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Pre OT/PT Study Prerequisites  TCU offers undergraduate coursework designed to meet the requirements for admission into a master's level physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) program at another university. There is not a specific major that is required to go on to a master's degree in PT or OT; however, Movement Science, Biology, or some other natural science-based major are logical choices as a major. In addition to, or as part of your major, PT and OT schools require the following science and math courses:
In addition to the above courses, PT and OT schools require additional coursework to total 75-90 hours. Many of these are satisfied by the university core requirements (UCR) and include:
Prior to applying to PT or OT school, you should also have acquired:
Because each PT or OT school has slightly different requirements, it is recommended that as you approach the end of your undergraduate studies, you gather specific requirements from the schools you would like to attend. Note that it is possible to be admitted to PT school with 75-90 hours, prior to completing the Bachelor's degree. Most schools list an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 as a minimum for admission to their program; however, because of the competitiveness of gaining admission to these programs, successful candidates typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Advisers Dr. Southard, Dr. Phillips and Dr. Mitchell are the advisers for pre-PT and pre-OT. Feel free to contact one of them for help with advising, even if you are pursuing a major other than Movement Science.
Internships The purpose of the internship is to give students a chance to experience what the profession is actually like. In many cases, this reinforces your desire to pursue this field. On the other hand, you may come away from the experience realizing that it is not for you. An internship is required as part of the Movement Science major, and it is a prerequisite for admission to a master's level PT or OT program. The 150 hours required for KINE 40903, Senior Internship, is considered a minimum for that prerequisite. It will be to your advantage, for admissions purposes, to acquire more extensive experience in PT or OT settings. In addition, PT and OT schools will want letters of recommendation from practicing therapists; thus, the supervisors of your internship experiences will be able to write those letters for you. The general procedure for the internship is for you to meet with the departmental internship supervisor, Dr. Phillips, prior to initiating contact with an internship facility. In consultation with Dr. Phillips, you will identify a clinic or other PT or OT setting that matches your interest, and then contact the facility supervisor to set up an interview. If a mutually beneficial arrangement can be arrived at, you then set up a schedule with a list of activities for the semester. The list of activities and the schedule must then be approved by Dr. Phillips prior to beginning the internship. For the requirements of KINE 40903, there are also some written materials that you will need to turn in (journal, evaluation, etc.). Following are a few PT internship locations that we have used in the past:
There are numerous other clinics in the Metroplex where you can set up an internship. In addition, you can do our internship out-of-town during the summer if you have a contact in your hometown. KINE 40903 is offered every semester and during the summer. |