2024-2025
Pre-Physical Therapy (minor)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Life Science (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Associate degree
Associate of Science: Life Science
Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.
Program description
The pre-physical therapy minor provides foundational courses for students that are preparing to be competitive applicants for Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T) programs after completing their bachelor’s degree at VCU. The pre-physical therapy minor can be completed as a part of any undergraduate degree. Completing this minor does not guarantee admission into any physical therapy program. This minor is structured to academically prepare students to apply for physical therapy programs broadly. In addition to this minor, students should participate in clinical and non-clinical experiences to develop a competitive application for physical therapy programs.
Career opportunities
Physical therapists (PT) evaluate and record a patient's progress. Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries. PTs may specialize in fields such as cardiology, pulmonology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, or obstetrics.
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Healthcare Researcher
- Physical Therapist
- Professor
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
No guaranteed admission.
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
n/a
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 200
- STAT 210
Science required
- 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
- No
Additional tuition/fees
- No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 3.0+
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2024-2025
Pre-Physical Therapy (minor)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explore | Year 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Experience | Year 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend RBC Orientation.
- Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
- A stellar GPA is vital to being a competitive student. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Review the resources on the VCU Healthcare Pathways website, especially the Pre-Physical Therapy Advising Guide.
- Explore RBC financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Review admission requirements for the VCU DPT program.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Review volunteer and shadowing opportunities on the VCU Healthcare Pathways website.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Register to vote.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
- Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Explore possible career opportunities for pre-physical therapy students.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Review volunteer and shadowing opportunities to find healthcare volunteering and information about shadowing.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
- Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Be prepared for academic challenges by meeting with your Learner Mentor and understanding RBC Student Support available.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Submit the FAFSA on time.
- Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
- Maintain a high GPA. Use tutoring resources to get ahead. Be prepared to earn good grades at VCU.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply to VCU.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing options for next year.
- Select a VCU major.
- Participate in the VCU STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
- Consider applying to the Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP).
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Consider learning a foreign language.
- Volunteer with a vulnerable, under-represented and/or underserved community. Reflect on the challenges these populations might face with their healthcare.
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
- Find healthcare experience that’s paid, volunteer or shadowing experience - answer the question, "is this really what I want to do?"
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
2024-2025
Pre-Physical Therapy (minor)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Research II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| Language & Ideas | Select 1: ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, PHIL 101, 201, 202, 203, 270, REL 201, 209, 210, 270, COMM 101, 102, 201. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Fine Arts | Select 1: ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, MUS 123, THEA 201. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| U.S. & World Cultures | Select 1: ECON 201, 202, GEO 101, GEO 103, GOVT 201, GOVT 202, GOVT 203, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 191, 192, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 240, REL 209, REL 210, REL 219, REL 220, REL 254. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| MATH 151 | Pre-calculus II | MATH 151 | 3 | General education (Pre-PT minor) |
| MATH 217 | Statistics | STAT 210 | 3 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) |
| BIOL 151 + Lab | Biological Science I + Lab | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | General education (Pre-PT minor) |
| BIOL 152 + Lab | Biological Science II + Lab | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) |
| BIOL 205 + BIOL 206 | Human Anatomy and Physiology (both courses must be taken to be equivalent to VCU’s courses) | BIOL 205 + PHIS/Z 206 | 8 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) |
| CHEM 101 + Lab | General Chemistry I + Lab | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | General education (Pre-PT minor) |
| CHEM 102 + Lab | General Chemistry II + Lab | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) |
| PSY 210 | Survey of Psychology | PSYC 101 | 3 | General education (Pre-PT requirement) |
| Complete requirements for associate degree | VCU equivalents | 12 | Elective | |
| Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU | 60 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| The courses listed below are required for the minor in pre-physical therapy. Students must complete at least 9 credits of upper-level course requirements at VCU to be eligible for the minor. Students must also select a VCU major and complete the major requirements. The minimum number of credits required for a bachelor's degree at VCU is 120 credits. | |||
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) |
| PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 | General Physics I or University Physics I | 4 to 5 | Elective (Pre-PT requirement) |
| PHYS 202 or PHYS 208 | General Physics II or University Physics II | 4 to 5 | Elective (Pre-PT requirement) |
| PSYC 304 or PSYC 407 | Life Span Developmental Psychology or Psychology of the Abnormal | 3 | Elective (Pre-PT requirement) |
| Select one course from the following 300-level or higher elective options: BIOL 310, BIOL 448, BIOL 449, HPEX 332, HPEX 353, HPEX 375, HPEX 440. | 3 | Elective (Pre-PT minor) | |
| Courses required for VCU major and electives VCU students are strongly encouraged to take cell biology as well as other upper-level biology courses. Admission to the D.P.T. program is highly competitive. Taking upper-level biology and/or engineering courses will enhance a student’s application and make them more competitive. | 43 | Major | |
| REAL | The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. | 0 | Major |
| Minimum number of credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
| Minimum number of credits required for a bachelor's degree | 120 | ||