Department of Physical Therapy - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions - Physical Therapy

Q. How would you describe the program?

A. The YSU-MPT is a 3 year full-time entry-level masters program. Each admitted class begins in summer and completes all courses together in a cohort group of up to 20 students. Four clinical affiliations are completed during the program, which affords students an opportunity to work with clinicians in a variety of settings.

Q. What degree is granted?

A. Currently graduates are granted the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Note that all graduates after 2002 must be granted a post-baccalaureate degree and therefore no accredited undergraduate programs will exist. The YSU Program is in process to offer the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) projected for summer 2007.

Q. Is the program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)?

A. Yes, the MPT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education. This status is afforded only to programs that have been accredited at the undergraduate level and who have submitted extensive documentation regarding their ability to meet the accreditation criteria in the graduate program.

Q. Do you need to have a completed (non-PT) undergraduate degree to apply?

A. No, students may apply prior to completing an undergraduate degree but they must be able to complete the undergraduate degree by the end of the first Fall semester after admission. For YSU students, this means completing the degree in 3 1/2 years, which may require courses to be taken in earlier summers.

Q. If I already have a completed undergraduate degree, may I apply?

A. Yes, applicants with earned undergraduate degrees may apply but must have fulfilled the same prerequisites for admission. In addition, the entire three-year professional program must still be completed because it consists of professional courses not completed by admitted students.

Q. If I have experience in a related health field or profession, can I 'test-out' of PT courses?

A. No, all courses are required to complete the first professional degree as a physical therapist.

Q. Can I attend part-time and complete the program in a longer period?

A. No, the full-time program is taught to a cohort group of students and courses are completed in a carefully sequenced manner to prepare for final clinical experiences.

Q. What degrees are offered at YSU that include many of the PT program prerequisite courses (Pre-PT)?

A. Some students complete undergraduate degrees in Biology or Psychology (both in the College of Arts and Sciences) or they choose to complete the Human Performance and Exercise Science degree (in the College of Health and Human Services).

Q. Does it matter which Pre-PT degree I choose?

A. No, any non-PT degree may be completed. In fact, majors other than those listed above are equally appropriate. The only difficulty in choosing other majors is that completion of PT prerequisites must be carefully planned or may postpone the student's ability to complete the undergraduate degree in a timely manner.

Q. What are the requirements to apply?

A. Applicants must have a 3.0 overall GPA and satisfactory completion of the GRE exam. A 3.0 prerequisite GPA is recommended. All prerequisites must be completed or planned for completion (department approval must be given to complete prerequisites during the first two MPT terms.) Volunteer hours (40) are expected and should be completed in at least two sites; one site should involve acute care, rehabilitation, or long-term care. Applicants will be asked to submit recommendations and complete a small group interview process.

Q. Does completion of requirements guarantee admission?

A. No, applicants are ranked by scores on GPA, prerequisite GPA, interview, references, and residency status. The competitiveness for admission depends, therefore, on the applicant pool.

Q. Do you have to have a high GPA to be admitted?

A. While a 3.0 GPA is considered minimum for application, the average GPA of recent classes has been between 3.6-3.7. Many students are discouraged from considering PT school based on such information but should recall that this is only an average and reflects scores both higher and lower. 3.0 reflects a typical graduate standard. Students at or below this may have difficulty completing the rigor of graduate school courses. Admission, if below the minimum, is granted only with Graduate Studies approval and the student is granted “provisional” status. The student may take 9 credit hours to demonstrate the ability to earn a B average.

Q. If I have taken courses elsewhere, will they be accepted?

A. Prerequisites from other institutions are evaluated by the admissions committee. If you are considering a course elsewhere, it is best to check that the course number (level) and content match the YSU equivalent as closely as possible. The committee will decide whether additional coursework may be required during the first two terms (summer and fall) after admission.

Q. Where can I get additional information on the YSU-MPT?

A. Contact the department at 330-941-2558.