Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program

The Physical Therapist Program at ASU awards the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.  The last Master's degree class graduated in December 2010.  The first class of doctoral students began coursework in the Fall 2009 semester.  The program is designed so that a bachelor's degree and prerequisites to the program are completed prior to the professional coursework.  Once accepted into the program, students attend full time for 3 years to complete the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

 

DPT PROGRAM APPLICATION: Arkansas State University’s DPT program subscribes to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Applicants for admission to  the ASU DPT program MUST  apply online using the PTCAS application. Our application dead line is February 1, 2012. To learn more about the PTCAS application process and to get started, please go to the PTCAS website at www.ptcas.org. Once processed, the Admissions Committee looks forward to receiving your application. If you encounter difficulty with the PTCAS please contact PTCAS Customer Service at www.ptcas.org/Contact.html

DEADLINE for DPT Program Application –February 1st

ASU Graduate School Application: Students MUST be accepted to the Graduate School at ASU in addition to being accepted into the program.  The ASU Graduate School Application is noted as supplemental material on the PTCAS site.


Click here for Graduate School Application

Click here for DPT Application

 

Please see below for DPT Prerequisites



 

DPT EARLY COMMITMENT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Asu students with outstanding academic records have the opportunity to attain early admission commitments to the DPT program. Please click the link below for more information.

 

UPDATE: CHANGES TO DPT EARLY COMMITMENT Effective June 1, 2011

Criteria for both Freshman and Senior Early Commitment to the ASU DPT program have changed! 

*The Senior Early Commit option will be eliminated after the spring of 2014.


DPT Early Commit Program Application & Information


 

 

 DPT Pre-requisites

 

  • Earned Bachelor’s Degree – Must have a Bachelor’s Degree. No specific field of study is required.  Students are encouraged to select undergraduate majors consistent with their individual abilities and interests, however, the required courses in some majors such as biology and exercise science are more consistent with the specific DPT prerequisites. Students in other majors may have to complete more credit hours than the minimum required for graduation.

Satisfactory completion with a letter grade of B or higher in the following courses are required for admission to the DPT Program:

  • *Human Anatomy or Human Kinesiology: minimum 3 credit hours (upper division); lab course preferred. 
  • *Physiology: minimum 3 credit hours (upper division); lab course preferred.   

NOTE: Human Structure and Function I & II will meet requirements for Anatomy & Physiology-both semesters must be taken however to cover anatomy & physiology of all body systems; if you only take one of the series, it will be an elective, not a pre-requisite)

  • *Physics: minimum 2 course sequence of Introductory Physics including lab, usually 8 credit hours.
  • *Statistics: minimum 3 credit hours
  • Medical Terminology: 3 credit hours; can be taken online at ASU after acceptance into DPT

 

*Prerequisites for these courses may be required by the department offering the course. Pre-physical students are not exempt from departmental prerequisites. Questions regarding prerequisites for courses required for DPT admission should be directed to the department offering the course (i.e. Biology, Physics, etc.)

 

 

Q & A

What is the first step to becoming a physical therapist? Since it requires a graduate degree to become a physical therapist, the first step is to obtain a bachelor's degree and complete the prerequisite coursework. 

Do I have to have a PTA degree before I can be a PT?  No, PT and PTA are separate degrees.  Many choose to become a PTA then return to school to pursue a PT degree; however, PTA is not a necessary stepping stone to PT. 

What bachelor's degree do you need to apply to PT school?  There are no requirements for a specific bachelor's degree as long as the prerequisite courses are completed successfully.  The best advice is to follow your area of interest.  No one major is looked upon more favorably than another.  Interdisciplinary Studies through University College at ASU is appropriate for students who hold an associate degree and are interested in applying to the DPT program.  Otherwise, degrees in biology,exercise science, athletic training, education, sociology, psychology, communication disorders, business and agricultural science are all appropriate as are many others.

What are the eligibility requirements and prerequisite coursework?  Admission to the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy is a competitive process.  In order to produce graduates who will be competent to serve in the many roles required of a physical therapist, the faculty values a mature applicant, one who has demonstrated his/her academic and cognitive abilities as well as his/her personal and professional potential.  Applicants to the program should possess the following minimum qualifications:

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or international univeristy with equivalent requirements for the bachelor's degree. 
  • Complete the prerequisite coursework.
  • A record of academic accomplishment sufficient to meet the entrance requirements of the ASU Graduate School.  Admission to the physical therapy program cannot be finalized until the applicant has been admitted to the ASU Graduate School.  Contact information for the Graduate School is P.O. Box 60, State University, AR 72467, (870) 972-3029.

When do I apply?  Applications are due February 1, 2012.  You may apply as long as your bachelor's degree and prerequisites are completed prior to the start of the PT program.  The DPT program begins in the fall semester.

What is the application process?  Arkansas State University's DPT program now subscribes to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS.  Applicants for the 2011 entering class must apply online using the PTCAS application.  Our  application deadline is February 1, 2012.  Applications received after the deadline date will be considered subject to space availability in the entering class.  To learn more about the PTCAS application process and to get started, please go to the PTCAS website at www.ptcas.org.  Once processed, the Admissions Committee looks forward to receiving your application.  If you encounter difficulty with the PTCAS, please do not contact the program.  Inquiries should be made directly to Customer Service at www.ptcas.org/Contact.html.

What is the cost of the program?  Tuition and fees can be found at www.astate.edu by clicking on the A-Z index and then Tuition and Fees. Other costs during the PT program include textbooks, name tags, physical examination, immunizations, TB skin tests, TB mask fitting, CPR certification, Professional Liability insurance, Health Insurance, graduation fee, licensure fees following graduation, and living/transportation expenses during clinical rotations. For estimates on costs other than tuition and fees, contact a PT faculty member.

How do I find an advisor?  Once you have chosen which bachelor's degree you want to pursue, you will contact the department of your major and be assigned an advisor.  Since you will not formally have an advisor from the PT program until you are admitted to the program, we suggest you visit with someone from the PT faculty as a mentor.  This person will guide you and provide information and advice but will not lift your advising hold.  This will be done by your official advisor.

Can I transfer from another college or university?  Yes, students may complete their bachelor's degree at  other institutions.  In order to see if additional coursework is necessary prior to be admitted in the PT program contact the PT program at ptadmissions@astate.edu.

What is clinical education? Your education will include clinical rotations where you will work with a physical therapist with patients in a therapy setting such as a hospital, outpatient clinic, rehabilitation hospital, or nursing home.  The DPT program has six clinical rotations.

What is Early Commitment?  If you meet and maintain the requirements, you can secure a spot in the PT program prior to the application process.  We offer a freshman early commit and a senior early commit.

Freshman Early Commitment Requirements

Senior Early Commitment Requirements
  • Be a student at ASU Jonesboro, Beebe, Marked Tree, Mountain Home, Newport or Paragould.
  • Have an ACT score of 27 or higher (or SAT equivalent)
  • Submit a request for the Freshman Early Commitment between January 15 and March 15 of the freshman year
  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA each semester during the undergraduate years.
  • Complete the required core of preparation coursework with minimum grade of B in these courses.
  • Begin membership in the ASU Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA) in the freshman year, and maintain membership in the PTSA until the bachelor’s degree is awarded. ($10 annual membership fees apply)
  • Maintain continuous enrollment at ASU until the bachelor’s degree is completed.
  • Gain admission to the ASU Graduate School when qualified, and complete the DPT application process prior to the deadline for the class to which the student is applying
  • Be an ASU-Jonesboro student
  • Have completed 90 or more college credits with the last 30 hours having been completed at ASU-J
  • Submit a request for the Senior Early Commitment in the first semester after completing 90 credit hours
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.75 or higher
  • Have a 3.75 or better GPA on all completed prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of B in these courses
  • Begin membership in the ASU Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA) and maintain membership in the PTSA until the bachelor’s degree is awarded
  • Have declared a major field and be making satisfactory progress toward a degree
  • Maintain continuous enrollment at ASU-J until the bachelor’s degree is completed
  • Gain admission to the ASU-J Graduate School when qualified, and complete the DPT application process prior to the deadline for the class to which the student is applying

Can I attend PT school at night, on weekends or part-time?  No, once you start the curriculum courses are sequenced and must be followed through in that sequence.  Classes are offered during the day on weekdays only.

Can I specialize in one area such as sports physical therapy in the entry-level program?  No, you are trained to be a generalist at entry-level.  Introduction into specialty areas may occur during clinical rotations.

If I have a master's degree in physical therapy, will I be required to get a doctorate degree in the future?  No, once you have met the criteria for licensure you are not required to seek an additional degree.  If you are interested in seeking another PT degree, many programs offer post-professional degrees as well as transitional degrees.