Belmont University

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION (2011-12)

Christina Harness
Admissions Assistant
Belmont University
School of Physical Therapy
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37212
Phone: 615-460-6722
Phone (alternate number): 615-460-6726
Email: pt@belmont.edu
Website: http://www.belmont.edu/pt/admissions/index.html

APPLICATION DEADLINE for 2012 ENTERING CLASS

PTCAS Application Deadline	October 3, 2011
Deadline Type	SOFT Deadline
Application Close Date (for soft deadlines only)	February 1, 2012
Program Has Rolling Admissions Process?	NO
Important Dates (if any): The program prefers that applicants submit an application in August 2011 to allow time for PTCAS processing. Interview by invitation only dates are tentatively scheduled to be on the following dates: September 16, 2011 – Early and Regular Decision Candidates November 4, 2011 December 2, 2011 A limited number of interview opportunities are available.

EARLY DECISION

Program participates in the PTCAS Early Decision Applicants MUST apply and submit all materials to PTCAS by AUGUST 15.

YES

If yes, special eligibility requirements and instructions for early decision candidates to program

Interview Date for Early Decision is tentatively scheduled for September 16, 2011.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

If supplemental materials are required, send items directly to the PT program.

Supplemental APPLICATION required?	YES
Supplemental MATERIALS required?	NO
If yes, list of items
Supplemental FEE required?	YES
If yes, amount	$50
Supplemental deadline(s) DD-MM-YYYY	03-Oct-2011
Link to supplemental forms or instructions	https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/ ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=belmontg
Custom (program-specific) questions on the PTCAS application

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites

Must applicants earn a Bachelor's degree prior to enrolling into the PT program? Yes
Link to program’s prerequisite web page: http://www.belmont.edu/pt/admissions/index.html

#	COURSE SUBJECT	COURSE LEVEL	4-YR *	LAB **	SEM HRS	ACCEPTABLE COURSES	COURSE DESCRIPTION
1	Chemistry I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic	Fundamental concepts and principles are emphasized. Emphasis is placed on structure, nomenclature, oxidation numbers and the mole concept. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
2	Chemistry II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry: Organic	Includes solutions, behavior of electrolytes, ionic and molecular equilibria, and nuclear chemistry, as well as, a brief introduction to the chemistry of carbon and its compounds. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
3	Biology I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Animal A&P: Comparative A&P: Exercise Physiology A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: Pathophysiology A&P: Vertebrate Biology: Cell Biology: Embryology Biology: GENERAL Biology: Genetics Biology: Histology Biology: Immunology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology	An introductory study of molecular and cellular biology. Topics include the molecular basis of cellular processes, structure and physiology of cells, molecular and Mendelian genetics, and microevolution. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
4	Biology II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Animal A&P: Comparative A&P: Exercise Physiology A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: Pathophysiology A&P: Vertebrate Biology: Cell Biology: Embryology Biology: GENERAL Biology: Genetics Biology: Histology Biology: Immunology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology	An introductory study of macroevolution, organismal biology and ecology. Topics include the structure and physiology of plants, the structure and physiology of animals, biodiversity, and ecological systems. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
5	Anatomy	General or College	NO	REQ	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Animal A&P: Comparative A&P: Human A&P: Mammalian A&P: Vertebrate	A study of the cells and tissues as well as the skeletal, muscular, neural, and special sensory systems of the human body. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
6	Physiology	General or College	NO	REQ	4	A&P: SEPARATE courses A&P: COMBINED courses A&P: Exercise Physiology A&P: Human A&P: Pathophysiology	A study of the endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and reproductive systems of the human body. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
7	Statistics	Introductory	NO	NO	3	Biology: Biostatistics Business: Statistics Math: Statistics Psychology: Statistics	An introduction to statistical reasoning. Topics include descriptive measures, elementary probability distributions, sampling distributions, one and two sample inferences on means and proportions, simple linear regression, and correlation. Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
8	Social or Behavioral Science (1)	Introductory	NO	N/A	3	Psychology: Abnormal Psychology: Adolescent Psychology: Child Psychology: Death & Dying Psychology: Developmental Psychology: GENERAL Psychology: Human Behavior Psychology: Growth & Dev. Psychology: Life Span Dev. Psychology: Rehabilitation Psychology: Social Psychology: Sports Sociology Anthropology Ethics	Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
9	Social or Behavioral Science (2)	Introductory	NO	N/A	3	Psychology: Abnormal Psychology: Adolescent Psychology: Child Psychology: Death & Dying Psychology: Developmental Psychology: GENERAL Psychology: Human Behavior Psychology: Growth & Dev. Psychology: Life Span Dev. Psychology: Rehabilitation Psychology: Social Psychology: Sports Sociology Anthropology Ethics	Please note - no course may be used to satisfy more than one pre-requisite.
10	Physics I	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Physics I	One year sequence in Physics required (2 semesters or 3 quarters).
11	Physics II	General or College	NO	REQ	4	Physics II

* YES=course must be completed in a 4-year college/university and NOT in a community college.
** REQ=required lab; Rec=recommended lab; NO=lab not required; N/A=not applicable

Additional information about program’s course requirements:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

For 2011-12 Cycle: Due to changes in the GRE, programs may require or prefer that you take the exam early and before the "GRE® revised General Test" is introduced on August 1. Early Decision candidates in PTCAS must take the GRE and request scores to be sent by no later than July 31.

GRE General Test = Testing on or before July 31, 2011
GRE REVISED General Test = Testing on or after August 1, 2011

Is the GRE required?	Required
Program’s GRE College Code for 2011-12 Cycle	7589 (new)
GRE Accepted by Program for 2011-12 Cycle	GRE® General Test preferred (take GRE by 7/3)
Last acceptable GRE test date – DD-MM-YYYY (if applicable)	30-Jul-2011
Oldest GRE score considered – DD-MM-YYYY (if applicable)	05-Jul-2006

GRE table below may contain blank fields if program data is not available or applicable.

GRE Section	Minimum GRE Score	Average GRE Score for Accepted Students
Verbal	400	490
Verbal Percentile
Quantitative		630
Quantitative Percentile
Analytical Writing		4.1
Analytical Writing Percentile
Additional information about program’s GRE requirements	Composite GRE (verbal & quantitative combined) minimum is 900. Due to changes in the GRE, applicants who apply for the 2012 entering class are strongly encouraged take the GRE before July 31.

References

Number of references required by program: 2 References

EVALUATOR TYPE	Applicant must send one reference from this SPECIFIC type of evaluator	Applicant must send a reference from one or more evaluators in this category to fulfill program's requirements	Evaluator Type ACCEPTED	Evaluator Type NOT Accepted
Physical Therapist-1	X
Physical Therapist-2			X
Professor in Major			X
Professor			X
Academic			X
Supervisor/Employer			X
Teaching Assistant			X
PTA				X
Pre-PT Advisor			X
Politician/Elected Official				X
Health Care Professional			X
Friend				X
Family Member				X
Co-worker				X
Clergy				X
OTHER				X

Additional information about program’s reference requirements:

PT Observation Hours

Enter your PT observation hours on your PTCAS application. Print the PT Observation Hours form from the PTCAS application or use online PT Hours signature process, if the program requires you to have your hours verified by a physical therapist. Send signed forms to PTCAS.

PT HOURS	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Description of Program’s PT Hours Requirement	PT hours are required - no verification by a physical therapist
Total Number of PT Hours REQUIRED	50
Total Number of PT Hours RECOMMENDED
DEADLINE for Completion of All PT Hours DD-MM-YYYY	01-Feb-2012
PAID Experience	Accepted
VOLUNTEER Experience	Accepted
INPATIENT Experience	Accepted
OUTPATIENT Experience	Accepted
Additional information about program’s PT hours requirement

GPA Requirement

GPAs will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

GPA	Minimum GPA	Average GPA for Accepted Students
Overall Undergraduate Cumulative	3.00	3.80
Program-specific Prerequisite	3.00	3.70
Additional information about program’s GPA requirements (if any)

FOREIGN APPLICANTS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The program’s foreign (international) transcript policies do NOT apply to study abroad coursework that is itemized on a U.S. college or university transcript. Study abroad is processed in the same way as U.S. coursework.

Program’s citizenship requirements (individuals listed may be eligible for admission)	U.S. citizens U.S. permanent residents Canadian citizens Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens with a visa Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens Other non-citizens (e.g., refugees)
Program requires non-native speakers to submit TOEFL scores?	Yes
Program policy for submission of non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework	Send foreign transcript evaluation to PTCAS
Program policy for CANADIAN coursework	Send foreign evaluation for CANADIAN coursework to PTCAS
Additional information about program’s policy on foreign coursework

PROGRAM INFORMATION

PT Degree Offered	Program culminates in a doctoral (DPT) degree.
PT Program Start Date(s) For Entering Class DD-MM-YYYY	22-Aug-2012 (tentative)
Dual-degree programs offered in conjunction with the PT degree (if any)
Institution's religious affiliation (if any)	Christian

Profile of Most Recent Entering Class

Items will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

Size of Most Recent Entering Class	34
Anticipated Size of Next Entering Class	34
Percent of IN-STATE applicants accepted	35%
Percent of WICHE applicants accepted (if applicable)
Percent of OUT-OF-STATE (non-resident) applicants accepted	65%
Percent of CANADIAN applicants accepted
Percent of INTERNATIONAL (non-U.S/non-Canadian) applicants accepted
Additional information about the class profile

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Belmont University is preparing outstanding clinical doctors in physical therapy. Our graduates have established successful practices in a wide range of careers encompassing the growing health profession of physical therapy. These individuals have established a reputation of excellence for the School of Physical Therapy, demonstrating the exceptional benefits you will gain as a Belmont student.

Faculty
The Physical Therapy faculty at Belmont have earned the highest degrees in the fields of their expertise and across the faculty, advanced specialty certifications are held in the areas of sports, orthopedic, geriatric, neurologic and clinical electrophysiologic PT. Ongoing research is an important responsibility for faculty in the School of Physical Therapy, but at Belmont, teaching is the top priority of your professors. Your learning takes precedence over all else. The average student-to-instructor ratio in most lab classes is 10:1 which supports an individual connection with faculty members that enhances the learning experience, enriches mentoring opportunities, and facilitates academic advising.

Curriculum
As a physical therapy student at Belmont, you will be challenged with a rigorous academic program that is built on a strong science foundation and parallels the medical model of instruction. You will be prepared to practice physical therapy as an entry-level generalist and equipped to stay ahead of the constant changes in healthcare. Your classroom and laboratory education at Belmont culminates with a comprehensive clinical experience – nearly 40 weeks – designed to provide hands-on practice with patients in all areas of physical therapy, including acute care, rehabilitation care, and outpatient settings, among others. These opportunities are available nationwide and internationally.

Facilities
The School of Physical Therapy is housed in the newly constructed (2010) McWhorter Hall, part of a health sciences complex that includes all of the schools and departments in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing – Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Social Work and Physical Therapy. The new facility will provide laboratories for motion analysis, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics and neuromuscular assessment, as well as physiologic research. In addition, you will benefit from Belmont’s partnership with Vanderbilt University to use their medical school’s gross anatomy lab for cadaver dissection in anatomy courses as well as use of the Annette and Irwin Eskind Biomedical Library on their campus nearby.

The School of Physical Therapy enrolls an entering class of approximately 32 students each fall. Applications are accepted through PTCAS beginning in July of the year prior to the student’s desired enrollment. Candidates are considered upon completion of their application file with selected students invited for a personal interview to complete the process. The entering class is generally filled no later than January with a wait list created to serve additional candidates as space may be available.

(Page last updated 8/30/2011)