Pre-Physical Therapy

The DBU Pre-PT Program equips students for physical therapy school in a variety of ways:

professor walking with student while talking to each other outside

Determining Your Calling to Physical Therapy

Let us come alongside you as you determine God’s unique calling within the physical therapy field. Visit with professors and advisors to determine if physical therapy is something you are being called to and explore options for where that could lead.

Preparing You Academically for Physical Therapy School

Establish the foundation needed to be successful in physical therapy school and beyond. Whether participating in a human anatomy course or analyzing physics, students will leave DBU equipped with skills needed for physical therapy school.

Preparing You Personally and Professionally for Physical Therapy School

Engage with other students on similar career paths through our student organizations or through service opportunities. Gain real-world experience through internships and shadowing opportunities that help enhance your learning.

Preparing You for Physical Therapy School Admissions

Take advantage of the connections that DBU offers whether it is the individualized attention of an advisor or partnerships with local clinics. Students will receive personalized guidance from the pre-PT advisor to help them make decisions such as where to go to physical therapy school or how to best use your degree in that field.

DBU Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor

Office: Ebby Halliday
adamr@dbu.edu
(214) 333-5937

Dr. Adam Ross

Chair, Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Kinesiology

Dr. Ross serves as the Chair of the Department of Kinesiology, as well as the Director and advisor of the BS Health Sciences and BA/BS Kinesiology degrees. Dr. Ross has 12 years of professional experience in the world of athletic performance development working for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Baylor University, the Houston Astros Baseball Organization, Florida State University and Dallas Baptist University.

DBU Pre-PT Alumni Profiles

Cherica Schober

DBU Class of 2015
University of Mary Hardin Baylor DPT class of 20’

Jacy Cook

DBU Class of 2015
UT Southwestern DPT class of 2019

Sara Boren

DBU Class of 2016
University of Saint Augustine DPT class of 2020

Amanda Richter McCreight

DBU Class of 2016
University of Mary Hardin Baylor DPT class of 2019

BS Health Sciences

Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

The degree in Health Sciences is offered by the Department of Kinesiology through the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The purpose of the Health Sciences Program is to serve as a degree that is focused on pre-professional preparation for entrance into graduate programs. This program, specifically through an identified area of concentration, will help students recognize and meet specific entrance requirements for health-related degree programs at the master's or doctoral level. Students should meet with their advisor to discuss their concentration and steps after graduation.

Course Catalog

Pre-Physical Therapy Internships, Observations and Experiences

Through the BS Health Sciences degree program at Dallas Baptist University, along with many degrees, students have the opportunity to gain practical experiences through both for credit and not for credit internship and observation experiences. These experiential learning opportunities are critical to the development and execution of many of the core values that are prioritized by the American Physical Therapy Association such as accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.

Internships
TriBeta Honor Society

student talking to other student in a studious area

DBU works with local physical therapy clinics, hospitals, and other organizations to gain access to these critical professional development experiences. Many students even find themselves working as Physical Therapy Technicians during their undergraduate experience as they pursue confirmation of God’s call on their life.

picture of the members of TriBeta standing together

Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a National Biological Honor Society. It is dedicated to improve the understanding and appreciation of biological science and promoting scientific research.

Is Physical Therapy for Me?

Physical therapy is a career-focused in movement and the improvement in the quality of life and performance through exercise prescription, therapy modalities, and patient education (APTA, 2020). Physical therapists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple age groups and activity levels in a multitude of settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, universities, and sport and fitness facilities among others. The path to becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy is rigorous and competitive as it requires an undergraduate degree, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and state licensure. With an expected job growth rate of 18% through 2029 and an average median salary of $89,440 (bls.gov, 2020), this is certainly an expanding field where you can exercise your calling to serve others through human movement and rehabilitation.

For more information on this profession follow the links below.

Preparing for Advanced Physical Therapy Programs (DPT)

Although Dallas Baptist University will not be your final stop on your journey to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy, we are well-equipped to provide you everything you will need in order to feel confident as you apply to these advanced degree programs during your final semesters of your undergraduate preparation.

Further Advanced Degree Preparation

As you pursue your undergraduate degree, it would be wise to focus on building tools to prepare you for applying to your advanced degree program. Physical Therapy school applications often focus on follow components:

Academic Record (GPA and Pre-Requisites)
Observation Hours
Letters of Recommendation
GRE Score

Pre-Requisite Courses

While admission to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program does not require applicants to hold a specific degree or come from a specific major, there is a long list of pre-requisite courses that are needed in order to meet entry requirements and set yourself apart as a qualified candidate. To aid in your preparation for applying to your DPT program, DBU has a directed BS in Health Sciences degree that has a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy aiming to provide a Christ-centered education as you complete your pre-requisites and earn your undergraduate degree.

Observation Hours

Most physical therapy programs require observation hours with many requiring at least a total of 80 hours of observation of two physical therapists (40 hours each) from two different facilities. Applicants are also required to have both inpatient and outpatient experiences on record that are submitted during the application period.

Why Prepare for a career in Physical Therapy at DBU?

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic metropolitan areas in the United States. This population growth brings a great need in many career fields, one of which is careers in health science related disciplines. Studying physical therapy in the DFW area creates an excellent opportunity for experiential learning through volunteering, scheduled observation hours, or structured internship programming. All of these are critical to the Dallas Baptist University Health Sciences degree programming and your successful application to terminal degree programs as you seek to serve in the field of Physical Therapy. The BS in Health Sciences degree at Dallas Baptist University has an intentional approach to experiential learning as we have practical experience built into your course requirements. In your pursuit of this degree, you will find yourself living, learning, and serving in one of the most dynamic areas in the United States as you prepare to act out God’s call for your life.