Do you already envision supporting athletes, older adults, pediatric patients, or trauma survivors to increase their well-being? The School of Physical Therapy is excited to announce a new, Guaranteed Admission pathway for University of Puget Sound undergraduates interested in graduate study in physical therapy. This pathway streamlines the admission process, allows for more intentional graduate degree planning, and is open to all students (regardless of major) who meet the necessary requirements.

With the school’s extensive local partnerships and vast alumni network, physical therapy students at Puget Sound benefit from small classes, personal relationships with professors, and extensive, hands-on experience—both in a free clinic where students deliver care mentored by licensed therapists and in the program’s 30 weeks of full-time clinical internships at external organizations. Trained as critical thinkers and compassionate caregivers, our graduates leave the program clinically ready, independent practitioners and collaborative professionals in the field.

Guaranteed Admission Criteria

  • Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.75 in prerequisite courses
  • Demonstrated appreciation of the depth and breadth of the profession
  • Reference from a physical therapist (required)
  • Application submitted through PTCAS

Note: The application fee and GRE requirement are waived. The TOEFL/IETLS are also not required, and no volunteer/observation experiences are required. Students who do not meet the above criteria can still apply.

What We Offer

  • On-site teaching clinic with expert clinicians
  • Off-campus internships from more than 300 sites across the U.S.
  • Strong record of high passing rates on professional licensing exam
  • Opportunities to collaborate with faculty on clinical research
  • Study abroad experience focused on serving under-resourced communities

Where Grads Work

  • Professional athletic teams
  • Community clinics
  • Pediatric hospitals
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Level 1 trauma centers

Prerequisites

Completion of all prerequisite courses is required before the beginning of physical therapy classes. Students must take all prerequisite courses at Puget Sound for guaranteed admission. Transfer students with prerequisites outside of Puget Sound are welcome to apply, and will be considered with the rest of the applicant pool.

  • Fundamentals of Chemistry I, II, or equivalent (one-year series with labs)
  • General College Physics or equivalent (one-year series with labs)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (with lab)
  • Introduction to Applied Statistics or equivalent
  • One course in psychology or sociology emphasizing human behavior or disability

Courses at Puget Sound that meet the above requirements:

  • CHEM 110/120 or 115/230 (with labs)
  • PHYS 111/112 or 121/122 (with labs)
  • EXSC 222 Human Anatomy and EXSC 221 Human Physiology (with lab)
  • MATH 160 Introduction to Applied Statistics; MATH 260 Intermediate Applied Statistics; PSYC 201 Methods and Statistics in Psychology; PSYC 314 Advanced Methods and Statistics in Psychology; PH 602 Introduction to Biostatistics; BIOL 211 General Ecology; or BIOL 231 Biostatistics
  • One course in psychology or sociology emphasizing human behavior or disability: i.e. PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology; PSYC 220 or 221 Developmental Psychology; PSYC 320 Psychological Disorders; SOAN 206 Deviance and Social Control; or SOAN 370 Disability, Identity, and Power
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