Physical Therapy

 

Physical Therapists work with people who have a temporary or permanent disability or pain due to injury, disease, old age, accident, or birth defect.
 
As a member of the health care team, the physical therapist works to:
 
  • Develop and deliver appropriate treatment programs for the relief of pain
  • Prevention of deformity
  • Improvement of strength
  • Development of coordination and increase in functional ability
 

Treatment may involve exercise, in conjunction with the application of heat, cold, water, electricity, ultrasound, traction and/or massage. Their work is often closely coordinated with that of the occupational therapist, because both fields involve training patients to improve their motor abilities.
 

View our PT brochure



 

Type of class

Number of Semesters

Recommended CSU Courses

General Biology

2 Semesters with labs

LIFE 102 and one other lab-based biology course

General Chemistry

2 Semesters with labs

CHEM 111/112 and CHEM 113/114

General Physics

2 Semesters with labs

PH 121 and PH 122 or
PH 141 and PH 142

Human Anatomy

1 Semester with lab

BMS 301

Physiology

1 Semester with lab

BMS 300/302 or BMS 360/302 (CU-D requires BMS 360 taken one year prior to applying)

Psychology

2 or 3 Semesters

PSY 100 and PSY 260 or PSY 320

Mathematics

College Algebra

English Composition

1-2 Semesters

CO 150, CO or JTC 300/01

Statistics

1 Semester

EHRS 307, STAT 301, or STAT 307

Highly recommended courses:

 

BMS 325, CO 300/301, HES 207,
HES 307, HES 403, SPCM 200

General:

Directory of Accredited Programs (includes required prerequisites for each program)

Colorado Schools:
University of Colorado at Denver
www.uchsc.edu/pt/
 
Regis University

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
www.gre.org

Physical Therapy Application Service
www.ptcas.org

American Physical Therapy Association
www.apta.org