Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

If movement and function of the human body appeal to you, if helping people regain strength and reduce pain is rewarding to you, if developing fitness and wellness regimes for others excites you, then physical therapy may be the field for you.

TWU has been a pioneer in educating physical therapists since the 1960s, advancing the practice and science of physical therapy through education, research and service. Accredited by the Commission for Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), the program prepares students to take the National PT Exam and licensure in the State of Texas.

Faculty members are leaders in the PT profession in research, teaching and service and the majority of full-time faculty hold Ph.D. or D.Sc. degrees. With the faculty-to-student ratio 1:12, expectations of TWU DPT graduates is high and the expected outcomes upon graduation include:

• Provide effective and efficient patient/client management using evidence-based practice
• Demonstrate fundamental practice management skills
• Promote health and wellness in the community: locally, regionally and/or globally
• Demonstrate leadership
• Advocate for patients/clients and the profession

Graduation, licensure examination pass rate and the employment rate for our graduates can be found here .

Clinical education

Clinical Education is an important part of the DPT program. Students will have an opportunity to participate in five clinical education courses/rotations throughout the program. Currently, Texas Woman's University has approximately 1000 sites across the United States under contract to provide clinical education to the School of Physical Therapy. That means DPT students have many choices when it comes to where they can complete their clinical education.

Program requirements

The DPT program requires eight semesters of full-time graduate study over 33 months (including summers). The degree requires 98 credit hours to complete including 32 weeks of clinical experiences/rotations. A full listing of required courses for graduation can be found in the course catalog.

FAQ for prospective students

Chemistry I & II with labs
8 credits (for science majors)

Physics I & II
8 credits (algebra or calculus based)

Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs
8 credits or 4 credits Anatomy and 4 credits of Physiology (each must have 1 hours labs)

Algebra or higher or AP credit
3 credits (NOT statistics)

Intro or general Psychology
3 credits

2nd Psychology: Lifespan Developmental, Abnormal, or Physiological
3 credits

Medical Terminology
1-3 credits or Universal class online Med Term 201

Highly Recommended Coursework

• Exercise Physiology
• Advanced Physiology
• Neuro anatomy/physiology
• Statistics

The committee prefers no more than 3 outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. You may email PT@twu.edu with questions.

If my school has a pass/fail and I take that option on a prerequisite course, how will that affect my application?

The prerequisite GPA is an important part of the admission decisions. Students who have the opportunity to choose a letter grade, should do so. Those applications with a grade of A or B will be at an advantage. If you take a pass/fail grade, you will need to replace the grade with a letter grade before beginning our DPT program.

The School of Physical Therapy will accept online courses, even online science courses and online labs. It is highly recommended to have dissection experience before cadaver lab.

At this time, all of our DPT courses occur in person, either on campus or in the community. We do not have current plans to offer hybrid options.

The School of Physical Therapy is currently requesting permission from our accrediting agency (CAPTE) to expand our DPT program to the Denton campus. We anticipate a response from CAPTE in the Fall of 2024. If approved, we aim to enroll our first cohort of students in Denton in the Fall of 2025.

The TWU Graduate School does not require the GRE for admission, do I still need to provide these scores?

While the TWU Graduate School has waived this requirement, the School of Physical Therapy still requires the GRE as part of our admissions process. TWU’s DPT program uses super scoring for the GRE which is the highest score in each area of all exams. You can submit the PTCAS application without GRE scores then you have until September 24 to take the exam for scores to arrive by our October 15 deadline.

Admission requirements

Program Contact

Mary Beth Daugherty
Admissions Coordinator
940-898-2460
PT@twu.edu / Mdaugherty@twu.edu

Application Deadlines

October 15 @ 11 CST (9 months before the program begins). The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application opens July 1st (one year in advance). All materials must be received by TWU and PTCAS. The DPT program only begins in the Fall semester.

The application review cycle begins in July. Students will receive an email of acceptance or alternate notice no earlier than mid-December.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may be in the process of completing prerequisites and bachelor’s degree when applying. If accepted, the student must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree and all outstanding prerequisites in order to enroll.

• Baccalaureate degree in any major.
• Required Prerequisites completed with a grade of C or higher before the program begins (recommended that no more than three are outstanding at the time of application).
• Prerequisite Math & Science GPA above 3.0 using the latest grades in: Chemistry I & II with labs, Physics I & II with labs, Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs, and Algebra (or higher, statistics not accepted).
• Overall GPA above 3.0 (includes original and retake grades of all college courses) as calculated in PTCAS.
• Last 60 semester credit hours above 3.0 as calculated in PTCAS. This will include all post-bachelors or masters credits before the bachelor’s degree. Calculation ends where 59-60 credits fall and includes whole semesters (range can be 59-73 hours).
• General Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Must be completed within the last 5 years. Super scoring is utilized - the highest score in each area of all exams.
• A minimum of 80 hours observing two physical therapists from differently owned facilities (40 hours with each PT). Applicants must have both inpatient (Minimum 20 hours) and outpatient experiences. Documentation is through PTCAS.
• Current BLS certifications in CPR and AED from the American Heart Association completed before entering the program.
• Immunizations received before entering the program as required by the state of Texas, including 3-Hepatitis B, Tdap (within 9 years), 2-MMR, 2-varicella or titer, TB test (expires after 12 months), and Hepatitis C testing. In addition, a flu shot is required in the fall of every year while in the program .
• Testing for drugs and a criminal background check.
• International students or if your bachelor’s degree is from a country where the official language is other than English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English tests and achieve scores of at least 24-writing, 26-speaking, 21-reading comprehension, and 18-listening comprehension - Total 89. For a list of exempt countries and the TOEFL exemption form visit the TWU International Student Admission website.

Two Part Application Process

Part I: Apply to TWU (see instructions)

• Semester Applying: Fall for the year you are applying
• Major: Physical Therapy Entry DPT (DAL) or Physical Therapy Entry DPT (HOU). Do not select Post Professional

2. Pay the application fee. The $50 fee, ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants can be paid by:

• Credit card - Online through the portal you applied on TWU's Online Graduate Application Portal.
• Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
  TWU Admissions Processing, 301 Research Circle, Room 220; Denton, Texas 76204
  (include your full name and ID number).
• Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (2 nd floor of GRB).
• Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar application Fee waiver. Submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission Form.

3. You must submit your transcripts from all schools attended

• Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details.
• International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admission website for more details.

4. Take the GRE General Test and submit your GRE scores using PTCAS Code 1673 (this will submit to PTCAS and TWU). Take the exam before September 24 for scores to arrive by the October 15 deadline.

5. Have official TOEFL scores sent to TWU using Code 6826 (if applicable).

Part II: Complete the PTCAS Application Process

1. Complete the online Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application (opens July 1 st - a year in advance)
2. Include Additional Supplemental materials as outlined on PTCAS application:
   • Interest letter for TWU
   • Resume
   • Documentation of Observation Hours
   • Three letters of recommendation (From two PT’s and one professor or employer)
   • Campus preference: Dallas or Houston
   • TWU Colleague ID#
3. Send transcripts to PTCAS too.
   • PTCAS; P.O. Box 9112; Watertown, MA 02471

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.
2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
3. Submit Recommendation Requests
   If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors.
4. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
   1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
   2. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
   3. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
   1. Submit all program requests for Resume, Statement of Purpose, Artist or Research Statement, Scholarly Writing Sample, Custom Essay, Portfolio Document, Video Submission, Licensure, Department Specific Application, Teaching Service Record, Teaching Certificate, etc. following submission of your application fee.

   Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.

   For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

   Take the next step.

   Attend an information session

   Learn more about the DPT program at TWU at one of our monthly information sessions.

   Notification for o ut-of-state s tudents

   The Doctor of Physical Therapy prepares graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Exam required for licensure in every state. Individuals who wish to practice in Texas will apply for a license to practice through the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Requirements for state licensure vary from state to state. If you are a resident of another state, contact the licensing board of your home state for other requirements. Contact our department for additional information.

   Complaints

   Complaints that fall outside of due process should be directed to Alyssa Fiss afiss@twu.edu Program Director, School of Physical Therapy, or Kimberly Miloch kmiloch@twu.edu, interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

   Page last updated 2:43 PM, August 20, 2024

   TWU Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center

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