Washington University in St. Louis

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION (2011-12)

Sarah Rands
Manager, Admissions and Student Affairs
Washington University in St. Louis
Program in Physical Therapy
Campus Box 8502
4444 Forest Park Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63108
Phone: 314-286-1402
Phone (alternate number): 314-286-1401
Email: ptprog@wustl.edu
Website: http://pt.wustl.edu/

APPLICATION DEADLINE for 2012 ENTERING CLASS

EARLY DECISION

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

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

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites

• Must applicants earn a Bachelor's degree prior to enrolling into the PT program? YES
• For more information about course prerequisites, visit the program Web site: http://pt.wustl.edu

* 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

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

References

Number of references required by program:  3 References

Additional information about program’s reference requirements: One reference must be from a college-level instructor with whom the applicant took a course. It is preferred that this person is the primary professor, although in some circumstances a teaching assistant is acceptable. For the other two letters of reference, best choices include a second professor, a healthcare practitioner, an employer or a supervisor.

We do not accept references from applicant's healthcare provider (e.g. their personal physician or physical therapist). We do accept references from a health care provider with whom an applicant has volunteered or worked.

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.

GPA Requirement

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

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 INFORMATION

Profile of Most Recent Entering Class

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

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis – School of Medicine provides a world-class education in an environment full of energy and enthusiasm. Our students are dedicated and supportive of one another; our faculty thrive on sharing their love for the profession. Together, faculty and students continually strive, excel and put new ideas into motion, making this a dynamic and exciting place to learn.   

The Program is dedicated to a three-part mission: training exceptional clinicians, expanding knowledge in the field through groundbreaking research, and offering excellent patient care. In this environment of innovation, our students learn at the forefront what is known about the science of movement and experience firsthand the continual advancements in physical therapy.   

We take a student-centered approach to education, striving to provide every resource and opportunity students need to learn well. The atmosphere is warm, non-competitive and collegial. We are committed to helping every student achieve his or her professional goals.   

Our Program is made up of faculty, staff, and students who are passionate about the field of physical therapy. Throughout the school, our faculty and staff provide an enthusiasm for learning that will make your education challenging, interesting and fulfilling.   

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT): This professional, full-time clinical doctorate program prepares students for the practice of physical therapy. The curriculum is three years of combined academic and clinical work, including 38 weeks of full-time clinical experiences. The program has been accredited continuously by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) since 1942. It is distinguished by its focus on diagnostic classification of patients' movement problems and on evidence-based practice.   

The DPT curriculum combines clinical experience and classroom learning, with the goal of training outstanding clinicians. In classroom learning, faculty present material as it relates to clinical application. Students practice hands-on clinical skills on each other, on volunteer patients and during trips to off-site clinics. Students encounter increasingly difficult clinical cases as they move through the curriculum.   

Patient contact is integrated throughout the curriculum. During the first year, students spend time in an area clinic participating in care with an experienced clinician. In addition, four full time clinical experiences of 8 to 12 weeks each are interspersed throughout the curriculum; for these experiences, students may choose from approximately 400 affiliated clinical sites throughout the country.   

Students leave the program adept at quickly and thoroughly diagnosing a patient's movement dysfunction and implementing an effective treatment plan. An emphasis on evidence-based health care practice prepares students for life-long learning.

(Page last updated 5/24/2011)

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