I am a student who has already graduated from college and am interested in returning to school for the DPT program.
How many students apply to the program and what are their qualifications? There were around 200 applicants in the fall 2006 applicant pool. The average student had above a 3.6 cumulative GPA and above a 3.5 key math and science GPA.
How many students do you admit? We admit 48 students. Qualified Bellarmine undergraduate students receive priority admission to the program.
What are the admission requirements? Transfer applicants to the professional program must hold a baccalaureate degree and have completed all program prerequisite courses. Admission to the program is selective and highly competitive. Students attending Bellarmine as undergraduates are preferentially admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
Qualified applicants to the program must have:
a minimum prerequisite point average of 2.75/4.00
a minimum overall (cumulative) undergraduate grade point average of 2.50/4.00
completed seven of the ten prerequisite courses prior to January 1 of the admission year
completed all program prerequisites prior to entering the professional curriculum
a grade of “C” or better in all prerequisites courses
25 clock hours of documented work or volunteer experience in a physical therapy setting
the physical ability to perform tasks required of a physical therapist
The program application and $25 application fee must be submitted to Bellarmine University and postmarked by December 1 of the year prior to admission. The priority application deadline is October 15. The program utilizes a rolling admissions process beginning with applications received prior to the October 15 priority deadline.
What are the prerequisite courses? The prerequisite courses for the program (Bellarmine course equivalencies in parentheses) are:
*2 semesters of anatomy and physiology with lab (BIOL 108 & 109)
1 semester of general biology with lab (BIOL 130)
1 semester of advanced physiology such as vertebrate physiology, mammalian physiology, exercise physiology or pathophysiology (BIOL 300 or BIOL 314)
2 semesters of college chemistry with lab (CHEM 103 & 104)
2 semesters of college physics with lab (PHYS 205 & 206)
1 semester of psychology (PSYC 103 or 104)
1 semester of statistics (MATH 205)
*300 level Biology courses can be substituted for Anatomy and Physiology
I took some of these courses a long time ago. Is there an age limit on coursework? There is not an age limit on coursework, however you may want to repeat a course to improve a grade or to refresh your skills.
I need to take some of the prerequisite courses. How do I know what courses to take? Julie Armstrong-Binnix is the Nursing & Health Sciences Recruiter and she can help you with academic advising. You may make an appointment with her to review your transcripts or you may email, fax or mail your transcripts to her for an evaluation. 502-452-8364/ 800-274-4723 x 8364/ julieab@bellarmine.edu
Is the GRE required? The GRE is not required.
How many volunteer hours are required? 25 clock hours of physical therapy volunteer experience are required.
How do I document my volunteer hours? You should ask your volunteer supervisor to write a letter on his/her organization’s letterhead stating the number of hours you have volunteered. There is not a specific form required.
Are letters of recommendation required? Letters of recommendation are not required.
What is the application deadline? The priority application deadline is October 15 of the year prior to your intended start. The final application deadline is December 1. All applications postmarked by October 15 are reviewed before applications postmarked by December 1. It is in your best interest as an applicant to apply prior to October 15.
Is it part time or full time? This is a full time day program.
When does it start? Coursework begins in May, usually the Tuesday after Memorial Day.
I’ve been out of college for a while…will I be the oldest student? The DPT program is quite diverse! Students in this program range from 20 – 50 years old. Some students are right out of college while some are married with children.
How much does it cost? Because costs change yearly, please consult an admission counselor or the Nursing & Health Sciences Recruiter regarding tuition and fees.
