Doctorate of Physical Therapy: DPT Program

Widener Pre-Physical Therapy Pathway

First-year students with exceptional high school transcripts who have demonstrated strong performance in science courses and on the SAT may be offered a reserved seat in the 3+3 or 4+3 DPT program. These undergraduates are students in the College of Arts & Sciences, selecting one of several degree paths that help to prepare them for graduate study in physical therapy.

• Students with a reserved seat will submit an application to the graduate program in the fall of their junior (3+3) or senior (4+3) year. They will need to provide only one letter of recommendation (from a licensed physical therapist) and will have the graduate program's GRE requirement waived.
• Throughout the time of undergraduate study, students must follow the prescribed program, maintaining an overall GPA of 3.3 or greater. All prerequisite courses for admission to the graduate physical therapy degree program must be completed with a minimum grade of B. All prerequisite coursework must be completed at Widener.
• Applicants must have 40 hours of volunteer or work experience in the field, preferably working with both inpatient and outpatient clients.

Enter with Bachelor's Degree

Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from Widener or another university may apply to the program under the entry-level DPT pathway. Students entering under this option usually include recent graduates and students seeking a career change.

Enter with a PTA Associate's Degree

Students who have earned an associate's degree in a physical therapy assistant program may transfer up to 60 credits to Widener University to complete their undergraduate degree in the Extended Learning divisions of the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Learning. After completion of the undergraduate degree and all prerequisite courses, these students apply through the regular application process.

• Complete online application and pay application fee through PTCAS.
• The Institute for Physical Therapy Education admits students who demonstrate the capacity for graduate-level studies through a satisfactory grade point average (GPA) at the undergraduate level and satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  • The GPA for combined science courses is expected to be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Competitive students will have a combined science GPA of 3.5 or greater.
• Transcripts must be sent to PTCAS.
• Applicants must have 40 hours of volunteer or work experience in the field, preferably working with both inpatient and outpatient clients.
• Three letters of recommendations should be submitted through PTCAS. At least one must be from a physical therapist, at least one must be from a professor, and one can be from any other source. We do not recommend that you use family members or family friends as reference sources.  

Students are encouraged to contact the program early to assess the need for completion of prerequisite coursework, which includes:

• Biology (3 semester hours)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology (6 semester hours, as separate or combined courses)
• Chemistry (8 semester hours)
• Physics (6 semester hours) Lab is recommended, but not required
• Humanities (9 semester hours, including 3 semester hours of English composition)
• Social Science (9 semester hours, including 6 semester hours of psychology)
• Statistics (3 semester hours)

Students must receive a C or better in prerequisite courses.  Students are strongly discouraged from taking these courses for non-letter grade such as Pass/Fail, Satisfactory, or similar.  

Students taking prerequisite courses in the summer prior to application should send transcripts to PTCAS after summer course grades have been recorded.  

All students outside the reserved seat program must apply through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) website. Upon completion and verification of the application, you may be asked to come for an interview day.

Widener transfer applicants follow the same application process as general applicants. After you apply, our admissions team will work with you to determine whether completed undergraduate and graduate coursework will count towards foundation/core courses that can be waived or substituted.

Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.

Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process. This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.

How to Apply as a Graduate International Student

• Complete your online application
• Submit your official transcripts from all college/university post-secondary institutions. A course-by-course credential evaluation completed by a NACES certified organization will be accepted if the transcript is not in the English language.
• Fulfill the English Proficiency requirements
• If you require an F-1 visa, you must provide written proof you have adequate funding available to meet the expenses incurred while studying in the United States

Learn more about applying as an international student

Getting started is easy. Simply apply to Widener and submit your FAFSA to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants. "FAFSA" stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and helps identify whether you are eligible for aid awarded by Widener, the government, and other sources. Our school code is 003313.

In order to receive a financial aid offer, students must meet certain eligibility requirements. Here are the general eligibility requirements for most financial aid programs:

• Must demonstrate financial need
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be enrolled or admitted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program

Learn more about applying for financial aid as a graduate student