (4 cr.)
• Psy 270. Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
• PT 101. Orientation to Physical Therapy (1 cr.)
• Electives (must have at least 20 credits in one discipline)
• NOTE: students without a degree when they enter the program must have at least one World Cultures course. These courses can be found on the UND website under General Education Requirements in the Social Science and Humanities areas. They are maked with a + sign. Students entering the program with a degree have the Gen. Ed. Requirements, and the World Cultures requirement waived.

Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum for Non-UND Students

Prospective students need 90 credits, including the following requirements:

• Two semesters of General Biology (8 cr.)
• Two semesters of General Chemistry (8 cr.)
• Two semesters of General Physics (8 cr.)
• One semester of Human Anatomy (3 cr.)
• One semester of Human Physiology (3 to 4 cr.)
• One semester of Introductory Psychology (3 cr.)
• One semester of Developmental Psychology (3 to 4 cr.)
• One semester of Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
• One semester of Introductory Sociology (3 cr.)
• One semester of a Public Speaking course (3 cr.)
• Two semesters of English Composition (6 cr.)
• Arts and Humanities coursework (9 cr.)
• Electives (must have at least 20 credits in one discipline, with 8 credits of 300 and 400 level courses)

NOTE: All of these courses must be completed or in process before a student can be admitted into the professional program.