Undergraduate Degree
	None
Graduate Degree
	Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Competitive Admission
	36 students per year
Links
	Web Site Courses General Catalog

Physical therapists are committed to meeting the health needs of society through prevention, rehabilitation, public education, and research. Physical therapists strive to promote optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, assess, and correct acute or prolonged movement dysfunction.

Areas of specialization include cardiopulmonary systems, electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, and sports physical therapy.

• Why Study Physical Therapy at Iowa?
• Preprofessional Studies
• Admission
• Course Work in Physical Therapy
• Careers
• Scholarships

Why Study Physical Therapy at Iowa?
Physical therapy is part of the UI Carver College of Medicine and the health sciences campus, which includes University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the nation’s largest public university–owned teaching hospitals. This location gives the program vital resources, including faculty in basic sciences and medicine, basic science courses, and the atmosphere and facilities of a college of medicine. Iowa’s facilities are well-equipped for classroom and laboratory instruction. They include seven state-of-the-art independent research laboratories.

Iowa’s program has an excellent reputation nationwide. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Iowa’s physical therapy program fifth in the nation. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Preprofessional Studies
The doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program is the entry-level  program for students who have completed (or plan to complete before enrollment) a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. 

Prerequisites include approximately 45 semester hours of biological/basic science course work. Undergraduate course work must include specific courses in biology, chemistry, physics, physiology, psychology, mathematics, and statistics. All science courses must include the appropriate laboratory instruction and must be taken for a letter grade. Credit awarded through the Advanced Placement Program (AP) may be applied to the mathematics requirement only.

There is no single best major for entry into the graduate program. Choose an area that genuinely interests you and consult frequently with your undergraduate academic advisor. Most colleges and universities in the United States offer degrees and programs for students interested in attending graduate school to become physical therapists.

Admission
Admission to the program is competitive; 36 students are admitted each year from an applicant pool of more than 150.

While an overall grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above (on a 4.00 scale) is the minimum for admission consideration, a GPA of 3.00 or above in all prerequisite course work also is recommended. Since admission is limited, personal interviews are required as well as three letters of recommendation. At least 50–60 hours of volunteer or work experience in inpatient and outpatient physical therapy settings is recommended to help students make an informed career choice. Applicants also must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The application deadline is Dec. 1.

Course Work in Physical Therapy
The professional program may be completed in two and one-half years. Clinical rotations start in the first semester and are integrated throughout the curriculum. The last 27 weeks of the program are full-time clinical internships.

Careers
The employment picture for physical therapy graduates is strong. Graduates will find that opportunities exist for professional practice in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based organizations. These include general or specialized hospitals, programs for children with disabilities, private physical therapy clinics, extended care facilities, nursing homes, community and governmental agencies, rehabilitation centers, armed forces, foreign service, home health agencies, school systems, fitness centers, and athletic facilities. Teaching and research positions are available, as well as an increasing number of options for successful self-employment.

Scholarships
Refer to the Office of Student Financial Aid for a complete list of available scholarships. The graduate program in physical therapy and rehabilitation science also has a few small scholarships based on financial need, merit, or both.