Pacific University undergraduates who are interested in a career in physical therapy may choose to complete a pre-physical therapy track along with their bachelor’s degree in preparation for graduate school. Pacific University offers a doctor of physical therapy program through its College of Health Professions. Pacific also offers several other pre-professional tracks.

About Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is the examination, treatment and instruction of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate and limit physical disability, movement dysfunction, bodily malfunction and pain from injury and disease. It includes the administration, interpretation and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures.

Physical therapy today includes a range of patients from pediatrics to geriatrics. Physical therapists can be certified specialists in neurology, orthopedics, hand therapy, aquatics and pediatrics. They serve as a vital part of preparing patients to return to their normal daily activities and are primary educators of patients on how best to perform these activities.

The role of physical therapists has grown from passive assistants following physicians’ orders to active participants in patient rehabilitation. Most therapy today is conducted in clinics owned by therapists or in therapy units where the physical therapist is in a management position.

Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 17 percent from 2021 to 2031.. The median annual wage of physical therapists was $95,620 in 2021.

Program and Requirements

Physical therapists are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Programs usually award a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree, though a small number award a master of physical therapy (MPT). Doctoral programs typically last three years, while MPT programs require two to three years.

Most programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission, including specific prerequisites, such as coursework in anatomy, physiology, biology and chemistry.

Physical therapy students complete academic coursework, as well as clinical rotations, gaining supervised work experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care. Physical therapists may complete residency programs of nine months to three years following graduation. All states require physical therapists to be licensed, though licensing processes vary from state to state.

The Pacific University School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training offers a three-year DPT program. Admission is highly competitive. Undergraduate students interested in the program should complete a bachelor’s degree with a major of their choice, but coursework should also include the suggested course sequence of prerequisites below. The Pacific University School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training values proficiency in writing and a strong education in the humanities and social sciences. Admission is very competitive, so superior grades are important, particularly in science courses.

Prerequisites

Biology (12 hours)

  • General Biology | BIOL 200 or BIOL 201 | with lab
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology | HBIO 230 and HBIO 231 | with lab

Chemistry (8 hours)

  • General Chemistry | CHEM 220 and 230

Statistics (2 hours)

  • MATH | 207 or SOC 301

Physics (8 hours)

  • Physics | PHY 202 and 204 or PHY 232 and 242

Psychology (6 hours)

  • Psychology | PSY 150 (Intro) and one additional psychology course (may use KINES 340 Psychosocial Factors as the additional PSY course)

English/Writing (6 hours)

  • Pacific's FYS class can count as the first writing class
  • ENGW 180 can count as the writing class taken about of the introductory level
  • For a Pacific Undergraduate who has not taken FYS, such as a transfer student, then a writing intensive upper division class from another department accepted with valid evidence (ex. syllabus) can count for the second writing class
  •           Examples of previously accepted Pacific courses include: EXMB 333, 336; SOC 300, 304, 309, 360; PHIL 307; ENV 321; HIST 338, 363, 441, 465 (Please note this list is not comprehensive)

Humanities/Social Sciences (6 hours)

  • This can be satisfied by carefully selected core requirements: Fine arts, humanities, history, philosophy, religion, English, anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, economics, music, speech/communication foreign language (any level), theatre, women’s studies, etc. Note: May use HUM 100 (FYS) if not using it for english/writing requirement.

Most schools require extensive volunteer or paid work experience. A bare minimum is usually 100 hours, but many look for 1,000 hours or more.

Many schools require or highly recommend that at least one of the applicant's letters of recommendation be written by a physical therapist with whom the applicant has worked. Many schools of physical therapy also require GRE scores.

More Information

Pacific University Advising Center
Pacific University School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
American Physical Therapy Association