Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree
Admission Process
Tuition & Expenses
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree
What is a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and how does it differ from a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) or Master of Physical Therapy degree?
The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is an entry level, clinical degree. The Doctor of Physical Therapy qualifies a graduate to sit for the physical therapy licensure exam, and upon passing that exam, practice physical therapy. It is very different from a PhD, (which some may confuse with it because of the name "doctor" in the title,) because a PhD has a research focus. While research procedures are part of physical therapy education at either the Master of Physical Therapy or the Doctor of Physical Therapy level, they are not the main focus of the degree as they are for the PhD, and they are not covered in the depth necessary for the PhD. The Doctor of Physical Therapy differs from the Master of Physical Therapy in the level of clinical mastery expected of graduates, especially in knowledge related to autonomous practice.
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Admission Process
What prerequisite courses are required for the program?
Human, comparative, or vertebrate Anatomy & Physiology (with labs) (human preferred); physics (with labs); these courses combined must meet a grade point average of "B" (3.0) or better with no single grade less than a "C" (2.0). Additional prerequisite courses include: Chemistry (with labs); statistics, and abnormal behavior or introduction to psychology, each with a minimum grade of "C" (2.0).
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What happens if I am in the process of repeating a prerequisite course to raise my grade because it does not meet the minimum grade requirement, but the course is not completed by the January 15 deadline?
An official transcript verifying completion of a repeated course must be on file. If we do not have the grade verification for the repeated course at the time your application is considered, the previous grade will be considered.
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How many hours of experience and exposure in the field of physical therapy are required for admission?
The physical therapy admission committee does not have a specific hour requirement for experience and exposure in the field. The committee does encourage an applicant to obtain experience in a volunteer or paid position, (which must be under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist) in many different physical therapy settings with different patient populations. A minimum of 100 contact hours is recommended. Most importantly, the applicant should be able to communicate an understanding of physical therapy to the admission committee through answers to the physical therapy essay questions contained in the application. Several applicants with less than 100 hours of exposure to practice have been admitted to the program based on their articulated understanding of the profession. We do not require verification of hours completed.
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Is a personal interview required as part of the application process?
No, decisions for admission are made on the application materials submitted and an applicant's college credentials. Students are strongly encouraged to visit the program and meet the faculty, but information from this visit is not recorded for admission decision purposes.
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Which section of the GRE test do I take?
Take the general test. The committee looks at the scores from the verbal, analytical essay sections of the general tests. The committee will make a judgement on applicant writing ability based on considering quality of writing on our application questions combined with your score on the GRE essay section.
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When I apply, my GRE scores will be 5 1/2 years old; are they acceptable?
No, the GRE must be taken within five years prior to enrollment in the program. You will need to retake the GRE.
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Can I have a health care professional other than a licensed physical therapist write my physical therapy recommendation?
No, the admission committee is looking for information specific to the physical therapy profession, therefore, the licensed physical therapist is the only acceptable professional for this reference.
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Can I submit more than three references with my application?
No, the application specifically requests one reference from each of the following: a licensed physical therapist, an educator and an employer (references must be submitted on the forms included in the application packet).
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What can I do if I have never worked for pay, thus have never had an employer?
Please contact Kathie Hummel-Berry to request permission to use an alternate reference. Please note, any type of employer can make an excellent reference because the form asks for information about working behaviors in general. Your work experience does not have to be relevant to physical therapy at all.
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Can I transfer physical therapy courses I have taken at another institution in for credit at University of Puget Sound?
No, the University of Puget Sound does not accept physical therapy courses from other institutions for credit toward the physical therapy degree. Courses in the UPS program are all designed specially to function as an integrated curriculum.
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What is the profile of students admitted to a recent UPS PT class?
You can find the class profile for the most recent entering class online. In addition, successful applicants demonstrate strong writing skills in their application materials, and their recommenders must indicate that they possess excellent character traits.
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Is there any way of being admitted if my GPA does not meet the minimum requirements?
The physical therapy curriculum requires full-time study in rigorous course work, and students must have a 3.0 average in this course work in order to graduate with a physical therapy degree. Thus, to be admitted to the program, students must generally have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work. However, occasionally students have been unable to achieve this benchmark because of extenuating circumstances.
If your undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0, you can petition for consideration for PT admission based on other evidence. A successful petition must include a brief personal statement indicating why you believe that you would be able to achieve the 3.0 average in rigorous graduate studies at this point in your life. In your statement, you must present evidence of academic capability. Evidence of academic capability will either be sustained (at least two consecutive semesters) of full-time, preferably upper division course work at a GPA of 3.25 or above, or work experience that is similar to academic course work. Volunteer or paid experience in a physical therapy clinic is not similar to academic course work. Work experience that may fulfill this requirement would be something like rigorous research activities, publication, or teaching/presentations that demand significant preparation. If you are petitioning academic preparedness using only work experience, you must include a statement from an employer or supervisor that attests to the rigorous demands of the job and the quality of your demonstrated performance.
Your petition should be no longer than 1000 words, typed or word processed, double spaced, and titled "Petition for Special Academic Consideration." A successful petition will result in consideration for admission only; program admission is not guaranteed. Students who do not meet minimum academic requirements for admission will not be considered for admission at all without a Petition for Special Academic Consideration.
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Tuition and Expenses
What is the total tuition for the DPT?
UPS graduate students pay a "per/unit" tuition rate. You can find the most current information about tuition and expenses online.
In general, you should plan for tuition rates to go up by some percentage every year at any school. Typical annual tuition increases at Puget Sound are two to three percent.
Living Expenses
Most physical therapy students live within walking distance of campus, in off-campus rental units in the quiet, residential surrounding neighborhoods. Others choose to commute a 5-15 minute drive, and a few students choose to commute longer distances. In fall, 2001, physical therapy students living in houses shared with other students spent an average of $340/month on rent and utilities (range $275-$450). Those living alone in apartments or studios spent an average of $460/month for rent and utilities (range $375-$560). Students maintaining homes with spouses and/or children spent an average of $590/month for rent and utilities (range $400-$730).
Books
As of fall, 2006, the cost of books for the entire program was approximately $1700. Book expenses vary from semester to semester, since many of the books used in the program are purchased within the first few semesters of the program, then used in multiple classes. Students should also anticipate some expense for photocopying periodical material when researching various topics in the library.
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