Physical Therapy
Your path to a Physical Therapy program starts here …
Navigating the path to a physical therapy program can be complex. We're here to guide you every step of the way.
Plan Your Path to a Physical Therapy Program
Choose Your Ideal Physical Therapy Program: Align your UIS coursework with the prerequisites of your preferred physical therapy school, considering factors like location, student body, and curriculum. Accredited by CAPTE to ensure quality education and public service readiness, use their resources, including a directory of accredited PT programs, for informed decision-making.
Plan Your Course of Study: Your journey to a physical therapy program requires careful planning. From selecting the right prerequisites to aligning your courses with physical therapy program requirements, our advisors are here to tailor a plan that suits your goals.
Join our Pre-Health Community: Benefit from transformative support and connections, including mentorship, hands-on experiences, and collaborative projects, all essential for your healthcare journey. Engage with our community of faculty, staff, students, and professional mentors.
Classes
Each physical therapy program sets its own unique requirements, yet there are several standard prerequisites you're likely to encounter. Here's an overview of the commonly required courses.
| Typical PA Program Requirements | What to take at UIS |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry - 2 semesters | GENERAL CHEMISTRY – CHE 141 AND CHE 142 |
| Biology - 2 semesters | BIOLOGY – BIO 141 AND BIO 142 |
| Upper-level biology | BIOLOGY – BIO 311, BIO 381, BIO 429, or BIO 495 |
| Physics – 2 Semesters | PHYSICS – ALGEBRA-BASED PHYSICS (FORTHCOMING) OR ASP 201 AND ASP 202 |
| ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY – BIO 201/202 OR BIO 429/431 | |
| Statistics – 1 semester | STATISTICS – MAT 121 |
| Psychology – 2 Semesters | PSYCHOLOGY – PSY 101 and PSY 221 |
General Advice
Thinking of becoming a physical therapist? Explore the American Physical Therapy Association’s PT Moves Me to Student Recruitment Campaign to determine if it is a fit.
Recommendation: Students interested in physical therapy should consider minoring in Psychology.
Foundation Course: PSY 101 - Principles of Psychology
Psychology Minor Courses
- Required Course: PSY 302 - Research Methods in Psychology
- Suggested Elective Courses: (Choose a total of 12 hours)
- PSY 221 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- PSY 333 - Positive Psychology
- PSY 335 - Health Psychology
- PSY 416 - Psychology of Motivation
- PSY 457 - Applied Behavior Analysis