Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

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 prerequisite GPA is an important part of the admission decisions. Students who have the opportunity to choose a letter grade, should do so. During this COVID -19 crisis, we understand if a student may need to take a pass/fail grade during Spring and Summer 2020, however 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. If you need to withdraw from your courses, it will not be held against you. The committee understands everyone is being impacted differently with this pandemic. We have added an optional question to the school specific questions on the PTCAS application if you wish to elaborate.

We will accept an application with less than the required minimum of 80 observation hours. For applicants who do not have many observation hours, we highly recommend you visit www.APTA.org and choose the tabs "Careers & Education" and also "Prospective Students." It is very important for prospective students to research the profession before committing to a rigorous full time DPT program. We highly encourage students to continue to look for observation opportunities in the Fall and next Spring 2024 when it is deemed safe. The additional hours can be emailed to PT@twu.edu after the application has been submitted. Try to complete at least 20 hours of inpatient observation.

Although the TWU Graduate School has waived the GRE requirement for this upcoming admission cycle, at this time, the School of Physical Therapy is still requiring the GRE. ETS now has an option to take the GRE from your home if you have the proper equipment as it will be monitored by a camera. 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. Please check back in September for an update as we will monitor the situation or email concerns to PT@twu.edu.

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.

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)

1.  Complete the application at TWU Online Graduate Application Portal 

• 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 finding your program in TWU's Program, Majors & Degrees listings to see if your program has additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  (This information is for all programs. The application deadline for your specific program will be listed in the Program Requirements.  Use that deadline as it applies below.  (Example: if a program only admits once a year and has a Fall deadline for 2023 of March 1, you would need to be looking to apply to the next deadline for Fall 2024.)

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs according to the start semester and application portals below:
   
   • Spring 2024 - All programs apply via ApplyTexas EXCEPT applicants to the College of Business, Child Life, or Child Development master's programs or the Child Development and Early Education PhD program who should apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal.
     • Note: When applying through ApplyTexas, you will need to submit any required Documents directly to the program website.
   • Summer & Fall 2024 - All graduate programs apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal. Required documents will be asked for and uploaded into the application.
     
     
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 (either ApplyTexas or TWU's Online Graduate Application).
   • 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 (2nd 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. 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.
   • 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.

For more information on graduate admissions or to contact an admissions official, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.