Major: Pre-Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a relatively young profession, owing its start to the polio epidemics and world wars in the first half of the last century. Physical therapists stepped in to help the large numbers of young people who suffered from movement challenges.
You'll need a thorough grasp of the science of movement to get results as a physical therapist. And you'll start building that knowledge in high school biology and continue to perfect it through graduate school. As an undergrad, you can sign up for a pre-physical therapy program. This is usually not a major, but a program that includes the courses admissions officers will look for when you apply to grad school.
Pre-physical therapy programs provide guidance to students as they prepare for graduate study in physical therapy. They are often concentrations within other majors, such as biology, health sciences, and physical education.
Did You Know?
- Many schools offer a six-year program that combines undergraduate and graduate study and leads to either an M.P.T. or a D.P.T. (master or doctor of physical therapy).
Are You Ready To...?
- Master challenging scientific concepts
- Memorize the parts of the body
- Spend long hours in the lab
- Volunteer in a physical therapy clinic
- Work hard for high grades, especially in grad school prerequisites
- Take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
- Learn more about physical therapy from the American Physical Therapy Association
It Helps to Be...
Sincerely devoted to helping others. A head for science and flexible communication skills are also essential.
College Checklist
- Does the school offer pre-physical therapy as an advising program or a concentration in another major?
- Is there an advisor who specializes in helping students prepare for graduate study in physical therapy?
- How many past students have gone on to attend M.P.T. or D.P.T. programs and become physical therapists?
- Does the program offer the opportunity for hands-on experience in a physical therapy clinic?
Did You Know?
- Physical therapy is one of the fastest-growing professions in the
Course Spotlight
What's the science behind runner's high? Why are warm-up exercises so important? Why do people experience different levels of pain from the same injury? When you study exercise physiology, you'll answer questions like these as you learn how the body works during exercise. You'll consider how factors like training, diet, health history, genetics, and age influence athletic performance.
Expect to be graded on quizzes; exams, including a final; and lab reports. You might also read and write about the latest research in the field.
