Doctor of Physical Therapy Application Requirements

Arcadia DPT Online is a full-time program consisting of 110 credits completed across 25 months. Applicants of the online program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who plan to continue U.S. residency throughout the entire length of the program.

Candidates are reviewed holistically and must receive an acceptable departmental review of the full application. Meeting all of the below requirements does not guarantee admission into Arcadia DPT Online.

To qualify for admission to Arcadia DPT Online, you must meet the following criteria and submit the materials listed below.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy Application

This application, which must be completed online, includes your academic and professional history, and personal statements.

Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You must have completed your degree prior to entering the program, but is not required to apply.

Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum Arcadia prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is strongly preferred.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores

All applicants are required to submit GRE scores for tests taken within the last five years. Minimum scores of ≥ 150 on Quantitative, ≥ 303 on Combined Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning, and ≥ 4 on Analytical Writing are strongly preferred; however, there is a minimum required score of ≥ 151 for the Individual Verbal portion of the test. The Arcadia DPT Online GRE school code is 4722.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for prerequisite courses and degree-bearing work. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned. If grades are not included, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Applicants do not need to include transcripts for external certificates or extra classes not related or not required to submit. Do not send transcripts directly to Arcadia. Transcripts can be sent using e-transcripts to ptappsvcs@onlinehealth.arcadia.edu or via sealed mail to the following address:

Arcadia University
Application Processing Center
Arcadia DPT Online
PO Box 30096 002-001
College Station, TX 77842

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

Observation Hours

Applicants should have experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Observation hours can include both volunteer and paid work but must demonstrate knowledge of the profession.

Personal Statements

Two personal statements are required for admission. Personal statements consist of two essays that describe your interest in physical therapy, why you wish to attend Arcadia, and what you hope to learn in the field. Please complete two essays that respond to the prompts below:

Essay 1: Every person has a story that has led them to a career. Since there are a variety of health professions that “help” others, please go beyond your initial interaction or experiences with physical therapy, and share the deeper story that has confirmed your decision to specifically pursue physical therapy as your career.

Essay 2: Please discuss why you feel online classes paired with in-person training (hybrid model) is an ideal learning structure for you to complete the rigorous Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and why you have chosen to apply to Arcadia's DPT program.

Include any personal experiences, learning styles, or individual preferences that will support your success in the hybrid program.

Prerequisite Courses

The following minimum prerequisite courses must be completed before the start of classes, or in progress during the application process, with grades of “C” or better and a cumulative GPA in these course areas of no less than “B” (3.0). A grade of “C-” is not acceptable for the prerequisite courses.

Courses used toward the prerequisite biological and physical science requirements should be taken through the appropriate science departments (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics).

Biological Sciences — four courses (a minimum of 12 semester credits) from a biology department, which must include the following:

• Either one lab/lecture course in Human or Mammalian Physiology and one lab/lecture course in Anatomy OR a two-semester lab/lecture course sequence of Anatomy and Physiology
• One upper-level course (300 to 400 level) of at least three credits with a biology focus. This course should preferably be taken through a biology department, but can be taken through another department, such as exercise science or kinesiology, as long as the course content is primarily biology based. Examples of courses that would fulfill this requirement are Neuroscience, Principles of Motor Control, Biology of Aging, Histology, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology.

Physical Sciences — four lab/lecture courses directed toward science majors to include the following:

• Chemistry I and II or higher (e.g., Biochemistry, Organic)
• General Physics I and II

Behavioral Sciences — two courses: one course in Psychology, and one course from either Anthropology, Sociology, or Psychology

Statistics — one course

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required:

• One from a currently practicing, licensed physical therapist.
• One from a college professor who is able to judge the applicant’s academic qualification and readiness for rigorous work at the graduate level. This professor should have taught one of the academic courses for the applicant's major.
• One can be anyone of the applicant’s choosing, such as a supervisor or a physical therapy assistant.

Enrollment Deposit

Once admitted into the program, all admitted applicants will be required to place a deposit of $1,500 to hold a place in class.¹