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Admissions

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree at Florida International University is a limited-access, full-time enrollment program with a competitive admissions process based on comprehensive evaluations.  Students are admitted once a year for the Fall semester.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in any academic field from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on all listed below:
    • Cumulative (overall)
    • Pre-Requisite
    • Upper Division (last 60 credits of the bachelor’s degree)
  • At least 60 hours of observation at a physical therapy clinic or facility within the last 3 years. This must be completed prior to your first semester in the program. Observation Hours may include but are not limited to attending a camp for students with disabilities, Special Olympics, people with special needs, observing telehealth PT interventions, interviewing physical therapists via other modalities such as ZOOM and/or Skype, and direct PT observations. For questions, please contact Dr. Mark Rossi, Chair, Physical Therapy Department at rossim@fiu.edu.
  • Three (3) letters of reference, two of which must be from a licensed physical therapist.
  • Applicants must complete the online FIU Graduate School Supplemental Application.
  • GRE recommended test sections:
    1. Verbal: 50th percentile
    2. Quantitative: 50th percentile
    3. Analytical Writing: minimum score of 3.5
  • Completion of the following prerequisite courses before starting the program (courses listed are for students enrolled at FIU). Please note that survey courses in chemistry, biology, and physics are not acceptable. Please click here for a description of prerequisite courses. 
    1. Two (2) semesters of General College Physics with labs
      • PHY 2048, PHY 2048L, PHY 2049 and PHY 2049L
        --OR--
      • PHY 2053, PHY 2048L and PHY 2054, PHY2049L
    2. Two (2) semesters of General College Chemistry with labs
      • CHM 1045, CHM 1045L, CHM 1046 and CHM 1046L
    3. Two (2) semesters of General College Psychology
    4. One (1) semester of General College Statistics
    5. Biology (select one of the following two options):
      • Option 1:    One (1) semester of General College Biology with lab, one (1) semester of human physiology with lab, and one (1) semester of anatomy with lab:  
        BSC 1010, BSC 1010L, PCB 3702 and PCB 3702L.
      • Option 2:    One (1) semester of General Biology with lab and two (2) semesters of anatomy/physiology combined with labs: BSC 1010, BSC1010L (FIU does not offer combined anatomy/physiology courses). Applicants can have 2 prerequisite courses outstanding at the time of application. However, those courses MUST be completed before starting the program.

 

Requirements for Admission

General Physics I (3cr.) with lab (1cr.)

Example: Kinematics, Newton's Laws, conservation laws, gravitation, fluids, sound, and thermodynamics.

General Physics II with lab (3cr.) with lab (1cr.)

Example: Electricity and magnetism, field theory, geometrical and wave optics, statics and dynamics

General Chemistry 1with lab (3cr.) with lab (1cr.)

Example: Fundamental principles of general chemistry: states of matter, atomic structure, stoichiometry, chemical bonding, acid-base reactions, and gas laws.

General Chemistry 2 with lab (3cr.) with lab (1cr.)

Example: Fundamental principles of chemistry: thermodynamics, solutions, kinetics, equilibrium and electrochemistry.

Psychology (2 courses, 6 cr.)

Human Growth and Development: Example: Development of personality, intelligence, and motivation, from childhood to adulthood. May include but not limited to the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of human beings from conception to death.

Psychology of Aging: Example: Factors that contribute to the psychological profile characterizing old age including Biological and sociological components and their impact on perceptual, cognitive, and personality processes.

Abnormal Psychology: Example: Psychopathology manifestations, and social and personal consequences of behavior disturbance. Can include but not limited to impact of mental disorders on individuals, families, and society and the impact of cultural factors, public attitudes, community resources, ethical issues, and legislation on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Introduction of Psychology: Example: Overview of the field of psychology. Should include but not limited to: The biological and environmental bases of behavior, theories and concepts in areas such as personality, intelligence, learning, motivation, emotions and mental illness.


Statistics (1 course, 3cr.)

Introduction to Statistics: Example: Descriptive statistics. Basic probability rules. Discrete and continuous probability distributions. Point and interval estimation, Student t-tests. May also include Analysis of Variance, simple linear regression, regression, correlation, basic nonparametric tests, and goodness of fit tests.

Option 1

General Biology (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: Biomolecules, cells, energy flow, genetics, and physiology. Scientific principles governing human structure, function, health, and relationship to the planetary environment.

Human Physiology (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: Including but not limited to: Physiology of organism’s major organ systems with emphasis on humans. Principles of physics, cell biology, and anatomy in order to explain how the different organs systems work individually and in the context of the whole organism. Basic facts and concepts relating to the physiology of cells and nervous, muscular, and cardiovascular systems, with emphasis on regulatory mechanisms.

Human Anatomy (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: Study of the organ systems of the human body with major emphasis on the skeletal, muscular, and peripheral nervous system.

Option 2

General Biology (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: Biomolecules, cells, energy flow, genetics, and physiology. Scientific principles governing human structure, function, health, and relationship to the planetary environment.

Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: Should include study of the structure, function, and physiology of the human body, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive Systems.

Human Anatomy & Physiology 2 (3cr.) with lab (1cr.): Example: A continuation of the study and application of the structure and function of the Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive Systems as well as development

 

Admission & Evaluation Process

A candidate’s application is reviewed by one or more graduate faculty from the Department of Physical Therapy. An applicant is granted an interview based upon his or her ranked academic score.  An academic score is determined from GRE scores, cumulative and prerequisite GPA. The academic score is the “key” that unlocks the door for obtaining an interview. Supplemental information includes references, physical therapy observation experience, extracurricular and community activity, and a general essay are also used to evaluate candidates during the interview. 

Check your Academic score here: 

Supplemental information obtained from the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application is reviewed during the interview process.  Supplemental information includes references, physical therapy observation experience, extracurricular and community activity, and a general essay.

 

Pending Items at Time of Application

At the time of application, an applicant may have no more than two (2) outstanding/incomplete application items. Outstanding application items may be composed of observation hours, letters of recommendation, or pre-requisite coursework (lectures and labs are counted as separate outstanding items). Students with outstanding application items may be admitted on the condition that all application requirements are satisfied by the start of the first Fall semester (proof of completion required).

  • Example 1: Student enrolled in Physics II and Physics II Lab at the time of application.
  • Example 2: Student enrolled in Chemistry II Lab and outstanding 12 observation hours at the time of application.
  • Example 3: Student enrolled in Intro to Psychology and outstanding one (1) letter of recommendation at the time of application.
 
A candidate may either be invited to interview early or following the application deadline. Students who interview early may or may not be recommended for admission or a decision for admission may be deferred until completion of all interviews following the application deadline.

Candidates who interview after the application deadline may or may not be recommended for admission or may be placed on an alternate list.

About our Admissions and Program Policies

Florida International University and Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences policies, procedures, requirements and regulations are continually reviewed to serve the needs of the university/college’s publics and to respond to the mandates of the Florida Department of Education, Board of Governors, the Legislature, and other regulatory and accrediting agencies. Changes in programs, policies, procedures, requirements, and regulations may be made without notice.

Contact Us

For questions regarding our admission and/or application requirements, or for advising assistance, please contact the FIU Physical Therapy department:

            Tel: 305-348-6640