Admissions Requirements

Freshman Admission into the DPT Program

Misericordia University will continue test-blind admission review. Students who have taken the SAT or ACT are not required to submit their scores. Test scores will not be used in determining admission or academic scholarship awards.

The minimum criteria for consideration for admission as a pre-DPT student for freshman year are:

1. Class rank in the top one-third of the graduating class.
2. Successful completion of three years of mathematics, one year of biology, and one year of chemistry in high school.

Additionally, high school preparation in physics is highly recommended. Exposure to and exploration of physical therapy as demonstrated by paid or volunteer experience is strongly encouraged.

The student also will be required to choose the pre-DPT major in which he or she wishes to study. Click here for Academic Programs - undergraduate programs indicated as Pre-DPT Specialization meet our requirements.

A limited number of students is typically accepted on a space-available basis into the graduate portion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. To apply, contact the Admissions Office directly: www.misericordia.edu/apply.

The next graduate applications will be for the cohort that begins in Spring 2024. The deadline for submitting an application for graduate admission into the DPT program is April 15, 2023. Contact the Admissions Office for further information: www.admissions.misericordia.edu.

Background Check and Drug Screening Notice

A positive criminal record check, positive child abuse history and/or a positive drug screening may result in any of the following:

• inability to find or delay in finding a clinical placement
• dismissal from a clinical placement
• inability to obtain professional licensure
• legal ramifications
• inability to matriculate or continue in physical therapy program
• inability to meet requirements for graduation from the program

As a result, a student with a positive criminal record check, positive child abuse history, and/or a positive drug screen may not be able to complete the requirements of the physical therapy program, may not be eligible for licensure required for practice, and may be dismissed from the program.

Information for Graduate Applicants

Graduate students are admitted into the graduate DPT program that begins in the spring semester on a space-available basis. Students who currently attend Misericordia University and who wish to apply for admission into the DPT program will be evaluated along with external applicants. Admission to the Physical Therapy major is not guaranteed, and is on a space available basis. The deadline for submitting an application for graduate admission into the DPT program is April 15^th of the year before the student wishes to begin the graduate program. Applicants can expect a response by June 30^th of the same year.

The criteria for admission into the graduate DPT physical therapy program are:

• Completion of requirements for baccalaureate degree.
• Completion of required prerequisite courses with a grade of at least C for each course.
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.2.
• DPT Prerequisite Natural Science GPA of at least 3.0.
• The student may repeat no more than one prerequisite Natural Science course.
• Any grades earned in Natural Science courses taken for transfer credit are included in the DPT Prerequisite Natural Science GPA.
• Exposure to and exploration of physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of 50 or more hours in at least two different facilities or a minimum of one year’s full-time professional experience within the health care system.
• Evidence of Medical Terminology competency. It is strongly recommended that any medical terminology coursework should occur after the student has completed BIO 211/212 Anatomy and Physiology 1&2 or the equivalent. This competency can be fulfilled in several ways:

1. Demonstration of college level credit-bearing coursework of at least one credit, with a grade of C or better.

2. Completion of “Advanced Medical Terminology with Sound Recordings” non-credit course available at http://www.webbycyberclasses.com.

• Students pursuing this option do not have to purchase a certificate of completion. Inform the instructor that you are a Misericordia student.

3. Completion of MI 106 Medical Terminology (1 credit) with a grade of C or better.

• Students wishing to pursue this option should register during their junior year.

4. Previous employment or training in a health care profession involving the use of medical terminology.

• Must be approved by the Physical Therapy Department.

Applications can be submitted at: www.misericordia.edu/apply.

If all prerequisite courses or other requirements are not completed by the time of application, the applicant must submit a Plan of Study that details when the courses or other requirements will be completed.

The PT Graduate Admission Committee will consider only applications received by the Department by April 15^th of the year before the student wishes to begin the graduate program.

Prerequisite Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
CHM 104	General Chemistry with lab	4 credits
CHM 105	Introduction to Organic Chemistry with lab	4 credits
PHY 117	Introductory Physics I with lab	4 credits
PHY 118	Introductory Physics II with lab	4 credits
BIO 211	Anatomy & Physiology I with lab	4 credits
BIO 212	Anatomy & Physiology II with lab	4 credits
PSY 123	Introduction to Psychology	3 credits
SOC 101	Comparative Sociology	3 credits
MTH 115	Basic Statistics	3 credits
PSY 275	Child & Adolescent Psychology	3 credits
PSY 290	Psychopathology	3 credits