Prerequisite Requirements
Approximately 30 students are admitted each summer into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. Deadline for admission is December 15th each year. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all of the required forms and materials have been submitted by that deadline. Since enrollment in the DPT Program is limited, satisfactory completion of all of the requirements does not ensure admission. An important component of our admission’s process is an on-campus interview. These interviews are granted only to applicants who have submitted all of the necessary forms/materials and have positioned themselves well compared to the relative strength of the applicant pool. These interviews will take place in February. Students will know the status of their application (accepted, alternate, or denied) within 2 weeks of the interview date. Admissions criteria are reviewed by the faculty annually and are subject to change.
The following requirements must be completed prior to admission in the DPT Program:
- Prior to entering the program in June, candidates must earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university by May 31st of that year.
- You may obtain your degree in any area of study as long as the minimum requirements needed to apply are met. No preference is given to any particular baccalaureate degree.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (all schools attended) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is required but does not guarantee admission.
- Prior to entering the program in June, candidates must satisfactorily complete all prerequisite coursework by May 31st.
- Applicants must have completed the prerequisite courses with a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.0.
- All prerequisite grades must be at least a “C” letter grade. Grades below (i.e. “C-“, “D”, or “F”) will not be considered, and, therefore, need to be retaken prior to submission.
- Sub 100 level and Advanced Placement (AP ) courses are not accepted
- You may have up to 2 prerequisite courses in progress (Spring or Winter term) when applying. All prerequisite science courses must be completed by the end of the Spring or Winter term prior to commencing the program in June.
- Courses taken on a pass/fail basis will not fulfill prerequisite requirements.
- Prerequisite courses may be fulfilled at any accredited community college or university; however, it is recommended that the majority of the prerequisites be taken at the university level:
- To apply one must complete or be in the process of completing the following:
- Biology (2 courses)
- Physics with labs (2 courses/one year)
- Chemistry with labs (2 courses/one year)
- Human Anatomy/Physiology with labs (2 courses)
- 2 combined human anatomy/physiology courses
- Or, the combination of one human anatomy and one human physiology course
- Psychology (2 courses)
- Statistics (1 course)
- General college statistics
- Acceptable prerequisite courses at UNLV
- Observation must be in 2 or more different types of physical therapy settings (e.g. pediatric and orthopedic, rather than 2 different orthopedic settings)
- No verification is required
- Refer to PTCAS for submission instructions
- Recommended score: 1000 overall, 4.0 on analytical writing
- The GRE can be taken as many times as you would like. We will use your highest score from each section.
- Must be completed with scores available before the application deadline.
- School Code:4861 and Department Code:0619
- Refer to PTCAS for submission instructions
- Two of the letters need to be from a licensed physical therapist who can evaluate the applicant’s potential as a student in the physical therapy program. The remaining letter can be from a former professor or employer.
- Refer to PTCAS for submission instructions
The program is open to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, or the presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability.
Department of Physical Therapy
Examples of prerequisite courses offered at UNLV
Biology |
BIO 189,189L |
Fundamental Life Science/Lab |
BIO 196, 196L |
Principles of Modern Biology/Lab |
|
BIO 197, 197L |
Principles of Modern Biology II/Lab |
|
BIO 208 |
Intro to Human Genetics (no lab) |
|
BIO 251, 251L |
General Microbiology/Lab |
|
BIO 300, 300L |
Principles of Genetics/Lab |
|
BIO 351, 351L |
Microbiology/Lab |
|
BIO 405 |
Molecular Biology (no lab) |
|
Anatomy |
BIO 223, 223L |
Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab |
BIO 224, 224L |
Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab |
|
Chemistry |
CHEM 121, 121L |
General Chemistry I/Lab |
CHEM 122, 122L |
General Chemistry II/Lab |
|
CHEM 241, 241L |
Organic Chemistry I/Lab |
|
Physics |
PHYS 151, 151L |
General Physics I/Lab |
PHYS 152, 152L |
General Physics II/Lab |
|
General |
PSY 101 |
General Psychology |
Other |
PSY 430 |
Developmental Psychology: Infant & Child |
PSY 434 |
Developmental Psychology: Adolescent & Adult |
|
PSY 438 |
Child Behavior Disorders |
|
PSY 441 |
Abnormal Psychology |
|
Statistics |
STA 152 |
Intro to Statistics |
STA 391 |
Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences |
|
STA 411 |
Statistical Methods |
|
STA 491 |
Statistics for Scientists I |
|
PSY 210 |
Intro to Statistical Methods |
|
HSC 300 |
Statistics for Health Sciences |
Minimum Requirements for Prospective Physical Therapy Students
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is dedicated to the quality of educational opportunity, and the creation and maintenance of a campus environment free of barriers that effectively discriminate against those with disabilities. Equality in access is achieved through reasonable classroom accommodations, and reasonable adaptation of examination and evaluation procedures. In the same vein, becoming a physical therapist requires the completion of a professional education program that is both intellectually and physically challenging. The candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. Reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities will be exempt from certain tasks. Please refer to the current Department of Physical Therapy Policies and Procedures concerning Essential Tasks and Reasonable Accommodations for further information.
The following are minimum requirements which applicants are expected to meet in order to participate in the Department of Physical Therapy program and professional practice.
Observation
The applicant must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in basic and applied sciences, human anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience as well as in didactic courses in physical therapy theory and practice for normal and pathological states. The applicant must be able to observe a patient at a distance and close at hand for the purpose of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Observation requires the use of common sense, as well as the functional use of the senses of vision, audition, olfaction, and palpation.
Communication
An applicant must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level consistent with successful course completion. The applicant must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in order to elicit information, describe mood changes, and assess non-verbal communication. Applicants must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the health care team.
Motor
Applicants must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, manual positioning of body segments and to perform other evaluative procedures. An applicant must possess all skills necessary to carry out diagnostic or therapeutic procedures (physiological measures, manual muscle testing, gait analysis, balance assessment, etc.) and be able to interpret appropriate examinations and procedures. Applicants should also be able to execute reasonable motor movements required to provide general treatment of patients, including gait training and transfers, and provide general care and emergency treatment to patients independently, and without the help of ancillary staff when appropriate.
Conceptual-Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
The applicant must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize complex information. Problem solving and clinical judgment are critical skills demanded of physical therapy practitioners and both require all of the aforementioned intellectual abilities. In addition, the applicant should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of anatomical structures.
Behavior and Social Attributes
Applicants must possess the emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all evaluative responsibilities, diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. Applicants must also be able to tolerate physically-taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and learn to function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all qualities which each applicant should possess.
Click here for the detailed list of minimum requirements for prospective physical therapy students.
Please refer to the current Department of Physical Therapy Policies and Procedures Manual for further information concerning admissions.
