ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admissions Coordinator
Misha Williams
[email protected]
404-413-1225
Effective 2024-2025 admission cycle (June 2024): The GSU Graduate application & $50 fee are no longer required.
Georgia State’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program uses PTCAS to receive transcripts and to calculate GPA. Please be aware that all coursework and grades that an applicant wants to be considered need to be included on the transcript(s) sent to PTCAS at the time of application submission. PTCAS does not re-verify coursework or grades submitted after an application is submitted until the Fall Academic Update. Example: Applicants submitting their applications under early decision submit early (before summer grades are typically released). Any coursework completed after an application is submitted will not be considered, as it won’t be verified by PTCAS.
Admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT) is very competitive. Factors considered for admission include completion of a bachelor’s degree and program prerequisites, academic performance, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, knowledge of the physical therapy profession, and a personal interview. The DPT curriculum of Georgia State University demands rigorous scholarly effort. We welcome students with different strengths and backgrounds to the program.
Note: It is the choice of the applicant when they will submit their materials. But, there is no guarantee that your materials will be received, processed, and verified in time to meet the appropriate deadline if you submit after the suggested dates. Please review the components below and their individual processing times when deciding when to submit your materials.
| Requirement | Submission Method | Processing Time (may vary) | Notes |
| Official transcripts | Mail to PTCAS | ||
| PTCAS application & their fee(s) | Electronically submit | PTCAS processing may take up to 5 weeks, once all required materials are received. | Application must be complete & verified. |
| GRE scores | Electronically submit | Allow 4-6 weeks | Use code 5251 |
Prerequisite courses have a 10-year expiration.
Please use this equivalency chart to see if your courses are transferrable. If in the event you do not see your course listed, you will need to provide a course syllabus and course description for further review.
Note: Effective 2024-2025 cycle (June 2024): AP credit is now acceptable for Chemistry I and Physics I, if the second course (Chemistry II and Physics II)are taken at the college level. AP credit can also be accepted for the English Composition or Advanced Writing, Pre-calculus or Calculus, and Statistics requirements.
Note: Effective 2023-2024 Admissions Cycle (June 2024 Program Start): Nine of the required eleven pre-requisites must be completed at the time you apply. All eleven must be completed before the start of the program in the Summer. Students seeking admission required a strong science background.
Applicants must receive a minimum of a C on all prerequisites. When calculating GPA, please keep in mind that averages are taken of all course attempts.
Applicants are required to match the courses they feel meet the prerequisite course requirements in their PTCAS application. Anatomy & Physiology and Biology courses must have a BIO prefix. Psychology courses are no longer required to have a PSY prefix. More information about acceptable prerequisite courses can be found here.
The courses identified by the applicant in the PTCAS application will have to be verified by the processors to see if they are acceptable courses.
If you have questions, please contact us at 404-413-1000 or [email protected]
Human Anatomy and Human Physiology
One course each of Human Anatomy & Physiology or two course series of Human Anatomy & Physiology
(Courses in Vertebrate or Mammalian Anatomy and Exercise Physiology DO NOT fulfill this requirement. Anatomy and Physiology labs are recommended but not required.)
Physics
General College Physics I and II with labs
Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal courses DO NOT fulfill this requirement.
Calculus based Physics is strongly recommended.
We do not accept Survey of Physics.
- Physics - Intro and Principles of Physics acceptable
Chemistry
General Chemistry I and II with labs OR Principles of Chemistry I and II with labs*
Introductory Chemistry and Chemistry Calculation courses DO NOT fulfill this requirement.
Please take Chemistry I and II for science majors.
*NOTE: Beginning with the 2009 applications, Survey Chemistry I and II will not be accepted.
Biology
One semester of Biology with lab
Botany (plant biology) courses DO NOT fulfill this requirement.
Please take a Biology for science majors. The course must have a BIO prefix.
Psychology
One semester of Psychology
Any level
Psychology courses are no longer required to have a PSY prefix
Pre-Calculus or Calculus
Effective 2023-2024 admission cycle, Pre-Calculus or Calculus is required (3 credit hours)
Advanced Writing or English Composition
Effective 2023-2024 admission cycle, English Composition is required (3 credit hours) – Note: Advanced Composition/Writing is preferred, but NOT required. AP English Composition is acceptable.
Statistics
One semester of Introductory Statistics or higher
Example of courses that DO fulfill this requirement include traditional statistics, business statistics, biostatistics, psychology statistics and educational statistics.
For Georgia State University Students Only
Georgia State University Exercise Science students who have taken KH 2220 (Anatomy in Kinesiology and Health) and KH 2230 (Physiology in Kinesiology and Health) can use these courses in place of BIOL 2251/2252. KH 3550 (Statistics and Evaluation in Excercise Science) can be used in place of MATH 1070 (Statistics).
Please call the Department of Physical Therapy with any questions regarding prerequisites or the completion of your undergraduate degree, call the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions academic adviser at 404-413-1000.
Students must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The degree must be completed prior to matriculation into the DPT program and should be in a student’s area of interest.
Students who wish to complete or update prerequisites at Georgia State University can apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for post baccalaureate status. With this undergraduate status, a student who has received a bachelor’s degree can complete the required prerequisites.
A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required. A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required. The minimum of 3.0 must be maintained until all prerequisites and undergraduate degree are complete.
A minimum score of 145 quantitative and verbal sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are required. A minimum score of 3.5 in the Analytical Writing section is recommended/preferred. Georgia State University’s code for the GRE is 5251.
- Re-applicants do not need to re-submit their GRE scores unless they have retaken them or their scores are more than five years old
- Re-applicants will have to pay the $50 attached to the GSU Graduate application and complete a new GSU Graduate application
- – Create a new username and password to complete the new application
- Regarding your PTCAS application, you will have to add your existing/new references, observation hours, GRE scores, essays, payments, designations, and responses to School-Specific Questions again
– You should be able to use your previous username/password. (PTCAS will create a unique re-applicant code for you.)
A minimum of 80 hours of practical experience in a PT setting through volunteering, observing or working is required.
Completion of 40 of the 80 hours is required prior to application submission.
Applicants are required to have knowledge of physical therapy by working, observing, or volunteering in at least two different physical therapy settings. Observing in two different settings can mean observing in one inpatient location and one outpatient location or in two different outpatient specialty clinics (e.g., aquatic, pediatric, neurologic, cardiorespiratory, etc.). A minimum of 20 hours must be completed in at least two different settings, and a total of 80 hours must be completed prior to matriculation.
Applicants will need to enter their PT experience (volunteer hours) through PTCAS even if they are re-applicants.
In addition to the admissions requirements listed above, international applicants are required to take the TOEFL, have an evaluation of foreign educational credentials by an independent evaluation service done, and submit a Financial Affidavit form. The Certificate of Immunization only needs to be submitted once you have been admitted. We like to see a TOEFL IBT score of 80 or better.For more information for applying as an international applicant please look here. Please abide by the admissions deadlines of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
PTCAS allows applicants to have up to four references. It is an admission requirement to have two references completed on your PTCAS application by the deadline. Submitting more than two references is your choice. One letter must be from a licensed physical therapist. The other letter should be from someone who knows the applicant professionally or academically.
Contact Us
Location
Urban Life Building
404-413-1100
404-413-1230 (fax)
[email protected]
Mailing Address
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4019
Atlanta, GA 30302-4019
Office of Academic Assistance
Admissions Specialist
Misha Williams, Admissions Coordinator
404-413-1252
[email protected]