DPT Admissions

Admission to the Wheeling University (WU) Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) is competitive and dependent upon the completion of a baccalaureate degree and all pre-requisite course work from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater. In addition, candidates must earn a 3.0 GPA or greater in the courses listed below. At the time of application, applicants must be able to report grades from a minimum of 25 credits from these courses and have completed all required courses with a “C” or better in order to receive an interview for the professional program. Competition will be based on prerequisite and overall grade point averages, GRE scores, references, and interview. 

Prerequisite Requirements

• One course in anatomy with lab*
• One course in physiology with lab*
  *Or a two course sequence in anatomy and physiology with lab
• Two courses in biological sciences (not botany) with lab
• Two courses in general chemistry with lab
• Two courses in general physics with lab
• One course in psychology
• One course in statistics
• All science prerequisite courses must be for science majors. 
• Science coursework older than 10 years will not be accepted.  
• Courses with a grade of C- or lower will not be accepted for prerequisite courses. 
• When retaking the same prerequisite course at the same institution and earning a higher grade, the higher grade will be used in calculating the GPA.  However, if a prerequisite course is retaken at a different institution, or taken more than two times at the same institution, all grades earned will be used in calculating the GPA.

Anatomy and Physiology I and II

• One semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology can be substituted for Anatomy & Physiology I and II. 
• Anatomy must be a 4 credit course and must include a lab.  
• Physiology may be a 3 or 4 credit course and a lab is recommended, but not required.

Biology I and II

• Botany does NOT meet the Biology I or II requirement.
• Biology I must be a general biology course and must include a lab.
• Biology II may be microbiology, molecular, cell, etc. and must include a lab

Physics I and II

• Physics I and II must include a lab

Chemistry I and II

• Chemistry I and II must include a lab

Psychology

• One course in general psychology

Statistics

• One course in statistics

Please refer to the PTCAS Wheeling University page for prerequisite requirement details. 

Program Statistics:

*Results of one test only. 

** As reported on the AAR

All graduates who we were able to contact reported that they were employed as Physical Therapists. 

Application Process

The WU DPT program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Applicants applying to the entry-level doctor of physical therapy program will apply online using the PTCAS application.

To learn more about the PTCAS application process or to submit your application, please visit the PTCAS web site at www.ptcas.org.  If you have any questions about the application process, please contact PTCAS.

You will be asked by PTCAS to submit the following information:

1. Completed Application and Application Fee
2. Transcripts
3. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) the WU PT Department Code is 7819. Scores will be considered in the
   admission process.
4. Three letters of recommendation. Please follow instructions on PTCAS regarding required references.
5. Direct observation of physical therapists working in a variety of settings is recommended. A minimum
   of 80 documented hours verified by a physical therapist is required for application.
6. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL paper-based score of
   at least 600, TOEFL computer-based score of at least 250, or a TOEFL web-based score of at least
   100.

The Physical Therapy Program utilizes a rolling admissions process and applicants will be considered until our class is filled. However, in order to be considered for our on-campus interviews in November, applications must be received and verified by PTCAS by the soft deadline of October 15, 2021. 

The WU DPT program begins in May with a six-week online term consisting of four courses. Classes will begin on campus in late August of each year. Applications will be reviewed on their individual merit. Applicants will be notified in writing of full acceptance into the program, placement on a waiting list, or rejection within a month of their interview date.

Interview Process

The interview is a required, scored admissions activity used to evaluate the verbal/nonverbal communication, the understanding of the profession of physical therapy, and group interaction skills of the student. These are important abilities in the Problem-Based Learning professional program. References are another method used to determine a student’s preparation for the graduate physical therapy program.

Baccalaureate academic majors to consider

While there is no specific undergraduate major required for entrance into the professional graduate program, some majors may be more appropriate for entry than others:

• Psychology: A major in Psychology prepares students well in dealing and coping with the process of
  adjusting to illness or injury.
• Biology, Chemistry, and Physics: These constitute the fundamental coursework and will establish a link
  to other foundation sciences in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum.
• Health Science Degrees: Other healthcare professions; such as, Respiratory Therapy, Athletic
  Training, and Nursing provide a good knowledge base for the development of clinical reasoning skills.
• Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Sciences

Immunization Requirements

• MedProctor: The online portal used to upload your health requirements. This process will be initiated by the university once you are admitted to the program.
• Pre-Entrance Health Form (pdf)
• MMR (measles,mumps,rubella) 2dose vaccine series AND a titer (blood work) for each
• Hepatitis B – 3 dose vaccine series AND a titer (blood work). If you have not had the 3 dose vaccine series, please start the process, as soon as possible. You should have time to complete the first two doses before starting class. During this process you will be considered in ‘conditional status’ while waiting to get the 3rd (final) dose. You must schedule a titer once you’ve completed the series.
• Varicella – 2 dose vaccine series or documentation that you have had the disease AND a titer (blood work), regardless of having had the disease or vaccine series.
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis), 1 dose – Important note: A Tdap vaccine is only good for 10 years.
• Polio – 3 dose vaccine series
• Meningococcal – This vaccine is strongly recommended. Please visit the Center of Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov) to read the VIS for MCV4. If you choose not to receive this vaccine, you must sign the WU Meningococcal Release.
• Two-Step TST (tuberculin skin test)
• Annual physical
• Current Heath Insurance

Early Decision Program

WU participates in the Early Decision program offered by PTCAS. The Early Decision option is for applicants who have decided WU is their first choice, and that they will enroll if accepted.

Learn more about how Early Decision works.

Please note that our admissions committee will only consider applicants for Early Decision who meet all our admissions requirements AND have an overall GPA of at least 3.00.

Come visit us!

To schedule a campus visit, please contact: dpt@wheeling.edu or call 304-243-2432.