Pre-Physical Therapy

DPT • Prepare for physical therapy doctoral programs. Observation hours in diverse PT settings are critical.

~3.55 avg

PTCAS

Avg Applicant GPA

40–150+ obs hrs

Typical Experience

14 courses

Required Courses

5 areas

Key Experiences

Required Courses

Click any course to see who teaches it

These courses are required by most DPT programs.

BIO 311C BIO 311D BIO 325 BIO 206L INB 446L INB 365S CH 301 CH 302 PHY 302K PHY 302L PSY 301 PSY 333D SDS 320E KIN 320

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Recommended Courses

Not required but strengthen your application significantly.

KIN 425K NEU 330 C C 306M BCH 369

Key Experiences Needed

→PT observation (150–250 hrs across 3+ settings: outpatient ortho, hospital inpatient, and pediatric or neuro)
→Physical fitness or athletic background
→Community service or healthcare volunteering
→Research (valued at competitive programs)
→GRE prep (required by some programs — verify each school)

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Quick Links

📚 Courses for Pre-Physical Therapy 👩‍🏫 Kinesiology Professors 🏥 Austin Activities 💬 Student Advice

💡 UT Austin Advantage

The Kinesiology department at UT Austin offers direct pathways into PT observation placements. KIN 320 and KIN 425K are taught by faculty with clinical backgrounds who can provide strong recommendation letters.

📍 Austin Resources

• UT Health Austin Rehabilitation Services (utmedicine.org)
• Dell Seton Medical Center (PT observation)
• RISE School of Austin (pediatric OT/PT)
• Texas Orthopedics (specialty shadowing)