A PROGRAM FOR FUTURE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Pursuing a degree in physical therapy makes you part of the frontline effort to elevate the level of health care for everyone, everywhere. With Nova Southeastern University’s Dual Admission program in Physical Therapy, you can start making an impact even sooner. You’ll save your spot in our well-respected Doctor of Physical Therapy program while you earn your bachelor’s degree—and with a 100% employment rate for graduates of our D.P.T. program, you know that your future will be bright.

I had a wonderful shadowing experience as well where I was able to truly interact with patients, so I fell in love with physical therapy!

Daniela G. | Physical Therapy

NSU’s D.P.T. students have a chance to create lasting change for their patients, both during their clinical years and beyond. For both your bachelor’s and your doctorate, you’ll enjoy a low student-to-faculty ratio, which means you’ll have unique access to expert staff who are always willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed.

Plenty of hands-on learning opportunities will help you succeed in your career, too. NSU’s curriculum is focused on providing clinical experiences and interprofessional service-learning opportunities that cultivate patient-focused leaders. Graduate prepared to dominate your future with the NSU Edge.

THIS IS OUR PHYSICAL THERAPY LAB

Take a look around!

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Dual Admission program takes seven years (4+3) to complete. Candidates will follow a prescribed course of study in any undergraduate major. Students will receive a doctoral degree in physical therapy after they complete three years of training at the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences.

Degrees Earned

You can earn any bachelor’s degree and your Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.).

Program Length

Earn your bachelor’s in four years and your doctorate in three years.

Interview Required

Students applying for Dual Admission must interview during Shark Preview Weekend, an exclusive admitted student event.

Deadline to Apply

Fall Admission: Extended to March 15

ELIGIBILITY

To be considered for this Dual Admission program, there are some requirements you must meet. Undergraduate Admission Requirements are for first-time freshmen students applying to earn a bachelor’s degree. This Dual Admission program is ONLY for first-time in college students, although college credits earned through advanced high school program may apply ( see “transfer credits through high school section below”). 

Graduate Admission Requirements are the standards students need to maintain while earning their undergraduate degree to remain eligible for the graduate or professional program.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

GPA

3.5 Weighted GPA
in High School

ACT/SAT

25 Composite ACT
1220 Total SAT
CLT Equivalent

Courses

Biology*, Chemistry, Algebra II

*Anatomy and Physiology, and Living Environment may be substituted for Biology.

Graduate Admission Requirements

Keep your dual admission status while you earn your bachelor’s.

Dual Admission reserves your seat in NSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy, but you must still complete a graduate application once you finish your bachelor’s degree.

Keep in mind that these are the basic requirements, and final determination of admission into the professional program is at the discretion of the College of Health Care Sciences.

 

Degree Required

You must complete a bachelor’s degree in any major you choose. Additional prerequisites may be communicated upon admission.

Undergraduate GPA

You must maintain a 3.0 cumulative and science GPA. You must also earn at least a C in each prerequisite course. 

Calculation of cumulative and science GPA for the purpose of program eligibility for dual admission will not reflect the "grade forgiveness/repeated courses" policy; all grades for retaken courses will be included. The science GPA for dual admission purposes is composed of only those courses with BIOL, CHEM and PHYS prefixes.

Test Requirements

Students are required to take the GRE to reserve their dual admission seat.

Credits Required

You must earn at least 120 credits to enter the D.P.T. program.

Additional Requirements

Transfer students are not eligible to apply to this Health and Medical Professions Dual Admission program. Only students coming to NSU in the fall semester as first-time college freshman applicants are eligible to apply.

College credits that were earned through advanced high school programs such as AP, IB or college academy—or in summer coursework following high school graduation, prior to attending NSU—may transfer to NSU. However, we strongly encourage students to take a majority of their specific science program pre-requisites at NSU to highlight their competency in these critical domains and maximize their long-term profile for future graduate/professional school candidacy.

Students who enter NSU with earned college credits through advanced high school programs may be able to complete their degree and program requirements earlier than scheduled and request to enter their graduate professional programs earlier as well.

Please contact your admissions representative for more details regarding high school transfer credits.

Please be advised that a student's initial course placement in mathematics, science or composition may impact the timing of the completion of all dual admission prerequisites and major courses, and could result in the need to take summer courses.

Ready for the Next Step?

Here’s how to apply.

Dual Admission is just one of NSU’s distinctive Premier Programs. These programs are designed to help highly motivated students accelerate their success.

You can apply for just about any combination of the following Premier Programs:

  • Dual Admission
  • The Fischler Academy of Education
  • Huizenga Business Innovation Academy
  • Razor’s Edge Scholars

You may apply for and be admitted into only one Dual Admission program for your first semester. Each program is unique and has its own eligibility requirements.

Questions? Browse FAQ

Apply for Undergraduate Admission

You can use the Shark Select Application or the Common App to apply to Nova Southeastern University.

Submit a Supplemental Application

Complete the supplemental Premier Programs application for fall entry.

Interview During Shark Preview

If you’re admitted to NSU and submit the supplemental application, you will be invited via email to choose which Shark Preview Weekend works for your schedule.