BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Physical Therapy

Dr. Kerry Openshaw (Advisor)

1. The pre-physical therapy student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-physical therapy is not an academic major. Although the major may be in any field of study, experience indicates that a Biology major will provide the student with an advantage while attending physical therapy school and in preparing for the Allied Health Professions Admission Test (AHPAT). The AHPAT or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is taken in the spring of the junior year.
2. Many universities are dropping their undergraduate physical therapy programs and replacing them with a graduate program. Most students enter physical therapy school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some physical therapy schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-physical therapy student to become aware of these additional requirements and to plan his or her pre-physical therapy curriculum accordingly.
3. The pre-physical therapy student should work closely with the pre-physical therapy advisor so all course requirements are filled prior to entrance into physical therapy school. Delay in meeting with the pre-physical therapy advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into physical therapy school.
4. In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most physical therapy schools:

   BIOL 1211, 1212, 2110, 2360, 3710
   CHEM 1211, 1212, 2311, 2312, 2371, 2372
   ENGL 1001, 1002
   MATH 1470
   PHYS 1101, 1102 (or) 2101, 2102

5. The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student's pre-physical therapy curriculum:
   ACCT 1100
   BIOL 1300, 3920, 4220, 4590
   MATH 2610
   PHED 2610, 3100, 3110, 3200, 3400, 4150
   PSY 1100, 2217, 2237
   SOC 1104, 1105
   THSP 1100
6. A suggested pre-physical therapy academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits:

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
ENGL 1001, 1002; F, S; (4,4)
MATH 1470; F or S; (5)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 1300; F or S; (2)
BIOL 2360, 3710; F, S; (4,4)
BIOL 3920; F; (1)
CHEM 2311, 2312; F, S; (3,3)
CHEM 2371, 2372; F, S; (1,1)
PHYS: Consult your Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor
Electives: Consult your Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor

Junior

Electives: Consult your Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor

Senior

Consult your Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor