Undergraduate

Pre-Physical Therapy (Concentration)

The concentration in physical therapy prepares you for graduate study in the field. Fieldwork and classroom learning build a foundation of knowledge necessary for students to pursue a career helping people achieve independence, meaning and satisfaction in their lives or restoring independence after an injury, illness, disability or psychological dysfunction.

Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

Program Tracks Available

Concentration

Admission Deadline

Early Decision: November 15

Early Action: November 15

Early Action II: December 15

Regular Decision: March 15 (Preferred status deadline)

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School

D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies

Program Overview

The minimal entry-level degree for practice as a Physical Therapist is a clinical doctoral degree in the Physical Therapy. The Concentration in Physical Therapy is designed to prepare students by completing the prerequisite courses that allow them more success when applying to graduate programs. Students completing the concentration must also complete the requirements of a major prior to graduation. While a student may complete any major with the concentration, many students interested in Physical Therapy have majored in Biology, Health Science, Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, or Psychology, and many of the courses required for the concentration are also required for completion of these majors.

In addition, Assumption has established an agreement with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to provide a smooth transition from your undergraduate degree to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Program Contact

Gary R. Senecal, Ph.D

Assistant Professor of Human Services

508-767-7590 gr.senecal@assumption.edu Switzer Building - Room 112

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Program Curriculum

Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

First-semester freshman who want to complete the concentration should enroll in BIO 160, CHE 131, HRS 125, and the appropriate math course (i.e., MAT 114 or MAT 117). First-year students should also consult with the Health Professions Advisor, Dr. Steven Theroux, or Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies Advisor, Dr. Robert Caron at the beginning of the fall semester to plan out the remainder of their course of study.

Course Requirements

HRS 125	Professional Orientation to Physical and Occupational Therapy (Spring)
BIO 160	Concepts in Biology
BIO 240	Human Anatomy (Fall)
BIO 370	General Physiology (Spring)
CHE 131	General Chemistry I (Fall)
CHE 132	General Chemistry II (Spring) (Note: MAT 114 is a pre-requisite for CHE 132)
PHY 201	General Physics (Fall)
PHY 202	General Physics (Spring)
BIO/HRS 390	Exercise Physiology (Fall)
PSY 101	General Psychology
PSY 216	Abnormal Psychology
PSY 290	Psychology of Development
SOC 121	Principles of Sociology

One of the two HRS courses listed below:

HRS 490	Internship in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (if HSRS Major-12 Credits)
HRS 400	Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (if Non-HSRS Major-3 credits)

One of the following Statistics courses:

PSY 224	Statistics
ECO 115	Statistics

One of the following math courses:

MAT 114	Elementary Functions
MAT 117	Calculus I

Recommended (but not required) coursework:

BIO 415	Principles of Neuroscience
PSY 251	Introduction to Brain and Behavior

A significant number of hours (as many as 1,000) in fieldwork related to health care may be required for admission to some PT programs. The internship experience required for our program may not provide all of the hours needed to satisfy this 198 requirement. Additional experience can be gained by volunteer work or by acquiring a paid position as a rehabilitation aide. It may also be possible to obtain additional fieldwork experience by completing additional internships within the major.

It is also important to note that some graduate programs have atypical course requirements. Students who are considering applying to graduate school for Physical Therapy should review the admission requirements of the schools they plan to apply to by the beginning of their junior year in order to be certain they will have time to complete all of the necessary coursework before graduation.

Course Descriptions

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