The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy is committed to education and preparation of entry-level doctors of physical therapy (DPT). Graduates of our program are dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of society with special consideration for rural communities through practice, education and administration. As autonomous practitioners or members of multidisciplinary teams, program graduates are recognized as leaders in the provision of evidence based practice that is compassionate, ethical and legal. Program graduates adapt to and implement change that benefits their community and the profession.
The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at The College of St. Scholastica is a 3+3 model of education. Prerequisite years contain coursework necessary for admission to the program and General Education requirements. Physical therapy professional education begins in the fourth year and is a full-time day program, 33 continuous months in length. Once admitted into the program, students take all courses at the graduate level. During the first year, students gain knowledge of the profession and begin fundamental skill acquisition. Students who start the first year of the DPT program without a bachelor's degree will be awarded a B.A. in Health Sciences upon successful completion of the first year of the program at the end of the spring semester. During the fifth and sixth years, students continue to acquire application skills along with proficiency in critical inquiry necessary for knowledge advancement in physical therapy.
Students interested in physical therapy should be aware that at least 36 weeks of internship are required. Placement in internships is done through the department at approved facilities. Students should expect that the majority of internship placements will be outside the Duluth-Superior area. The program currently has over 170 affiliation sites, the largest number within the five-state area.
Students interested in physical therapy should realize that enrollment in the program is competitive and limited to 36 students. Students apply directly to the Physical Therapy Program. Selection for admission is based on several predictors of success including academic record, interviews, scores on the GRE, and professional exploration. Applicants are required to demonstrate awareness of the diversity and specificity of the physical therapy profession by performing volunteer work, by conducting observations, or by working in a physical therapy setting. Exposure to physical therapy in a variety of settings is required (at least two different clinical settings that address the needs of distinct patient/client populations). Transfer students with and without degrees are eligible to apply to the program; however, transfer students without a degree must meet all the College General Education requirements for a bachelor's degree. A minimum of six and maximum of 12 transfer students will be accepted.
Admission decisions are based on assessment of the student admission portfolio. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA, all prerequisites completed*, exposure to the profession of physical therapy, letters of recommendation, interviews with two members of the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee, and completion of the GRE with a preferred score of 500 each for the verbal and quantitative sections, and a preferred minimum of 3.5 for the written analytical section. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not ensure admission into the DPT program. Upon acceptance, entry into the program is allowed in July. Students must be enrolled full time and all courses must be successfully completed in the required sequence. Alterations in progression due to extenuating circumstances, such as academic probation or an unexpected life event, are considered on an individual basis.
*Students who have not completed all prerequisite courses must be able to project a reasonable course of study with proof of completion received by July 1 prior to the program's start date.
Applications for the program may be obtained by contacting:
The College of St. Scholastica Graduate Studies Office
Physical Therapy Admissions
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811-4199
The following prerequisites (or their transfer equivalents) are required for admission: BIO 2110-2120; *CHM 1020-1030; HSC 2209; PSC 20012002; PSY 2208, 3330, 3423.
*a full year, full sequence of chemistry is required; if the student is seeking a bachelor's degree in another field (biology, pre-med, exercise physiology, or other) the student must follow the chemistry requirements for that major. Students must declare an alternate major and should follow the chemistry sequence for that major.
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