About Lipscomb
QUICK FACTS: PHYSICAL THERAPY
Description of the profession: Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals who have medical problems or other health-related conditions which limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities. They may work in hospitals, clinics, schools, sports and fitness facilities, nursing homes and other settings. Physical therapists develop individualized plans for each of their patients to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability (American Physical Therapy Association, APTA).
Salary and employment opportunities: In 2008, the median salary for a physical therapist was about $72,790. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) reports on their web page that salary for a recent graduate of the school is $50,000 - $60,000 (2009). Unemployment rate for physical therapists is low (0.2%) according to APTA.
Education required:
Most professional programs are now doctoral programs and award the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT ) degree. To enter the program, a student must hold a baccalaureate degree. The undergraduate major may be in any area as long as the prerequisite courses are taken.
Undergraduate: 4 years
Professional: 3 years
Admission requirements:
| Required science courses: | 8 hours of Biology |
| General Chemistry I & II | |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II | |
| Elementary College Physics I & II | |
| Elementary Statistics | |
| Required psychology courses: | Introduction to Psychology |
| Life Span Development | |
| Graduate Record Exam (GRE): | UTHSC considers a combined score of 1000 to be competitive; Belmont University's average score for those accepted is 900. |
| Experience in the area of physical therapy: | Belmont requires a minimum of 50 hours; UTHSC reports no minimum but says the average for admitted students was 100 hours. |
| Grade Point Average: | Belmont: 3.70 average for the 2009 entering class. (minimum considered is 3.0) |
| UTHSC: 3.50 average for the 2010 entering class (minimum considered is 2.0) | |