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Doctor of Physical Therapy Traditional Program

 

Outcomes of the Traditional Physical Therapy Program

Upon completion of the physical therapy curriculum at The University of Findlay, the graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Integrate theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills to engage in the autonomous practice of physical therapy at the entry level.
  2. Practice as a generalist practitioner with the ability to practice in a variety of settings.
  3. Engage in self-motivated, lifelong learning.
  4. Exhibit professional behaviors, which include ethical conduct, professionalism, critical thinking and problem solving, safe performance, self-development and effective communication.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of the value of service to the profession and to the community.
  6. Demonstrate an awareness of individual and cultural differences and psychosocial factors, which may affect human function and quality of life across the lifespan.
  7. Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills in clinical practice and research. 

Admission Requirements of the Traditional Physical Therapy Program

There are three options for admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program: early assurance; junior admit; or graduate admit. The following admission criteria are applicable to students entering the University as a first-year student in the spring 2023 or later and the DPT cohort summer 2026 or later.

The early assurance option is available to those high school seniors who have earned a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

The early assurance applicants will be required to apply to The University of Findlay. Then upon acceptance and if the above criteria are met, applicants will be given access to a separate supplemental early assurance option application. The second application allows the high school student to provide the reviewers with information on their involvement in extra-curricular activities including service as well as performance in other areas pertinent to granting an invitation for admission to the professional phase of the program as a freshman.

Prior to beginning the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the early assurance students must have completed all of the University CORE+ general education requirements and all program prerequisites. Please see prerequisites listed under the “junior admit option” below. Early assurance students must also meet the criteria listed below as “For all applicants.” Specifically, they must

  1. Maintain a minimum overall college grade point average of 3.5 at the end of each academic year, and a minimum prerequisites GPA of 3.2 by the end of the fall semester of the junior year.
  2. Must complete 40 hours of observation in two different types of clinical settings in physical therapy by the time of application to the PT program. One setting must be an acute care hospital, rehabilitation/subacute rehabilitation facility, or extended care facilities/nursing home/skilled nursing facility. The second setting is the student's setting of choice. A minimum of 20 hours is required at each clinical site. Observation hours should be completed with a licensed Physical Therapist (PT), not a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA).
  3. Submit official transcripts, which can be found in the form of attested credentials from a University-recognized document verification agency (i.e., Centralized Application Service application), of all college-level work if courses were taken elsewhere.
  4.  In addition to major requirements, students must have a minimum of 15 credit hours of 300-400 level courses in one content area and a total of 101 credits for students entering the University as a first-year student in the fall 2026 or later and the DPT cohort summer 2029 or later. A total of 93.5 credits for students entering the University as a first-year student in the fall 2023, 2024, or 2025.
The junior admit option is available to the students who have completed three years of undergraduate work at The University of Findlay. At the time of application, 6 of the 9 prerequisites, with their corresponding lab courses, must be completed. These courses are used to calculate the prerequisites GPA during the admissions process. A final calculation of prerequisite GPA and cumulative GPA will also be conducted prior to beginning the DPT program to ensure that the prerequisite GPA is 3.2 or higher and the cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher. Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of 300-400 level courses in one content area and complete a total of 101 credit hours prior to matriculation into the DPT program. 

The graduate entry option is available to the students who are not enrolled at The University of Findlay at the time of application. Graduate entry applicants are able to apply during the fall of their senior (4th) year and must have a bachelor’s degree from a UF-approved accredited institution (see Undergraduate Catalog transfer policy) completed prior to entering the DPT program.

Furthermore, graduate entry applicants must complete all of the listed prerequisites prior to enrollment in the professional curriculum with the exception of the general education requirements.


Prerequisites:

BIOL 222Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I

3
and
BIOL 222LAnatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I Lab

1
or
BIOL 322Human Anatomy & Physiology I

3
and
BIOL 322LHuman Anatomy & Physiology/Lab

1
 
BIOL 223Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions II

3
and
BIOL 223LAnatomy and Physiology for Health Professions II Lab

1
or
BIOL 323Human Anatomy & Physiology II

3
and
BIOL 323LHuman Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab

1

CHEM 130General Chemistry I/Lecture

3
and
CHEM 130LGeneral Chemistry I/Lab

1
and
CHEM 131General Chemistry II/Lecture

3
and
CHEM 131LGeneral Chemistry II/Lab

1
 
ANHS 308Physiology of Exercise

3
 
MATH 123Elementary Statistics

3
or
MATH 221Integrated Statistical Analysis

4
or
MATH 223Applied Statistics and Data Analysis

3
 
PHYS 250General Physics I/Lecture

3
and
PHYS 250LGeneral Physics I/Lab

1
and
PHYS 251General Physics II/Lecture

3
and
PHYS 251LGeneral Physics II/Lab

1
 
PSYC 100General Psychology

3

Additional Prerequisites for Early Assurance, Junior Admit, and Graduate Entry (beginning Fall 2024 application cycle)

MATH 139Trigonometry

3
or
MATH 140Precalculus

4
or
MATH 141Calculus I

4
or
MATH 142Calculus II

4
 
PSYC 100General Psychology

3
PSYC 208Lifespan Development

3

Descriptions of these courses can be found in The University of Findlay undergraduate catalog. Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses.

For UF students with a previous baccalaureate degree the general education requirements are waived.

For ALL applicants, the following admission criteria must be met prior to entering the professional phase of the program:

  1. Minimum overall college grade point average of 3.0, and a minimum prerequisites GPA of 3.2.
  2. Must complete 40 hours of observation in two different types of clinical settings in physical therapy by the time of application to the DPT program. One setting must be in an acute care hospital, rehabilitation/subacute rehabilitation facility, or extended care facility/nursing home/skilled nursing facility. The second setting is the student's setting of choice. A minimum of 20 hours is required at each clinical site.
  3. Complete the Physical Therapy Central Application Service (PTCAS) which includes Traditional program supplemental application materials (UF junior-level and graduate applicants, only). PTCAS and the supplemental application include letters of recommendations as well as descriptions of experiences in the field, community and campus used to determine the student’s admission to the professional phase of the program.
  4. Submit official transcripts, which can be found in the form of attested credentials from a University-recognized document verification agency (i.e., Centralized Application Service application), of all college-level work (UF students who have taken courses elsewhere and transfer applicants, only).
  5. Students, whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a University of Findlay approved English speaking university, must meet the previously listed admission conditions, plus:
    1. Have a verified International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 8 composite score with all bands of 7.5 or above, or an equivalent score on the University of Findlay's English Exam Admission Standards. Full admission is dependent on satisfying all admission requirements.
    2. Provide an affidavit of financial support (original), if not an American citizen or permanent resident.

The Traditional Physical Therapy Program

The Traditional Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program consists of 3 years of post-baccalaureate professional study. Program courses begin in the summer semester after completion of baccalaureate courses. University of Findlay students enrolled in the junior admission process will complete the requirements for the baccalaureate degree in Exercise Science at the end of the first year of the DPT program.

 

Degree Requirements of the Traditional Physical Therapy Program

 

The Traditional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) requirements include:

PHTH 502Professional Issues in Physical Therapy

2
PHTH 516Healthcare Administration in Physical Therapy

3
PHTH 538Principles of Therapeutic Exercise

4
PHTH 544Psychosocial and Educational Foundations in Physical Therapy

2
PHTH 545Lifespan Development and Physical Therapy

3
PHTH 546Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice

2
PHTH 547Applied Physiology

3
PHTH 549Pharmacology

2
PHTH 551Elements of Physical Therapy Practice I

3
PHTH 553Introduction to Physical Therapy Practice

1
PHTH 557Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics

4
PHTH 559Clinical Medicine I

2
PHTH 561Elements of Physical Therapy Practice II

3
PHTH 563Foundations in Neuroscience

5
PHTH 564Anatomy I

3
PHTH 565Anatomy II

3
PHTH 579Clinical Medicine II

3
PHTH 581Elements of Physical Therapy Practice III

2
PHTH 641Musculoskeletal System I

2
PHTH 642Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy I

2
PHTH 643Motor Control

2
PHTH 652Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy II

2
PHTH 659Clinical Education I

5
PHTH 661Musculoskeletal System II

5
PHTH 667Neuromuscular System I

4
PHTH 669Therapeutic Interventions

3
PHTH 671Integumentary

2
PHTH 673Integrated Clinical Experience I

1
PHTH 677Community Health Experience

2
PHTH 683Integrated Clinical Experience II

1
PHTH 691Clinical Education II

5
PHTH 721Musculoskeletal System III

2
PHTH 723Medical Diagnostics

2
PHTH 727Neuromuscular System II

4
PHTH 729Clinical Education III

6
PHTH 731Physical Therapy Seminar

1
PHTH 736Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Rehabilitation Technology

2
 
PHTH 739Selected Topics in Physical Therapy

3
or
PHTH 740Selected Topics in Physical Therapy with Lab

3
 
PHTH 616Faculty-Directed Research I

1
PHTH 636Faculty-Directed Research II

1
and
PHTH 656Faculty-Directed Research III

1
or
PHTH 628Case Report I

1
PHTH 648Case Report II

1
and
PHTH 658Case Report III

1

No more than two courses with a grade of "C+" or "C" can be used to meet graduation requirements.

The Physical Therapy program reserves the right to make program and admission requirement changes without giving prior notice.

Effective as of 11/3/2025 and required of undergraduate first-year students beginning fall 2026, entering the DPT cohort summer 2029. Students entering Findlay as first-time undergraduate students between fall 2023 and summer 2026 and entering the DPT cohort summer 2026 to summer 2028 should refer to the 2024 Graduate Catalog for the list of their degree requirements.