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Pre-Physical Therapy Studies

UI does not have a professional program in physical therapy and does not offer a degree program in pre-physical therapy. Students can, however, take courses that are prerequisites for admission into master's or doctoral degree programs in physical therapy at other institutions. Since a B.S. or B.A. degree is also required for admission into these programs, we strongly urge students to pursue a B.S. or B.A. degree in a related area (such as biology or psychology) while completing the prerequisites for admission to a physical therapy degree program. UI students designating pre-physical therapy as a major will be temporarily placed in the biology major. The pre-physical therapy advisor, Professor Alton Campbell, advises students interested in preparing to enter into a professional program.

Recommended Preparation

The doctoral program in physical therapy at Idaho State University, Idaho's only physical therapy program, is required by law to fill most of its program with Idaho residents. Consequently, Idaho residents have a competitive advantage in applying to this program. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree, the successful applicant must have completed the following list of prerequisite courses for the Idaho State University program.

Prerequisite Courses (with a GPA of 3.0 in each category):

Biology (3 courses)

Courses 1 & 2:

Biol 120 Human Anatomy and Biol 121 Human Physiology

Course 3:

Upper-division course, 3 cr minimum (Lab-only course will NOT be accepted. Courses in plant biology or evolution will NOT be accepted)

Chemistry (2 courses)

Chem 111 and Chem 112 Principles of Chemistry I and II with Lab

Physics (2 courses)

Phys 111, 111L and Phys 112, 112L General Physics I and II with Lab

Math/Statistics (1 course)

Stat 251

Statistical Methods

Psychology and Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science (2 courses)

Course 1:

Psyc 101 Introductory Psychology

Course 2:

Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science or Psychology. (This course must be relevant to health care, rural societies, cultural diversity, aging, health care administration, abnormal psychology or epidemiology. Marriage/family, religion or history courses will not meet this requirement.)