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 Undergraduate
Study Prerequisites
TCU offers undergraduate coursework designed to meet the requirements
for admission into a master's level PT or 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:
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General Biology (for science majors)
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8 Hours
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Chemistry (w/ lab)
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8 Hours
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Anatomy and Physiology (w/ lab)
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8 Hours
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Physics (w/ lab)
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8 Hours
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College Algebra or higher
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3 Hours
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Statistics
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3 Hours
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Psychology (Including Developmental)
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6-9 Hours
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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 UCR and include:
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English
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6 Hours
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Government
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6 Hours
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History
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6 Hours
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Computer Literacy
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3 Hours
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Sociology or other social science courses
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3-6 Hours
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Speech
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3 Hours
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Prior to applying to PT or OT school, you should also have acquired:
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Proficiency in Medical Terminology
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PT Clinic Internship Experience
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150 Contact Hrs.
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Because each PT 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 approximately 3.5 or higher.
Rankings
of PT and OT Schools
Advisors
Dr. Southard and Dr. Mitchell are the advisors for pre-PT and pre-OT.
Feel free to contact either of these advisors 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:
- Sport Therapy
- Harris Methodist
- Cook Children's
- Health South
- Metroplex Sports Care
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.
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