Physical Therapy Prerequisites

We encourage you to contact our Admissions Chair, Dr. Jennifer Ellison. at jbelliso@utmb.edu or (409) 772-3068, with any questions you have regarding prerequisites. We also encourage you to utilize the admissions checklist to guide you in the application process.


Mathematics and Natural Sciences - 31 hours
*Course*	*Hours*	*Notes*
Chemistry	8	Must be a course for science majors Must include lab
Physics	8	Must be a course for science majors Must include lab
General or introduction to Biology and/or Zoology	8	Must be a course for science majors, must include lab. Microbiology and Cell Biology courses with labs may be accepted for this requirement. Anatomy and Physiology I or the Anatomy part of a two semester Anatomy and Physiology course will not be accepted toward this requirement.
Physiology	4	May be a Vertebrate, Chordate, Comparative or Human Physiology course. Must include lab. Must be a course for science majors. The Physiology part of a two semester Anatomy and Physiology course or Anatomy and Physiology II can be used to meet this requirement.
College Algebra, Trigonometry, or Calculus	3	Any one of these math courses are acceptable. For any other math courses to be approved, the student must submit a waiver request. (see Course Approval Process below)

Behavioral Sciences - 9 hours
*Course*	*Hours*	*Notes*
Sociology	3	Must be General Sociology or Introduction to Sociology
General Psychology	3	Introduction to Psychology is also acceptable
Developmental Psychology	3	Lifespan Psychology or Child Psychology is acceptable as well. Lifespan Development offered through an Education Department may also be accepted.

Humanities and Liberal Arts - 12 hours
*Course*	*Hours*	*Notes*
English	6	Must include composition
Speech	3	Must include Public Speaking component
Statistics	3	Upper level psychology sociology or education based is preferred. Must include ANOVA. For any other statistics courses (math or education based courses) to be approved, the student must submit a waiver request. (see Course Approval Process below)

Electives - 68 hours

Suggestions and Comments:

The following courses are not required, but if taken as electives, would probably make academic life at UTMB-PT go smoother for the student:
- Anatomy
- Introduction to Computers
- Management
- Technical Writing
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Medical Terminology
Physical Education activities classes are neither counted as electives, nor used in the calculation of overall GPA.
Waiver request / Course Substitution Approval Process
An applicant may obtain approval of a course that does not exactly meet prescribed requirements if a waiver is requested and accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to petition the UTMB PT Admissions Committee for course approval. This is done by submitting the waiver request form identifying the course the applicant wishes to have waived and the course to be considered as a replacement. The request must include a course syllabus (not a course description). We may also ask you to submit the name of the textbook used in the course and or a course schedule.
Course Approval Deadline - Applicants trying to maintain priority status for admission should petition the Committee for course approval as soon as possible in the year preceding the beginning of the class for which the applicant is applying. Applicants will not be given credit for completing a prerequisite on their transcript review until the waiver is submitted and accepted.
To obtain a credit waiver request form click here: Credit Waiver.htm