Pre-Physical Therapy

Part of the Education Division

The PHR program allows for flexibility in the curriculum to allow students to pursue classes needed for a career in Physical Therapy. Students will be matched with a PHR Faculty advisor who will assist them through an individualized program. The program will include appropriate coursework, electives and experiential learning in and out of the classroom.

You are not required to select a particular major to be eligible for admission to a PT Program. The most common undergraduate majors among PT students include programs in exercise science (physical education, kinesiology, exercise physiology), biology, and psychology. Keep in mind the course prerequisites for admission vary across PT programs. Your PHR Faculty Advisor will assist you in identifying the prerequisites for the specific institution(s) you wish to apply to and individualize your program to match desired institutions. PT programs MAY require applicants to successfully complete one or more of the following courses:

  • Anatomy and Physiology I & II
  • Additional Physiology (e.g., pathophysiology, exercise physiology)
  • General Biology I & II
  • Two Additional Biology (e.g., cell, embryology, genetics, histology, immunology, microbiology, molecular)
  • General Chemistry I & II
  • General Psychology
  • Additional Psychology (e.g., abnormal, developmental, rehabilitation, sports)
  • Kinesiology
  • Math (e.g., algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry)
  • Medical Terminology
  • English Composition
  • Social Science
  • Humanities 

All of the courses in bold are offered at Maryville College either through our Core Curriculum or as part of our PHR major & major-related courses. Our students gain interpersonal skills, effective communication, through writing and speaking, and research skills as part of our liberal arts education. Our PHR Majors explore how the human body works, moves and reacts to physical activity, injury and rehabilitation, through lecture and experiential learning. Both the liberal arts and the PHR major with the major related classes prepare our students for Graduate School.

A student must complete a graduate degree program from an accredited University/College and pass a National Physical Therapy Licensing Exam to become a Physical Therapist. Many programs are Doctoral of Physical Therapy programs and require three years of Graduate School.


A Few Recent Maryville College Graduates working in or preparing for careers in the Allied Health Field

 

Keely Roberts ‘10
Graduate Student, Doctoral of Physical Therapy Program, East Tennessee State University

Katie Beckham ‘09
Graduate Student, Surgical Physician Assistant Program, University of Alabama Birmingham

Erin Liedle ‘06
Graduate Student, Doctoral of Physical Therapy Program, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Blair King, MA ‘05
MA, Exercise Science, Tennessee Technical University
Educational Specialist, Educational Administration and Supervision, Lincoln Memorial University
State of Tennessee, Coordinator, Coordinated School Health, Oak Ridge Schools

Matt Dunn ‘09
Graduate Student, Doctoral of Physical Therapy Program, East Tennessee State University

Jennifer Stanley, MS, ATC ‘07
MS, Athletic Training, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Blount Memorial Hospital

Greg Stanley, MS, CSCS ‘05
GMS, Exercise Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach
Covenant Health, Exercise Physiologist

 

 

Core Curriculum Requirements

Each student must satisfy the core requirements and requirements for individual programs of study.