The physical therapy department recognizes a choice of pathways for freshmen or transfer student acceptance into the sequential degree entry-level physical therapy program.

• B.S. in biology offered through the biology and mathematics department + D.P.T. program
• B.S. in exercise and sports studies offered through the exercise and sports studies department + D.P.T.

In this sequential-degree pathway, entering freshmen or transfer students matriculate in and complete their B.S. degree through the respective departments. Upon completion of the B.S. degree, students who satisfy all D.P.T. admission requirements are accepted into the three-year doctor of physical therapy (D.P.T.) program. 

Physical Therapy

Sample Undergraduate P.T. prerequisite courses

Math & Natural Sciences

• Two 3-credit courses in human-based science or applied science courses
• One course in human anatomy with lab
• One course in human physiology with lab — may be two courses in human anatomy with physiology with labs
• Two courses in chemistry with labs
• Two courses in physics with labs
• One semester of statistics

Social & Behavioral Sciences

• One course in psychology

Sequential Degree: Six-Year B.S. + D.P.T.

D.P.T. Program

Physical Therapy Program Technical Standards

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (Public Law 101-336) was established to empower qualified persons with disabilities to seek employment opportunities, transportation and access to programs and services without fear of discrimination. These laws provide a framework for qualified individuals with documented disabilities to request reasonable accommodation needed to participate in an educational program. 

The Physical Therapy Program at D'Youville is prepared to make reasonable accommodations in order to allow students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate and succeed in the academic program. An accommodation must be reasonable and may not be provided if it fundamentally alters the nature of the curriculum, including the didactic component, laboratory sessions or supervised practice experiences; requires substantial program modification or lowering of academic standards; causes undue hardship for the university or affiliating agencies; or jeopardizes the health or safety of the student or others.

If the student feels he or she meets the requirements of the ADA and will require ADA accommodation, the disability must be supported by medical documentation prior to receiving accommodation. To receive accommodation, the student must take the responsibility to make the department aware of the need for accommodation by notifying the Physical Therapy Department chair, and the student must contact the Disability Services office at D'Youville and complete the process required. The Disability Services office will then contact the Physical Therapy Department, and reasonable accommodation will be made based on the recommendations of the disability office. Some accommodations may be the fiscal responsibility of the student. 

No otherwise qualified person shall be excluded from participation, admission or matriculation, or be denied benefits solely by reason of his or her disability. The physical therapy department will not discriminate against qualified individuals but will expect applicants and students to meet certain minimum academic and technical standards. 

Appeals

To appeal a decision rendered by the School of Health Professions faculty/administration that has academic consequences, you must follow the appeal procedures, which are available at www.dyc.edu/appeals.

Classification of Students

Undergraduate students who are accepted into the sequential degree pathway leading to the physical therapy major are classified by their undergraduate major of choice while completing the bachelor’s degree and hold a specialization code for DPT.

Sequential B.S. + D.P.T. Degree Admissions Requirements

(Undergraduate acceptance into sequential degree pathway)

Freshmen or undergraduate transfer students accepted into either of the two sequential-degree B.S. + D.P.T. pathways must satisfy the following admission criteria:

Freshmen admission requires:

1. Standardized SAT/ACT test scores are not required for admission but may enhance your application.
2. High school average of at least 85 percent or 2.85 on a four point scale, and
3. Successful completion of two years of math and three years of science; physics is strongly recommended

Transfer student admission requires:

1. Satisfaction of all freshman admission requirements above, and
2. Minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00 (after a minimum of 2 full time semesters of study), and
3. Complete at least one of a two-semester required science D.P.T. prerequisite course with a B or better. (For example:BIO-107 BIO-107L BIO-108 BIO-108L PHY-111 PHY-111L PHY-112 PHY-112L CHE-111 CHE-112 CHE-113L).
4. Minimum GPA for all D.P.T prerequisite courses of 3.00.

Note: For transfers, when calculating both overall G.P.A. and D.P.T. prerequisite G.P.A., grades from other colleges or universities will be included. Grades for any D.P.T. prerequisite course lower than a B will not be accepted from any other college or university, and the course will need to be repeated at D'Youville University.

 5. All internal transfer applications will be reviewed at the end of each semester (after final grades are posted). Requests for a change of major into the sequential degree pathway must occur by September 1 of the academic year of anticipated undergraduate degree completion.

While students are enrolled in the sequential degree undergraduate pathway, the following requirements apply to be in good academic standing:

1. Maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 after two semesters of full-time study at D'Youville University.
2. Maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00 for all D.P.T. prerequisite courses.
3. Earn a minimum grade of B in all D.P.T. prerequisite courses.
4. Students may earn only two grades of C, C+ or B- for D.P.T. prerequisite courses. Students who achieve a second grade below a B will be placed on academic probation in the sequential degree pathway.
5. Students who earn a third grade below a B in the D.P.T. prerequisite courses will be removed from the sequential degree pathway. Students removed from the sequential degree pathway may be permitted to continue their degree program if they otherwise meet all academic requirements of that program. 

D.P.T. Admission Requirements

(Graduate acceptance into D.P.T. program)

1. Conferral of B.S. degree, and
2. Evidence of capability to succeed in D.P.T. program as demonstrated by a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 system), and
3. Evidence of completion of all prerequisite courses with no more than two grades below a B but higher than a C minus.  The applicant should also have a prerequisite course G.P.A. of 3.00. Prerequisite courses are:
   1. Math and Natural Sciences
      • Two 3-credit courses in human-based science or applied science courses
      • One course in human anatomy with lab and one course in human physiology with lab or two courses in human anatomy with physiology with labs
      • Two courses in chemistry with labs
      • Two courses in physics with labs
      • One semester of statistics
   2. Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • One course in psychology
4. Letters of recommendation are optional but may enhance your application. Letters should address leadership potential and ability to work with others.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is optional but can be used to enhance your application, and
6. Willingness to conform to published college and program policies and procedures.