PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM

Jeannie Thomley, Adviser
Office: 200 Clark Hall

Although baccalaureate degrees in physical therapy are available at some institutions, the entry standard for practice in the field of physical therapy is shifting to the master's degree. The University of Alabama does not offer a baccalaureate degree in physical therapy, but does provide programs of study appropriate for entry into master's programs. Students with such an interest may combine degree programs leading to a variety of majors and minors with entrance requirements for master's programs in physical therapy.

An appropriate example is the master's degree program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In the UAB program, applicants who hold baccalaureate degrees in fields other than physical therapy must have completed an undergraduate program that includes (a) 16 semester hours of biology (BSC 114:115, BSC 116:117, BSC 215, and BSC 216); (b) 8 semester hours of inorganic chemistry (CH 101 and CH 102); (c) 6 semester hours of English composition (EN 101 and EN 102); (d) 3 semester hours of calculus (MATH 125); (e) 3 semester hours of statistics (PY 211); (f) 9 semester hours of psychology; and (g) 8 semester hours of physics (PH 101, PH 102). Additional recommended courses are zoology (BSC 400, BSC 424), biochemistry (CH 461), and organic chemistry (CH 231, CH 232, CH 237). Applicants must also have an overall grade point average of 3.0, a 3.0 average for English composition and the biological and physical sciences, and a Graduate Record Examination score of 1000. Since the requisite courses are very similar to those required for dentistry, medicine, and optometry, the course schedule for students with interests in all these health professions is similar. The sample curriculum below is a guide.

Students interested in the pre-physical therapy program should contact the Health Professions Advising Office in 200 Clark Hall (205-348-5902) for additional information and assistance.

FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
EN 101	3		EN 102	3
MATH 112	3		MATH 113	3
CH 101	4		CH 102	4
PY 101 and/or BSC 114:115*	3-4		Psychology elective and/or BSC 116:117	3-4
Elective	0-3		Elective	0-3
	------			------
	14-17			14-17
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester			Second Semester
Course	Hours		Course	Hours
Literature	3		History	3
MATH 125	4		PY 211	3
Psychology elective	3		BSC 216 or BSC 326	4
BSC 215 or BSC 325	4		PH 102	4
PH 101	4		Elective	3
	------			------
	18			17

*If BSC 114:115 is not selected in the first semester, the biology sequence should be started in the second or third semester.