Pre-Physical Therapy

Pre-Physical Therapy

Two Options for Your Physical Therapy Future

Physical therapy (PT) is consistently rated among the top growing professions, with physical therapists serving a dynamic role in healthcare. Clarkson has offered a graduate degree in physical therapy for nearly 20 years.

Undergraduate students at Clarkson who want to pursue a career in physical therapy have two options for reaching their professional goals.

Option 1: Direct Entry Physical Therapy 4 Plus 3 BS/DPT Program

One application. Two healthcare degrees. Our direct entry healthcare program streamlines your path to becoming a physical therapy professional.

Students complete four years of undergraduate study at Clarkson for a BS degree, then directly enter our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. There’s no second application, as long as all the requirements and academic criteria have been met. Students who enter the direct entry program also have access to courses and experiences in the pre-physical therapy advising track.

Learn more about Clarkson’s Direct Entry Programs

Option 2: Pre-Physical Therapy Advising Track

As part of our pre-health sciences advising tracks, the pre-physical therapy advising track provides students with many advantages that help them reach their educational and career goals, without committing to a graduate program.

The pre-physical therapy advising track includes access to:

  • healthcare internship and co-op experiences
  • relevant minors, such as medicine and healthcare
  • special Pre-Physical Therapy courses
  • personalized attention through a pre-health adviser and physical therapy adviser
  • healthcare-related student clubs and organizations, such as the Physical Therapy Club
  • hands-on medical research opportunities
  • state-of-the-art facilities such as our cadaver lab

Relevant Health Courses and Minors

Students participating in our Pre-Physical Therapy track greatly benefit from Clarkson's course and minor offerings that are relevant to a future career in healthcare. After choosing from one of our 50-plus majors, students still find time in their four years at Clarkson to choose relevant minors to take their studies further. We also offer all of the required coursework needed for Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, including: biology, chemistry, physics, math/calculus/statistics, English, psychology and sociology, anatomy and physiology.

For students who know that a career in the health field is in their future, we offer several minors that provide the right experience and coursework needed to meet their goals. They include:  

Pre-physical therapy students can take Health Coaches, a yearlong course featuring weekly discussions with healthcare professionals on topics such as population health, chronic diseases in the healthcare system and community medicine. This course also includes a semester working with patients to gain service and experience hours in the medical field.

Facilities, Resources & Research

Simulation Spaces

Our state-of-the-art Simulation Lab is an extension of the classroom that allows students to apply strategies learned in lectures to hands-on activities in a realistic environment. The Sim Lab consists of a fully functioning house and outdoor environment, complete with a vehicle. Mock hospital rooms also allow students to practice evaluations and interventions in acute care settings.

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Spaces

Cadaver Lab

An integral part of our undergraduate anatomy and physiology course is our Cadaver Lab, where students have the chance to work with an actual cadaver, something that isn't offered to undergraduate students at many other universities.

The Innovation Hub

Clarkson Ignite is an innovation ecosystem that connects students to faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders to gain critical hands-on, creative experience. The Innovation Hub (above), located in the heart of campus, is home to a variety of innovation spaces such as the Dorf Makerspace and Digital Making Suite.

Personalized Attention & Advising

At Clarkson, we provide our undergraduate healthcare students with a team of staff from across the University to help plan course schedules, develop the credentials needed to get complete requirements for our graduate programs, study for placement exams and successfully enter their direct entry program of choice. Every student has a personalized experience to reach their individual goals.

The Office of University Advising provides a Pre-Health Student Advisor who specializes in mentoring and coaching our students throughout their time at Clarkson to reach their goals. Our Career Center works with students to assist in helping them find relevant internships and co-op opportunities that will boost their resumes and give them the experience needed to navigate the vast healthcare industry. Our faculty, especially in the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, and psychology are experienced in providing additional mentorship to students who are eager to find success in healthcare.

Learn about the Office of University Advising

Contact Us

Department of Graduate Admissions

Email: pthealth@clarkson.edu

Phone: 518-631-9831

Interested in learning more about the Doctor of Physical Therapy program? Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions today with your questions.

Achieve Your Purpose Here

Start your path to becoming a physical therapist through one of Clarkson's two options.