Pre-Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)
Physical Therapy - Transitional D.P.T. Program
Marymount University offers opportunities to prepare for entry to Marymount’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The pre-professional requirements for this program can be met through a variety of undergraduate fields. The School of Health Professions outlines one option, through its Health Sciences major/Pre-Physical Therapy emphasis. However, students should consider majoring in the subject area in which they have the strongest aptitude and interest. An academic advisor can help students interested in preparing for entry to a Physical Therapy graduate program.
A Pre-Physical Therapy plan of study is rigorous, and substantial academic discipline is needed to complete the coursework consistent with stated program prerequisites.
Physical Therapy Scholars Program
This competitive program, open to first-time college students, guarantees admission into the Physical Therapy (PT) graduate program to a select group of well-qualified incoming freshmen. These students, chosen by the PT Admissions Committee, must meet stringent acceptance and continuation requirements.
To be accepted into the program, students must have:
To continue in the program, students must:
Decisions regarding general undergraduate admission to the University and admission to the PT Scholars Program are done separately. Qualified applicants interested in the PT Scholars Program should contact the Office of Admissions for specific application instructions. The application deadline for the PT Scholars Program is March 1. Applications received after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.
This program prepares generalist practitioners for professional roles consistent with contemporary physical therapy practice in the United States. The program’s goals are to:
The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Admission Requirements and Eligibility: Since the Physical Therapy (PT) program is a three-year, full-time program, applicants have a separate admissions process and a notification of admission status shortly after the required interview. Entry into the program is in the fall semester only. Class size is limited to 25 students. Students should submit a complete Physical Therapy application to the Graduate Admissions Office by December 15. Applications submitted after December 15 will be considered on a space-available basis.
Applicants need the following:
Application materials are available on the University Web site or from the Graduate Admissions Office. A complete application includes:
The Physical Therapy program’s Admissions Committee reviews all applications. Initial evaluation of applicants includes assessment of overall GPA, prerequisite science and mathematics GPA, GRE scores, applicant’s written statement, community activities, and recommendations.
Special consideration is given to current Marymount students who have completed at least two full-time semesters at Marymount prior to applying, Marymount University graduates, and persons from minority groups that are underrepresented in the profession.
Applicants are selected based upon their qualifications and potential to contribute to the profession and their community, and who represent a broad diversity of backgrounds.
Applicants are invited to campus to participate in Interview Day. Interview Day consists of a personal interview, group activity, and facility tour. Please check the University Web site or call the Office of Graduate Admissions to determine the dates of Interview Day for the upcoming year. Admission decisions are announced to applicants within 30 days following their scheduled interview. All accepted students must confirm acceptance within three weeks of notification.
Prerequisite Coursework: The following courses, or their equivalent, must be completed with a grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable) prior to beginning the Physical Therapy program; however, please note that a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in all PT prerequisite coursework is required for admission. No more than 12 credits from this group of courses may remain incomplete at the time of application to the program. For those students admitted to the program, final transcripts for these courses (if applicable) must be submitted to the PT office by mid-August.
International students for whom English is a second language, please see Test of English as a Foreign Language score requirements.
Provisional Admission Policy: Occasionally, an applicant who does not fully meet Physical Therapy admission requirements may be admitted as a provisional student. Candidates for provisional admission are evaluated by the Department of Physical Therapy, and documents supporting a request for provisional admission are forwarded to the dean for approval. Provisional students must complete the first semester of graduate study with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Failure to meet this condition or withdrawal from required first-semester courses will result in dismissal from the program. After successful completion of the first semester of the Physical Therapy program, a provisional student will be moved to active status.
Clinical Requirements: A copy of each PT student’s medical examination record is required upon admission.
Physical Therapy Students must also provide:
Clinical-Experience Transportation: Students provide their own transportation to and from clinical experiences. The University’s free shuttle service connects the Main Campus, the Ballston Center, and the Ballston-MU Metro station.
Minimum Grade and Academic Progression Requirements: In addition to meeting the University’s academic standards for graduate students, Physical Therapy students MUST successfully complete all required PT courses with a minimum grade of B-. A grade of C+ or below indicates unsatisfactory performance. When a course grade is unsatisfactory, the student MUST repeat the course and receive a minimum grade of B. Upon receiving an unsatisfactory final grade in any PT course, the student should immediately contact the PT department chair to examine remediation/continuation options. Contingent upon availability of space in the class the following year, the student will be given one opportunity to repeat the course in which an unsatisfactory grade is received. A student can be dismissed from the PT program if he/she demonstrates unsatisfactory performance in three or more required PT courses.
Provisional students who do not complete the first semester of graduate study with a GPA of 3.0 or better will be dismissed from the program.
The Thesis: All candidates are required to complete a written thesis as part of a small-group research project that spans the three-year curriculum and culminates in a professional presentation of the scientific findings during the final year of the program.
The Comprehensive Examination: Each student must pass a comprehensive written examination after completion of all coursework. All Physical Therapy program faculty members contribute questions to the exam.
Degree Requirements
95 credits
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*Elective — Choose from: PT 750 Sport Physical Therapy, PT 751 Geriatric Physical Therapy, PT 752 Neurological Physical Therapy, PT 753 Pediatric Physical Therapy |
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This program of study offers licensed physical therapists who hold a master’s degree in Physical Therapy the opportunity to earn the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The focus of the program is to bridge the gap between current Doctor of Physical Therapy and master’s degree entry-level expectations. The program is delivered primarily in a distance-education format. Students are required to come to campus one weekend only, for a two-day seminar in concepts of professionalism in an autonomous profession. This seminar takes place each summer.
The mission of this program is to provide an affordable, practical, and career-enhancing plan of study that allows master’s-prepared physical therapists to transition their current entry-level professional degree to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Marymount M.S.P.T. graduates
Applicants must do the following:
Non-Marymount University-educated physical therapists
Applicants must be a graduate of a Physical Therapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Applicants must also:
Minimum Grade and Academic Progression Requirements: Students must receive a minimum grade of B in all Transitional DPT courses. Students who receive a grade of B- or lower must repeat the course to achieve a grade of B or better before the course is considered “passed.” A student who receives a grade of B- or less in three or more required Transitional DPT courses will be dismissed from the Transitional DPT program.
(For graduates of Marymount’s M.S.P.T. program)
14 credits
(For graduates of other M.S.P.T. programs)
30-31 credits (includes 12 credits of coursework transferred from another institution)