Prerequisites

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS), from an accredited four-year institution, by the end of the spring semester prior to entry. Below is a list of requirements for admission into the Hunter College DPT Program:

  1. Complete and apply through the Hunter College Graduate Admissions Online Application. You can access the application on the Graduate Admissions website.
  2. The deadline for application to be completed is NOVEMBER 1ST, including transcripts and all clinical experience form(s). Apply early!
  3. You are not required to be a graduate of Hunter College to apply to this program.
    • If you have taken courses in a non-accredited institution and/or you have taken courses outside of the U.S., please contact the Graduate Admissions office to verify the eligibility of your degree.
  4. The following prerequisites are required when applying to the Hunter College DPT program (the course numbers listed below are examples of courses offered at Hunter College).
    • Two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology, with labs (e.g., Biol. 120 & 122).  Minimum of four credits per semester.
    • Two semesters of physics (for science majors), with labs (e.g., General Physics; Phys 110 & 120).  Minimum of four credits per semester.
    • Two semesters of chemistry (for science majors), with labs (e.g., Chem 102, 104 & Chem 106, which is lab for Chem 102 & 104.  Minimum of four credits per semester.
    • One semester of mathematics (e.g., Math 12400 College Algebra and Trigonometry).
    • Two semesters of psychology. We recommend, but do not require, one semester of developmental or child psychology.  Sociology or other non-psychology courses do not meet this requirement.
    • One semester of statistics (e.g., Stat. 113, or Statistics for Psychology majors)
    • One semester of English composition (e.g., Expository Writing) or its equivalent.
  5. An undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above.
  6. At least 100 hours of clinical experience (volunteer or paid), in at least TWO different settings, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, is required. At least 50 of these hours must be in an in-patient setting. These must be completed by November 1st when your application is due. See Clinical Experience Hours for additional information on submitting the required paperwork for your clinical experiences.
  7. Two letters of recommendation are required. We suggest that one be written by a physical therapist and one by a college professor.
    • Letters of recommendation must be uploaded through the Graduate Admission application system by the individual completing the letter.
    • You must enter an email address for the individuals completing your letters of recommendation into the Graduate admission online application system in order to be able to submit the application. Without their email address, your application will not be considered complete.
    • The form indicating your clinical experience hours is NOT considered a letter of recommendation. Both of these can be submitted by one therapist, but they are not one in the same.
  8. The TOEFL examination is required for applicants who have not earned a bachelor’s degree in an English speaking country. We expect a score of at least 550 on the paper based; 79-80 on the Internet based; and 213 on the computer based examination. For information on the exam visit www.toefl.org.
  9. You may apply during the year you are completing your requirements. Indicate on the application form which courses are completed and which are in progress, and submit student copies or scanned copies of transcripts before November 1st. DO NOT WAIT TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS UNTIL AFTER FALL GRADES ARE POSTED.
    • A student who is deemed a strong candidate, but has not completed all course prerequisites, may be CONDITIONALLY accepted for the incoming class, pending all requirements being met satisfactorily prior to the starting date of the program in early June.
  10. The GRE is required and scores must be forwarded to the Hunter College Graduate Admissions Office (Hunter College code number #2301).  Be sure to indicate when you have taken the GRE’s and be sure we get the scores sent to the Admissions Office ASAP.  We do not have a specific cutoff score required for being considered for admission.  For information on the GRE, go to www.gre.org.
  11. Payment of the application fee is required.
  12. Basic Life Support by the American Heart Association (212-878-5900 or www.americanheart.org) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification by the Red Cross (212-787-1000 or www.nyredcross.org) will be required from all students entering the program.

Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program given limitations of space and resources. A class of 32 students is admitted each year. The Hunter College Physical Therapy Program is dedicated to equal opportunity for all applicants who meet admission requirements.

Trimester Schools & Quarter Hour Credits

Schools that use the trimester calendar award quarter hour credits for courses. One quarter credit equals 0.7 semester credits. If a course was 4 quarter credits, then it is equal to 2.7 semester credits, if the course was 5 quarter credits, then it is equal to 3.3 semester credits.  The online application asks you to list information about each prerequisite, but only leaves two lines for each science course.  Therefore, since you took three trimesters of these courses, the admissions offices suggests you try to fit two of the courses in one slot and indicate two separate trimesters.

What type of bachelor’s degree should you get?

We are often asked for advice on what type of bachelor’s degree an applicant should earn. It makes no difference what your undergraduate degree is, as long as you are completing our prerequisites. Our philosophy is that you should obtain a marketable undergraduate degree in an area of interest. This degree, coupled with completing our DPT degree will not only give you the necessary credentials for the National Physical Therapy Licensing Exam but will prepare you as an above entry level physical therapist.

Please note: Courses completed in institutions that are not accredited will not be accepted as equivalent to Hunter College courses will not be accepted as credits for a bachelor’s degree or as credits for prerequisites.