Psychology Pre-Physical Therapy B.S.
- Preparation for doctoral program in physical therapy
- Careers in the human services sector, such as counseling, crisis work, and performance enhancement
- Careers in research, from social and market research to experimental psychology
- Careers in the business sector, with positions in sales, public relations, and customer service
Major code: BS4105
Faculty Contact: Dr. Susan Tice-Alicke
Program Overview
Ohio University offers a unique opportunity to the prospective physical therapist. Recognized for leadership in the development of pre-professional physical therapy curricula since the 1930s, the Biological Sciences Department and the Psychology Department work cooperatively with the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences.
The Psychology Pre-Physical Therapy major (B.S.) provides students with a comprehensive understanding of psychology while providing students who want to become physical therapists with the necessary prerequisites to apply to physical therapy professional programs.
Careers & Graduate School
Graduates with a degree in Psychology Pre-Physical therapy are equipped with the necessary skills and academic knowledge to pursue a doctoral program in physical therapy.
If students choose to pursue a career upon graduation, they are equipped for a diverse array of careers due to their academic program's emphasis on communication and critical and analytical thinking. Career opportunities range from work in the human services sector, such as counseling, crisis work, and performance enhancement; work in research, from social and market research to experimental psychology; and even work in the business sector, with positions in sales, public relations, and customer service.
Potential employers of psychology graduates include, but are not limited to, the following: hospitals and health care providers; institutions of higher education; rehabilitation facilities; local, state, and national government agencies; social services and non-profit agencies; public and private K-12 schools; research organizations; service providers; etc.
Browse through dozens of Internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO's key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Those interested in graduate school should consider Ohio University's Guaranteed Admission Policy**. To enhance recruitment of highly qualified undergraduate students and to emphasize commitment to the Ohio University pre-physical therapy students, the Division of Physical Therapy will offer the Psychology Department guaranteed admission to seven students per academic year.
To be accepted into the Physical Therapy program at Ohio University, selected candidates must also meet all of the following criteria:
- GRE verbal and quantitative scores at the 50% percentile or higher
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.5
- Prerequisite GPA of at least 3.5
- 40 hours of PT volunteer/observation verified by a physical therapist
- 3 letters of recommendation from two different physical therapists and one college professor
**Selection of students is at the discretion of the Department of Psychology.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Preparation for Physical Therapy
Psychology Core Requirements
Complete the following courses for a minimum of 35 hours with PSY prefix:
- PSY 1010 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4.0
- PSY 2120 - Research Methods in Psychology Credit Hours: 4.0
- PSY 2210 - Physiological Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PSY 2310 - Cognitive Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PSY 2410 - Child and Adolescent Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PSY 2510 - Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3.0
- PSY 2710 - Psychopathology Credit Hours: 3.0
Addition Psychology Core Requirements
Complete three Psychology courses at the 3000-level or higher (excluding PSY 3910, 3920, 3940, 3970T, 3980T, 4930, 4970H, 4970T, 4980H, 4980T, and 4990H).
Extra-Departmental Courses
Complete the following courses:
- BIOS 1700 - Biological Sciences I: Molecules and Cells Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 1705 - Biological Sciences I Laboratory Credit Hours: 1.0
- BIOS 1710 - Biological Sciences II: Ecology, Evolution, Animal Body Systems Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 1715 - Biological Sciences II Laboratory Credit Hours: 1.0
- BIOS 3010 - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 3015 - Human Anatomy Lab Credit Hours: 1.0
- BIOS 3450 - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 3455 - Human Physiology Laboratory Credit Hours: 2.0
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4.0
- CHEM 1520 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4.0
- PHYS 2001 - Introduction to Physics Credit Hours: 4.0
- PHYS 2002 - Introduction to Physics Credit Hours: 4.0
- PT 2590 - Introduction to Physical Therapy Credit Hours: 2.0
- PT 2591 - Introductions to Physical Therapy Clinical Experience Credit Hours: 2.0
- SOC 1000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3.0
Complete one of the following MATH courses:
- MATH 1350 - Survey of Calculus Credit Hours: 4.0
- MATH 2301 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4.0
Complete one of the following PHIL courses:
- PHIL 1300 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3.0
- PHIL 3310 - Moral Problems in Medicine Credit Hours: 3.0
Complete one of the following options:
Option 1: Biological Sciences. Complete the following courses:
- BIOS 4450 - Physiology of Exercise Credit Hours: 3.0
- BIOS 4455 - Physiology of Exercise Laboratory Credit Hours: 1.0
Option 2: Exercise Physiology. Complete the following courses:
- EXPH 4140 - Physiology of Exercise Credit Hours: 3.0
- EXPH 4150 - Physiology of Exercise Lab Credit Hours: 1.0