Do I apply to the PT program as a first-year student?
No. Information about admission can be found on our admissions page. As a high school senior, please take note of the LEAP path to admission.Otherwise, once you are matriculation at Bellarmine, you will be advised to work toward completing your general education and physical therapy prerequisite requirements. You will also declare a major in an area of your choice. You will apply for the physical therapy program using the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service, either the summer before your junior year, summer before your senior year, or post-graduation.
What are the admission requirements?
Highly qualified Bellarmine University undergraduate students may apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program after completing all prerequisite and general education courses (except IDC. 401) and a minimum of 90 semester hours. 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:
- minimum prerequisite point average of 3.00/4.00
- a minimum overall (cumulative) undergraduate grade point average of 2.75/4.00
- 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
- taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the past 5 years and had their official scores submitted to Bellarmine University (School Code 1056)
- 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
- if English is your second language, you will be required to take the TOEFLiBT, receive 83 or higher and a 26 or higher on the speaking test.
- at least two letters of recommendation: one from a faculty member and one from a physical therapist.
Application Deadlines
Applications to our Launch to PT: Early Assurance Program are due March 15. Visit our LEAP form to apply.
Applications are due on or near November 1. Please see APTA - Bellarmine University for annual application deadlines, as well as to apply.
How many students apply to the program and what are their qualifications?
There are between 600-850 applicants each year, with an average 3.5 cumulative GPA and prerequisite GPA.
How many students do you admit?
We admit 72 students to the program each year.
Are there any advantages to attending Bellarmine as a first-year student instead of attending another university to receive my undergraduate degree?
There are many advantages to attending Bellarmine as a pre-physical therapy undergraduate student. First, you receive the benefit of being able to meet with PT faculty as you prepare for entrance to the program. Second, there is a pre-PT club and you can be involved with the club as soon as you start classes here. Third, you have the option to apply as a “3+DPT” student which is not available to students applying to our program from other institutions. Highly qualified Bellarmine undergraduate students can apply to the program after all prerequisite and general education courses and a minimum of 90 semester hours. Fourth, qualified Bellarmine students receive preferred admission in the DPT program. Lastly, you also receive the advantages that all BU students receive – small class sizes, personal attention, and great residence halls and campus life.
How much does it cost?
Please visit our Graduate Tuition page for the most up-to-date information on tuition and fees.