Pre-Physical Therapy

Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is highly competitive. All applications to the DPT Program at Bellarmine University must be made through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Bellarmine University does not require a supplemental application.  

As a Pre-Physical Therapy student at Bellarmine, you are advised throughout your undergraduate career on ways to gain the prerequisites required for application to graduate programs in physical therapy.

In addition to the traditional path where you would apply to the DPT program after completing a bachelor's degree at any institution, there are two options for current Bellarmine Students: the 3+3 Path and the LEAP program.

3+3 Path

This path is open to Bellarmine University undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 credits (generally two full years) at Bellarmine University. Students apply for the DPT program the summer before the junior year. If accepted, a student would begin the DPT program after 3 years of undergraduate coursework. Students must still fulfill all requirements for an undergraduate baccalaureate degree from Bellarmine (completion of all general education requirements + completion of the first year in the DPT program). In doing so, students would earn a Bachelors in Health Sciences degree following the first year of the DPT program. Students admitted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program must complete a bachelor’s degree by the end of the first year of the program.

Students are required to complete at least 18 credits in a content area or discipline that is equivalent to a minor prior to entering the DPT program. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisor to ensure this requirement is met. 

Prerequisites

Launch to DPT: Early Assurance Program aka “LEAP” Path

Highly selective program open to high school seniors to apply. If accepted, students matriculate as undergraduates at Bellarmine and can then apply to the DPT program on the “Bachelor’s+3” or “3+3” Path. Students must complete all application requirements and meet all standards for university admission to be accepted. 

Learn more about the LEAP Path 

Pre-Physical Therapy Club

The purposes of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club are as follows: The club serves Pre-Physical Therapy student/majors on campus by promoting the interests and current events regarding recent developments in the professional field. The club provides opportunities for its members to experience leadership roles and a large portion of the club’s activities are volunteer and service oriented within the community. The club aims to promote engagement of pre-professional students to learn more about the profession of Physical Therapy, facilitate informational sessions about admissions and the application process, and promote the profession of Physical Therapy throughout the campus and the surrounding community, especially by aiding in the provision of health-related services on campus and in the community at large.  

Club membership is open to pre-physical therapy undergraduate students and students in the PT program. Club activities include guest speakers, social events, fundraisers, and community awareness projects. Core faculty members are designated as advisors to the Pre-PT Club. Please contact Dr. Dawn Hall-Bibb for more information at dhallbibb@bellarmine.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions