麻豆原创

MU logo
MU logo

Applied Pre-Physical Therapy

Manchester鈥檚 Pre-Physical Therapy program prepares you to become a highly skilled healthcare professional. Gain hands-on experience, build essential knowledge in human movement and rehabilitation, and receive expert guidance as you pursue your BS in Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences鈥攑ositioning you for success in competitive Doctor of Physical Therapy programs.

two physical therapy students pose for a picture together

Pre-Physical Therapy Applied Degree in Three Years

With an applied program degree at 麻豆原创, you’ll only need 90+ total credits to complete your BS within the Pre PT Program. Designed to align with the entry requirements for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Manchster University Fort Wayne, this program ensures you鈥檙e ready for next steps academically and professionally. However, students are still offered the traditional four-year degree pathway within the 120-hour total credit hours of coursework. Whether your goal is to help others recover from injury, improve mobility, or manage chronic conditions, you鈥檒l graduate ready to make a difference as a future healthcare provider.

Program Information:

Major | Applied BS

Location

  • North Manchester
A student works under the instruction of a professional in the 麻豆原创 Fort Wayne Physical Therapy lab while stretching the leg of a female volunteer in a yellow 麻豆原创 hoodie.

Accelerated or Traditional: Two Pathways to a Career in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Degree in 3-years

麻豆原创 gives you two clear pathways to graduation, so you can choose the timeline that fits your goals. Degree in Three is the first program of its kind in the state of Indiana, leading to an Applied Degree, and it lets you complete your bachelor鈥檚 degree in just six semesters.You鈥檒l move through your courses at an intentional, accelerated pace, earning 90 or more credits and stepping confidently into a master鈥檚 program or the workforce.

Graduate in 4 Years

If you want the full four-year experience (more time for athletics, Esports, student activities, research, internships, or simply immersing yourself in campus life) you can follow the traditional timeline and complete 120 credits within 麻豆原创’s Exercise Science – Clinical Rehabilitation Sciences Program. Both routes lead to the same high-quality Manchester degree; the choice is all about what works best for you.

Why Choose 麻豆原创 for Pre-Physical Therapy?

Athletic Training two female Students

What You Can Do with Your Applied Pre-Physical Therapy Degree

麻豆原创鈥檚 Pre-Physical Therapy Program is your gateway to a multitude of academic and professional opportunities as a healthcare professional. Easily completing your Pre-PT Degree in three years, graduates of the program can continue their education at 麻豆原创 Fort Wayne’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Here we provide highly sought-after skills and experience for a wide range of opportunities in areas such as:

Licensed Physical Therapist

Diagnose and treat patients in clinical and outpatient healthcare settings

Rehabilitation Specialist

Support recovery in hospitals, nursing homes, and senior care facilities.

Clinical Researcher

Contribute to advancements in therapies through scientific study and analysis.

Sports Medicine Consultant

Advise athletes and teams on injury prevention and physical recovery.

Subtle_Texture_Gray_Program

Average Starting Salary for Pre-Physical Therapy Graduates

Graduates who go on to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree enjoy strong job prospects and competitive salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for physical therapists was $97,720 in 2022, with the top 10 percent earning more than $142,730. Salaries vary by setting, location, and specialization鈥攖hose working in hospitals or outpatient clinics often earn more. Demand continues to rise, making physical therapy a stable and rewarding career path.

a female student walks with a walker as a professor watches in a physical therapy classroom

How the Pre-Physical Therapy Applied Program Supports Your Growth

What Does 鈥淎pplied鈥 Pre-Physical Therapy Mean?

An applied degree is a focused, career-oriented bachelor鈥檚 degree that requires 90 credit hours instead of the traditional 120. The 麻豆原创 Pre-Physical Therapy Applied Program allows you a quick route to finish your degree in three years. It emphasizes practical, real-world skills over general education electives, preparing students to enter the workforce or attend graduate school sooner.

Students benefit by saving time and money鈥攐ften graduating a year earlier and with significantly lower tuition costs.

Pre-Physical Therapy Courses and Curriculum

麻豆原创鈥檚 Pre-Physical Therapy curriculum offers a science-rich, clinically grounded path toward graduate study in physical therapy. With a clear academic progression and 65+ available program credits, students gain the foundational knowledge and applied experience needed for DPT program readiness.

Example Courses:

  • 2 Biology courses, excluding botany and zoology (labs preferred)
  • 2 General Chemistry courses (labs required)
  • 2 General Physics courses (labs preferred)
  • 1 Human Anatomy course (lab required)
  • 1 Human Physiology course(lab preferred)
  • 1 Psychology course
  • 1 Statistics course

Total Available Credits for Pre-PT Curriculum: 65+

View All Coursework

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the scientific terminology, facts, principles, laws, and concepts of exercise as appropriate for an entry-level health/fitness professional.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will identify and master key concepts and principles of human performance (eg: General Physical Preparedness, General Fitness Markers, Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning, and enhancing Athletic Performance).

2. Students will apply fundamental human movement principles in the areas of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to a variety of exercise/fitness contexts and populations in order to design safe and effective training programs for a multitude of populations.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will analyze functional movement to identify pre-existing conditions in human movement and how to best navigate limiting factors and optimize performance.
  • Students will evaluate and create safe and effective exercise and fitness programs for a multitude of athlete/client populations.

3. Students will demonstrate the knowledge of behavior strategies to enhance fitness and health behavior changes, specifically in the areas of general health, nutrition, mental health, and athletic performance.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will understand components of health and fitness plans in order to accommodate client and drive specific physical adaptations/goals.

4. Students will evaluate scientific literature to synthesize relevant information in exercise/fitness to be subject matter experts and contributing members of the field.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will conduct research, interviews, and engage in academic discourse to showcase their mastery of the content and ability to contribute to the field.

Pathway to Manchester鈥檚 Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Manchester鈥檚 Pre-Physical Therapy program is more than just preparation鈥攊t鈥檚 a launchpad. In addition to fulfilling undergraduate prerequisites for most DPT programs nationwide, this pathway gives you a competitive edge when applying to Manchester鈥檚 own Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program.

You鈥檒l benefit from:

  • Early exposure to graduate-level expectations
  • Guidance from DPT faculty and advisors
  • Opportunities for early assurance or streamlined admissions

With focused preparation and integrated advising, you鈥檒l be positioned for success in the next phase of your healthcare journey.

Meet the Faculty

You Might Also Be Interested In These Programs

Subtle_Texture_Gray2_Program

Non-Discrimination in the Admission Process

麻豆原创 is committed to non-discrimination in campus life. The University does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, ancestry, race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, disability or veteran status in admissions or any area of campus life, including its educational programs, scholarships and loan awards, residence life programs, athletic programs, extracurricular programs, promotion and tenure policies and practice, and alumni affairs.

麻豆原创 is committed to carry out the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act, which provide for accessibility of University programs to the physically disabled.

exists --- (function ensure40pxInlineEarly() { function set40(el) { el && el.style.setProperty('padding-top', '40px', 'important'); } // If header already parsed, set now; otherwise set as soon as it appears. const hdrNow = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdrNow) { set40(hdrNow); return; } new MutationObserver((muts, obs) => { const hdr = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdr) { set40(hdr); obs.disconnect(); } }).observe(document.documentElement, { childList: true, subtree: true }); })(); // --- Helpers --- function hideDiviBars() { document.querySelectorAll('.divibars-container').forEach(div => { const content = (div.textContent || '').replace(/\u00A0/g, ' ').trim(); const shouldHide = !content || /all\s*clear/i.test(content) || /test/i.test(content) || /feed\s*has\s*no\s*items\.?/i.test(content); if (shouldHide) div.style.setProperty('display', 'none', 'important'); }); } function isEffectivelyVisible(el) { if (!el || !el.isConnected) return false; const target = el.querySelector('.divibars, .divibars-wrapper, .divibars-content') || el; const cs = getComputedStyle(target); if (cs.display === 'none' || cs.visibility === 'hidden' || target.hidden) return false; if (parseFloat(cs.opacity || '1') < 0.05) return false; if (target.closest('[aria-hidden="true"]')) return false; const rect = target.getBoundingClientRect(); const hasSize = (rect.width > 0 && rect.height > 0) || (target.offsetWidth > 0 && target.offsetHeight > 0); if (!hasSize) return false; const vh = window.innerHeight || document.documentElement.clientHeight; return rect.bottom > 0 && rect.top < vh; } function anyRealBannerVisible() { // A 鈥渞eal鈥 banner = visible AND not empty/test/all-clear/feed-empty return Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(CANDS)).some(el => { if (!isEffectivelyVisible(el)) return false; const txt = (el.textContent || '').replace(/\u00A0/g, ' ').trim(); if (!txt) return false; if (/all\s*clear/i.test(txt) || /test/i.test(txt) || /feed\s*has\s*no\s*items\.?/i.test(txt)) return false; return true; }); } function setForce110(on) { const root = document.documentElement; const was = root.classList.contains('divibar-force-110'); if (!!on === was) return; root.classList.add('divibar-atomic'); root.classList.toggle('divibar-force-110', !!on); // If we鈥檙e NOT forcing 110, clear any stray inline 110 the plugin may add later. if (!on) { const hdr = document.getElementById(HEADER_ID); if (hdr) hdr.style.setProperty('padding-top', '40px', 'important'); } requestAnimationFrame(() => root.classList.remove('divibar-atomic')); } // Debounced 2-frame confirmation to avoid flicker during animations let raf1 = null, raf2 = null; function scheduleRecompute() { if (raf1) return; raf1 = requestAnimationFrame(() => { raf1 = null; hideDiviBars(); const a = anyRealBannerVisible(); raf2 = requestAnimationFrame(() => { raf2 = null; const b = anyRealBannerVisible(); setForce110(a && b); }); }); } // --- Wiring --- document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', scheduleRecompute); window.addEventListener('load', scheduleRecompute); window.addEventListener('resize', () => { cancelAnimationFrame(raf1); raf1 = null; cancelAnimationFrame(raf2); raf2 = null; scheduleRecompute(); }); new MutationObserver(() => scheduleRecompute()).observe(document.documentElement, { childList: true, subtree: true, attributes: true, attributeFilter: ['style', 'class', 'aria-hidden'] }); document.addEventListener('transitionend', e => { if (e.target && e.target.closest(CANDS)) scheduleRecompute(); }); document.addEventListener('animationend', e => { if (e.target && e.target.closest(CANDS)) scheduleRecompute(); }); document.addEventListener('click', function (e) { const btn = e.target && e.target.closest('.divibars-close'); if (!btn) return; setTimeout(() => { const bar = btn.closest('.divibars-container, [class*="divibar"]'); if (bar) bar.style.setProperty('display', 'none', 'important'); scheduleRecompute(); }, 200); }, true); // Initial pass scheduleRecompute(); })();