Admissions Process

Fall 2012 Applicants

The University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program uses a rolling application deadline. For admission into the program in Fall 2012, the priority date for completed applications is November 1, 2011, and the recommended deadline for completed applications is February 1, 2012. Once these dates have passed, completed applications will be reviewed until classes begin on a space available basis.

Fall 2013 Applicants

The University of Dayton DPT program has made admissions process changes for applicants wishing to begin the program in Fall 2013. The DPT program will begin accepting applications for the Fall 2013 incoming class during July 2012. As part of the selection process, the University of Dayton uses personal interviews during Interview Days in December and February. For FIRST/PRIORITY CONSIDERATION (December Interviews), all application materials must be received on or before NOVEMBER 1, 2012. For FINAL CONSIDERATION (February Interviews), all application materials must be received on or before FEBRUARY 1, 2013. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as applications are reviewed in the order that they are received.

It is expected that some applicants may have outstanding coursework at the time of application. However, plans for completing prerequisites prior to the beginning of the DPT program must be clearly indicated on the prerequisite worksheet.

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Prerequisite Course Requirements

Science Prerequisites

• Full sequence of Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs
• Full sequence of General Biology with labs
• Full sequence of General Chemistry with labs
• Full sequence of General Physics with labs
• Exercise Physiology with lab

General Prerequisites

• General/Introductory Psychology
• Human Development
• Statistics
• Research Methods
• Oral Communication
• Medical Terminology (not required for Pre-PT/AT majors)

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Academic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA across all schools attended
• Minimum 3.0 GPA for all prerequisite science courses
• Minimum 3.0 GPA for all general prerequisite courses
• Grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses 
• Minimum of 64 semester credits
• Minimum of four or more prerequisite science courses with labs

You must retake any prerequisite courses in which you earned a grade of C- or lower.

You must have completed all science courses within the past ten years. Science coursework completed prior will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Placement Exam (AP) / College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and online courses may only be used to fulfill general prerequisites. This credit must be indicated on a college transcript.

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Application Requirements

Applicants to the DPT program should submit the following information in addition to the online application:

• Official academic records of all previously attended colleges or universities must be submitted directly from the colleges or universities to the Office of Graduate Admissions Processing. Hand-carried transcripts, official copies marked Issued to Student, and unofficial copies are not acceptable.
• Three letters of recommendation are required. One letter must be from a licensed physical therapist. Other letters may be from professors or employers. 
• Official GRE results
• Prerequisite worksheet (pdf)
• Essay (see below)
• Clinical observation verification form (pdf). Eighty hours of observation under a licensed physical therapist in at least two distinctly different physical therapy patient care settings, with a minimum of 20 hours in an inpatient setting, are required.

Essay Instructions

Please provide a typed response that addresses the following content points:

• Autobiographical sketch
• Discussion of work and/or volunteer (other than clinical observation) experiences
• Report of clinical observations by institution, including a description of select observed activities or circumstances of importance
• Impression of the physical therapy profession
• Statement of personal and/or professional goals and ambitions, if accepted into the profession of physical therapy
• Reasons for applying to the University of Dayton
• Other pertinent information

Type your name at the top of each sheet in your response. The response should be double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins. Responses should be a minimum of two pages and a maximum of eight pages.

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY AS THE PERSONAL STATEMENT ON THE ONLINE APPLICATION. Rather, please submit your responses via e-mail to gradadmission@udayton.edu or mail your responses to the following address:

Office of Graduate Admissions Processing
University of Dayton
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469-1670

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