University College

Important general information

Students interested in the pre-physical therapy advising track must obtain a bachelor’s degree and complete the necessary prerequisites for the physical therapy doctoral program. Students interested in physical therapy should consult with a pre-health academic adviser to learn about requirements that are specific to the program and/or school to which they hope to apply.

Admission to and completion of the pre-physical therapy advising track does not constitute admission to VCU’s physical therapy doctoral program in the School of Allied Health Professions. Students must apply separately to the physical therapy program/school of their choice at the appropriate time.

Students with an interest in preparing for the physical therapy doctoral program should declare an academic major while also indicating a pre-physical therapy advising track. Students do not earn a pre-physical therapy degree. Students unsure of their academic majors initially should clarify their academic interests through regular conversations with their advisers. Students in the pre-physical therapy advising track are encouraged to major in fields of greatest interest to them.

Prerequisites for the physical therapy doctoral program
Students intending to complete the physical therapy doctoral program must complete a bachelor's degree before entering. It is recommended that applicants select a challenging course load of science and math courses each semester to ensure adequate preparation for the academic rigor of the physical therapy program.

Students need to complete their bachelor's degrees, the required science prerequisite courses and the Graduate Record Exam before being eligible to start the physical therapy program in the School of Allied Health Professions at VCU.

Science and non-science courses required for the pre-physical therapy doctoral program
Students must complete 12 semester hours in the biological sciences, including anatomy and physiology, as well as eight hours of chemistry and eight hours of physics.

English composition, precalculus mathematics, statistics, introduction to psychology and one upper-level psychology (abnormal or developmental are preferred) are non-science prerequisites for the physical therapy program.

Although not required, students are strongly urged to complete a cell biology course and a vertebrate histology course.

Additional information for the VCU physical therapy doctoral program
The following prerequisite courses must be completed prior to admission for students entering in the Fall semester. If VCU has awarded you college credits for your Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams and it is listed on your transcript, these credits will be accepted.