University of New Mexico

Physical Therapy Program

1-800-999-APTA www.apta.org

UNM Physical Therapy Website www.hsc.unm.edu/som/physther/

APTA

Source of information about Physical Therapy Profession

Physical Therapist

• • Graduate from an accredited program – UNM Program – D.P.T.

Pass State licensure examination

Program Length

• • • Begins in August 36 months Several 2-4 week breaks Basic Curriculum Layout: First Year: Mostly orthopedics, anatomy and basic clinical sciences Second Year: Everything else Third Year: Research and clinicals

Thing You Need to do to be Eligible to Apply

1.

2.

3.

4.

Get as much exposure to the profession of PT as you can. (volunteer, paid work experience) Take the 35 hours of science prerequisites Get a bachelors degree Take the GRE

#1 Get as much exposure to the profession as you can

• • • • Volunteer experience is considered the same as paid work experience Primary goal: – “ Is P.T. the profession for me?

” 100 hours required – “ the more the better ” – quality vs quantity Helpful to observe in several areas

#2 Take 35 hours of science prerequisites

Prerequisites: May be taken at any accredited college or university Chemistry (4 hrs) Physics (8 hrs) Anatomy & Physiology (8 hrs) Statistics (3 hrs) Nutrition (3 hrs) Psychology (6 hrs - Developmental and/or Abnormal Psych recommended) Exercise Physiology 300-level or above (3 hrs)

Prerequisites

• • Must have a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses Equivalent courses from other institutions may need to be approved by the admissions committee Average prerequisite science GPA 2013: 3.81

Grade Substitution

• • • • MUST have taken prerequisite course and received a C or better May take higher numbered course with the same classification If a higher grade is received, you may use that in your GPA calculation No substitution allowed for Anatomy and Physiology

Prerequisite GPA Form

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM PREREQUISITE COURSE WORK SCIENCES

: Please list the science courses you wish to use for your science GPA calculation.

Prerequisite Course Exercise Physiology

3 Semester Hours e.g. ES 326 Gen Ex Phys

Anatomy & Physiology

8 Semester Hours, including lab e.g.

BIO 237 A&P I BIO 238 A& P I Lab BIO 247 A&P II BIO 248 A&P II Lab

Course Taken/ Substituted Institution Term/Year Semester Hours Grade General Chemistry

4 Semester Hours including lab e.g. CHEM 111L

Grade Points

#3 Get a Bachelor

’

s Degree

Any Degree is Acceptable

#4 Take the GRE

General test AND Writing Assessment Must be taken within 5 years of application GRE: www.gre.com

Prometric Testing Services http://www.prometric.com/GRE/default.htm

UNM PT Program Institution Code: 7670 Average GRE 2013: Verbal: 154 Quantitative: 152 Writing: 3.97

Total Admission Requirements

• • • • • • Baccalaureate degree in any field Overall and Science GPA – 3.0 minimum GRE Essay Letters of Reference (2 must come from PTs) Interview

Course Work in Progress

• • • Must complete Bachelor degree and all prerequisites by the Spring of the application year Must include proof of enrollment for Spring courses with application All prerequisite courses must be completed by May – Grade of C or better – Final transcript must be sent to Physical Therapy Program

Admission Procedures

Application Process

• • Application Deadline (UNM Application): December 15 Individuals applying to the Physical Therapy Program must also apply to the PTCAS (Central Application Service) by December 1

Application Materials

A.

For the Physical Therapy Program 1. Application form for the Physical Therapy Program 2. Evidence of spring registration for any remaining prerequisites 3. Prerequisite GPA calculation form 4. Program essay 5. GRE exam scores - may be sent directly to the program from ProMetric preferred) or you can provide us with a copy of your GRE report 6. Official transcript from each school attended 7. $50 Application fee

Application Materials – Continued

B.

For PTCAS 1. Complete on-line application 2. Enter all college courses taken and GRE scores 3. $120 Application fee (financial assistance is available) 4. Official transcript from each school attended 5. PTCAS essay and 3 reference letters

UNM Physical Therapy Program Policy on Web-Based Prerequisite Courses

In order for the University of New Mexico to accept credits earned from a web-based course, that course must appear on a transcript from an accredited college or university.

Therefore, if the online course you have taken or plan to take is offered by UNM or CNM (or any other accredited college or university), and it satisfies our requirement, the course will be accepted. If you have taken or plan to take a course that is offered by a strictly online university, you are strongly urged to contact the UNM Admissions office at (505)277-2447 prior to registering for this course. If UNM will accept the course as “ transfer credit ” , the Physical Therapy Program will accept it also.

Online Course - Clinical Exercise Physiology offered by the UNM PT Program

PT 351 Clinical Exercise in Physical Therapy/ CRN # 17851 / 3 credit hours This course addresses the principles of the physiology of the human body during exercise with emphasis on the cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular systems. In addition, this course addresses an overview of selected pathological conditions of these systems relevant to the practice of physical therapy. Prerequisite: By permission of the instructor, Dr. Burke Gurney. Phone (505) 272-6850 or email [email protected]

Interview

• • • • • Late February or early March Panel of 4 interviewers Knowledge of Physical Therapy issues and problem solving abilities Volunteer experience helpful Only the top 50-70 applicants based on GPA, GRE, Reference Letters and Essay will be offered an interview [Interview format is subject to change at any time]

Selection Process

30 students with the highest combined scores based on the following: • • • • Science GPA - 30% GRE Verbal - 15% GRE Quantitative - 15% GRE Writing – 10% • • • Reference Letters - 5% Essay - 5% Interview - 20% [Scoring system is subject to change at any time] Science GPA GRE Quantitative GRE Verbal Interview LORs Essays

Nondiscrimination Policy

The admission procedure in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of New Mexico does not discriminate against any student on the basis of gender, marital or parental status, race, color, religion, age, national origin or physical handicap.