Eligibility and Requirements
Before applying, please review our PTCAS program page for detailed admission and eligibility requirements.
The requirements to be accepted into KU's on-campus doctoral program in physical therapy are the same as those for the hybrid option.
You’ll need to meet the following admission requirements, and please note the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required and is not considered in the admissions process.
Undergraduate Degree
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution must be completed prior to starting physical therapy program classes. Your degree can be in any field, but coursework must have included the following prerequisite courses, all at the college level.
Prerequisite Courses
| Requirement | Acceptable Alternatives |
|---|---|
|
Chemistry I |
Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic |
| Chemistry II
The course must include a laboratory component. College level organic, inorganic or biochemistry courses are acceptable. Introductory courses that cannot be used as prerequisites for more advanced courses are not acceptable. |
Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic |
| Physics I The course must include a laboratory component and cover a broad background of physics, including the principles and application of mechanics, fluids, heat, thermodynamics, sound waves, electricity, magnetism and light. |
Physics: General |
| Physics II The course must include a laboratory component and cover a broad background of physics, including the principles and application of mechanics, fluids, heat, thermodynamics, sound waves, electricity, magnetism and light. |
N/A |
| Anatomy This course may be human or mammalian, although human is preferred. A dissection laboratory is not required, but the course must contain some type of laboratory experience to be acceptable. A two-course sequence in anatomy and physiology with lab is acceptable. If a single combined human anatomy and physiology course with laboratory is 5 semester credits or greater it can fulfill both the anatomy and physiology requirements. |
A&P: Animal A&P: COMBINED Course (eg. A&P) A&P: Comparative A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: Vertebrate |
| Human Physiology The course must include a laboratory component. A two-course sequence in anatomy and physiology with lab is acceptable. If a single combined human anatomy and physiology course with lab is 5 semester credits or greater it can fulfill both the anatomy and physiology requirements. Please note that exercise physiology does not fulfill this requirement. |
A&P: Animal A&P: COMBINED Course (eg. A&P) A&P: Comparative A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: Physiology A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: Vertebrate |
| Biology I The course must include a laboratory component. Botany is not acceptable for this requirement. |
Biology: Cell Biology: Embryology Biology: General Biology: General I Biology: Genetics Biology: Histology Biology: Immunology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology |
| Biology II The course must include a laboratory component. Upper level biology courses such as microbiology are recommended. Botany is not acceptable for this requirement. |
Biology: Cell Biology: Embryology Biology: General Biology: General II Biology: Genetics Biology: Histology Biology: Immunology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology |
| Statistics The course should include the following content areas: elementary descriptive statistics on a sample of measurements, probability, binomial and normal distributions, sampling from populations, and simple problems of statistical inference. Biomedical, educational, and business statistics courses are acceptable. |
Biology: Biostatistics Business: Statistics Mathematics: Statistics Psychology: Statistics |
| Psychology General psychology courses that includes content in basic psychology theory and research are recommended. A second course in abnormal psychology or developmental psychology is also recommended. |
Psychology: Abnormal Psychology: Adolescent Psychology: Any Psychology: Child Psychology: Death & Dying Psychology: Developmental Psychology: General Psychology: General I Psychology: General II Psychology: Growth & Development Psychology: Human Behavior Psychology: Life Span Development Psychology: Psychopathology Psychology: Rehabilitation Psychology: Social Psychology: Sports |
Prerequisite coursework applies to both the on-campus and hybrid pathways. Please note the following requirements for prerequisite courses:
- Coursework older than 10 years will not be accepted.
- A single course may not be used to fulfill more than one prerequisite requirement (except a combined human anatomy/physiology class that is five (5) semester credits or greater and includes a laboratory may be used to fulfill both the anatomy and physiology requirements).
- All prerequisite coursework must be taken for a grade. Classes scored as pass/fail, credit/noncredit or satisfactory/unsatisfactory are not acceptable. However, CLEP, ACT and advanced placement credits are acceptable when officially documented on a college transcript.
- All prerequisite coursework must be completed before the start of the program. Preference will be given to students that have completed at least 80% of the prerequisites at the time of application.
- If a prerequisite course is taken more than once (even if at different universities), all instances that appear on the official transcript must be reported. The grades from the best score on each class will be used in prerequisite GPA calculations.
Recommended Courses
The following courses are not required for admission; however, our faculty believe that incoming students will benefit from having taken them. Therefore, we strongly recommend these courses to prospective applicants:
- One course in exercise physiology.
- Courses that involve strong writing and communication skills.
- One course in kinesiology. This course should introduce the student to the anatomical and mechanical principles of human movement.
Physical Therapy Experience
Applicants must possess a general understanding of health care and physical therapy based upon employment, observation and/or volunteer experiences. Although we do not require a specific number of hours, we encourage you to invest the time needed to acquire knowledge of the role of physical therapists in health care.
Grades
An overall 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0-scale is required for admission to the program. Historically, we've accepted applicants with a cumulative GPA significantly higher than 3.0.
Additionally, a minimum 3.0-grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) is required in all math and science prerequisite coursework. A passing grade is required in all prerequisite courses. A “D” is not considered a passing grade. You must have completed all prerequisite science courses within the last 10 years.
At Least Three (3) Letters of Reference
At least three letters of reference are required from individuals that can attest to your personal and professional qualities and potential. At least one letter must be from a physical therapist.
Background Check
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires all incoming students to submit for and provide to KU a background check. You pay this one-time fee directly to the company performing the background investigation. You will be asked to provide information and make the payment once you have been officially accepted into the program. For more information, please see the School of Health Professions Background Check Instructions.
Vaccine and Clinical Site Requirements
Matriculated students will need to provide an immunization profile prior to participating in curricular and/or clinical experiences required by the program. Please read the information found at the bottom of the program's curriculum page and be sure that you understand these requirements.
Computer Requirements
Students in this program are required to have a computer that meets the minimum software and hardware requirements.
Requirements for International Student Applicants
An applicant is considered an international student if they require a visa, currently reside in the U.S. with non-immigrant status, or currently reside in the U.S. while applying for permanent residence. Additional requirements and documentation, such as proof of English language proficiency, are required for international students to become eligible for KU programs. Please review the information for international students before applying.
For more details, please review the KU program page at the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.
Notice
The KU Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training reserves the right to waive any documentation normally required and to accept or deny admission whenever it believes sufficient information exists to make a decision.
Connect with us!
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Advising for prospective students
If you're close to applying to KU's physical therapy degree program and have questions, please contact the department directly at ptrsat@kumc.edu.
High school students and college students in their early undergraduate years of study may contact Alex Lopez, our school's outreach and recruitment specialist, at alopez12@kumc.edu or 913-588-1743 (711 TTY).