Pre-Physical Therapy
The DBU Pre-Physical Therapy Program equips students for physical therapy school in a variety of ways.
Advisor | Testimonials | FAQs
Determining Your Calling to Physical Therapy
Let us come alongside you as you determine God’s unique calling within the physical therapy field. Visit with professors and advisors to determine if physical therapy is something you are being called to and explore options for where that could lead.
Preparing You Academically for Physical Therapy School
Establish the foundation needed to be successful in physical therapy school and beyond. Whether participating in a human anatomy course or analyzing physics, students will leave DBU equipped with skills needed for physical therapy school.
Preparing You Personally and Professionally for Physical Therapy School
Engage with other students on similar career paths through our student organizations or through service opportunities. Gain real-world experience through internships and shadowing opportunities that help enhance your learning.
Preparing You for Physical Therapy School Admissions
Take advantage of the connections that DBU offers, whether it is the individualized attention of an advisor or partnerships with local clinics. Students will receive personalized guidance from the Pre-Physical Therapy advisor to help them make decisions such as where to go to physical therapy school or how to best use your degree in that field.
Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor
Dr. Adam Ross
Chair, Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Kinesiology
Dr. Ross serves as the Chair of the Department of Kinesiology, as well as the Director and advisor of the BS Health Sciences and BA/BS Kinesiology degrees. Dr. Ross has 12 years of professional experience in the world of athletic performance development, working for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Baylor University, the Houston Astros Baseball Organization, Florida State University, and Dallas Baptist University.
adamr@dbu.edu
(214) 333-5937
Pre-Physical Therapy Alumni Testimonials
Jared Gilley
Stretch Practitioner, Stretch Zone
Jared graduated from DBU in 2021 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. He is currently a stretch practitioner at Stretch Zone and a volunteer coach at the University of Texas at Tyler.
"Professors who taught the kinesiology and science courses have helped me feel prepared to enter a DPT program. They are challenging, but they want to see us willing to help students."
Allison Shidaker
Physical Therapist, Cutting Edge Pediatric & Adult Therapy
Allison graduated from DBU in 2021 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. She is currently a physical therapist at Cutting Edge Pediatric & Adult Therapy.
"The program, coursework, professors, and advisors at DBU all helped me feel prepared as I head into PT school. As a busy volleyball student athlete, it was very important that the professors and advisors made sure I was well-equipped and had all of the required credits and classes."
Pre-Physical Therapy Alumni Profiles
Amanda McCreight '16
University of Mary Hardin Baylor DPT
Physical Therapist, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Sarah Johnston '16
University of Saint Augustine DPT
Physical Therapist, Hunt Regional Healthcare
Cherica Schober '15
University of Mary Hardin Baylor DPT
Physical Therapist, Green Oaks Physical Therapy
Jacy Cook '15
UT Southwestern DPT
Physical Therapist, Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
Pre-Physical Therapy FAQs
The degree in Health Sciences is offered by the Department of Kinesiology through the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The purpose of the Health Sciences Program is to serve as a degree that is focused on pre-professional preparation for entrance into graduate programs. This program, specifically through an identified area of concentration, will help students recognize and meet specific entrance requirements for health-related degree programs at the master's or doctoral level. Students should meet with their advisor to discuss their concentration and steps after graduation.
Through the BS Health Sciences degree program at Dallas Baptist University, students have the opportunity to gain practical experiences both for credit and not-for-credit internship and observation experiences. These experiential learning opportunities are critical to the development and execution of many of the core values that are prioritized by the American Physical Therapy Association, such as accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
Internships
- DBU works with local physical therapy clinics, hospitals, and other organizations to gain access to these critical professional development experiences. Many students even find themselves working as Physical Therapy Technicians during their undergraduate experience as they pursue confirmation of God’s call on their life.
TriBeta Honor Society
- Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a National Biological Honor Society. It is dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological science and promoting scientific research. TriBeta alums are an excellent resource for our students. Many of our alumni have returned to speak to our students about their profession and serve as shadowing opportunities in their private practices.
- Tribeta Official Website
Physical therapy is a career focused on movement and the improvement in the quality of life and performance through exercise prescription, therapy modalities, and patient education (APTA). Physical therapists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple age groups and activity levels in a multitude of settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, universities, and sports and fitness facilities, among others. The path to becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy is rigorous and competitive as it requires an undergraduate degree, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and state licensure. With an expected job growth rate of 19% through 2032 and an average median salary of $97,720 per year (bls.gov, 2024), this is certainly an expanding field where you can exercise your calling to serve others through human movement and rehabilitation.
Although Dallas Baptist University will not be your final stop on your journey to becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy, we are well-equipped to provide you with everything you will need in order to feel confident as you apply to these advanced degree programs during the final semesters of your undergraduate preparation.
Advanced Degree Preparation
- As you pursue your undergraduate degree, it would be wise to focus on building tools to prepare you for applying to your advanced degree program. Physical Therapy school applications often focus on the following components:
- Academic Record (GPA and Pre-Requisites)
- Observation Hours
- Letters of Recommendation
- GRE Score
Pre-Requisite Courses
- While admission to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program does not require applicants to hold a specific degree or come from a specific major, there is a long list of pre-requisite courses that are needed in order to meet entry requirements and set yourself apart as a qualified candidate. To aid in your preparation for applying to your DPT program, DBU has a directed BS in Health Sciences degree that has a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy aiming to provide a Christ-centered education as you complete your pre-requisites and earn your undergraduate degree.
Observation Hours
- Most physical therapy programs require observation hours with many requiring at least a total of 80 hours of observation of two physical therapists (40 hours each) from two different facilities. Applicants are also required to have both inpatient and outpatient experiences on record that are submitted during the application period.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic metropolitan areas in the United States. This population growth brings a great need in many career fields, one of which is careers in health science-related disciplines. Studying physical therapy in the DFW area creates an excellent opportunity for experiential learning through volunteering, scheduled observation hours, or structured internship programming. All of these are critical to the Dallas Baptist University Health Sciences degree programming and your successful application to terminal degree programs as you seek to serve in the field of Physical Therapy. The BS in Health Sciences degree at Dallas Baptist University has an intentional approach to experiential learning as we have practical experience built into your course requirements. In your pursuit of this degree, you will find yourself living, learning, and serving in one of the most dynamic areas in the United States as you prepare to act out God’s call for your life.