DPT FAQs

A. Yes, you can take your prerequisite courses at any accredited two- or four- year college or university.

A.

Anatomy and Physiology

• What works: Most people fulfill this requirement with two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology (A&P).

• Note: Both semesters have to have a lab attached. We offer online Anatomy and Physiology I and II courses [2] here at the Institute that will fulfill the requirement. They are undergraduate level courses with online labs.

• Alternatively, you can take a course in Anatomy and a separate course in Physiology. In this case, both courses have to have the lab attached. We accept Human or Vertebrate Anatomy

Biology

• What works: Any Biology course. It can be anything from General Biology to Genetics to Molecular Biology to Environmental Biology.

• What doesn’t work: Non-Biology courses

• What if I can’t find a local college that offers Biology? You can take it online.

  • We offer an online Biology course [3] here at the Institute that will fulfill the requirement. It is an undergraduate level course. See course number and title  HBIO-450– Introduction to Biology 1 [3]

Chemistry

• What works: Any two Introductory Chemistry courses in a series with associated labs. They can be for non-science majors.

• What if I can’t find a local college that offers Chemistry?

  • You can take it online.

  • We offer online General Chemistry here at the IHP that will fulfill the requirement. There are two undergraduate level courses that include labs. The course numbers and titles are:

    • HCHEM-453 – General Chemistry 1 for the Health Sciences [4]

    • HCHEM-454 – General Chemistry 2 for the Health Sciences [5]

Exercise Physiology

• What Works: The course we want is almost always listed as Exercise Physiology. You do not need a lab with Exercise Physiology.

• What doesn't work: Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition.

• What if I can’t find a local college that offers Exercise Physiology?

  • You can take it online.

  • We offer an online Exercise Physiology course here at the Institute that will fulfill the requirement. It is an undergraduate level course. The course number and title is HEXPH-455 Exercise Physiology [6].

Physics

• What works: Physics, but it does not have to be Calculus-Based Physics. Two introductory courses in a series will do as long as they have labs attached.

• We offer online Physics 1 and 2 courses [7] at the Institute that will fulfill the requirement. They are undergraduate courses with online labs. The course numbers and titles are:

  • HPHYSIC-450 [7]

  • HPHYSIC-452 [8]

• What doesn’t work: Biomechanics, Kinesiology

Statistics

• What works: Introduction to Statistics. We are looking for inferential statistics, so the course should include probability, distribution, measures of central tendency, t-tests, hypothesis testing, and perhaps correlations. The course is often offered through social science or math departments.

• The Institute offers an online course in Statistics, HSTATS-451 [9], in summer, fall, and spring semesters. [link to course description]

• What doesn’t work: Business Statistics, Qualitative Statistics

General Psychology/Abnormal Psychology

• What works: Either General Psychology (sometimes called Introduction to Psychology) OR Abnormal Psychology.

• The Institute offers an online course in Abnormal Psychology, HPSYCH-452 [10]. 

• What doesn’t work: Educational Psychology, Sports Psychology, Psychology of Disability

A. We require 10 hours and recommend combining depth and breadth.

Depth: Identify one facility where you can spend enough time that you are likely to have a good idea of what PT is like in a particular facility. Try spending at least one week full-time in a facility. However, that is rarely logistically feasible. Therefore, using 40 hours as a framework, set up a schedule that would allow at least that much time.

Breadth: Spend at least one full day in one or two other PT facilities that are different types of settings from the one in which you spent your depth of experience. If you spent your depth in an outpatient setting, consider an inpatient or rehabilitation hospital setting. Not all experience that is helpful will be directly PT-related. What other health care experience do you have that will inform your ability to interact with patients or clients and with other members of the health care team? Be prepared to make an argument about how this experience informed your decision to be a physical therapist.