Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall
As a physical therapist, you have the power to help people heal and live healthier, more active lives. Physical therapists provide patients with the knowledge they need to preserve their health and prevent injury through a motivational and positive approach.
In this professional pathway, you have the opportunity to earn a combined Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in an accelerated six years. You will spend the first three years at MCPHS–Boston, after which students will be eligible for consideration of admission to the DPT program contingent upon successful completion of prerequisite courses, attainment of qualifying GPA and GRE scores. The final three years of the program are completed at MCPHS–Worcester, where you will work alongside our highly-skilled faculty, learning how to help patients improve their strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and overall wellness. In our on-campus Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center, which provides free physical therapy services to patients from the community, you will work directly with patients in a clinical learning environment in addition to off-campus clinical experiences and service learning opportunities. Through interprofessional educational opportunities, you will learn how to work with other members of a healthcare team and will be prepared to work in a variety of settings. Students in this pathway will also develop additional expertise that can be applied to work at community agencies and government institutions.
Already have a bachelor's degree? Check out our Doctor of Physical Therapy program on our Worcester campus.
Learn more about the BS in Public Health: Physical Therapy Pathway program.
Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.
Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer in to the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted. (Please note, MCPHS does require a minimum of a B- grade in all prerequisite courses for entry into the professional phase of the DPT program. The specific requirements can be viewed on the Doctor of Physical Therapy page.)
While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.
Required Courses For Entry to Year II:
-
Biology I & II with lab (8 credits)
- Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
- Calculus I & II (6 credits)
- Expository Writing I & II (6 credits)
- American Culture, Identity, and Public Life (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include American History, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Western Civilization)
Additional Courses Accepted for Transfer Credit:
-
Statistics (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Basic Statistics, Biostatistics, Psychological Statistics, Economic Statistics)
- Healthcare Ethics (3 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
- Health Psychology (3 credits)
- Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
- Interpersonal Communications for Health Professionals (3 credits)
- Humanities elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Ethics, Religious Studies, Select Fine Arts, Advanced Level Languages)
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
S.H.
|
Year I Fall
|
|
BIO 150/151
|
Biology I: Cell & Molecular Biology
|
4
|
|
CHE 131/L
|
Chemical Principles w/lab
|
4
|
|
MAT 151
|
Calculus I
|
3
|
|
LIB 111
|
Expository Writing I
|
3
|
| ITM 101
|
Introduction to the Major
|
1
|
Total Semester Hours
|
15
|
Year I Spring
|
|
BIO 152/L
|
Biology II: Biology of Organisms w/lab
|
4
|
|
CHE 132/L
|
Chemical Principles II w/lab
|
4
|
| MAT 152
|
Calculus II
|
3
|
|
LIB 133
|
American Culture
|
3
|
|
LIB 112
|
Expository Writing II
|
3
|
Total Semester Hours
|
17 |
Year II Fall
|
|
BIO 351/L
|
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology I
|
4
|
|
LIB 120
|
Introduction to Psychology
|
3
|
|
PBH 250
|
Introduction to Public Health
|
3
|
|
LIB 220
|
Interpersonal Communication
|
3
|
MAT 261
|
Statistics |
3
|
PBH 206
|
Public Health Seminar
|
1
|
Total Semester Hours
|
17
|
Year II Spring
|
BIO 352/L
|
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology II
|
4 |
SSC 230
|
Cultural Anthropology
|
3 |
SSC 495
|
Evolution of the Health Professions
|
3
|
BEH 250
|
Health Psychology
|
3
|
|
|
Public Health Elective
|
3
|
|
Total Semester Hours
|
|
16
|
Year III Fall
|
|
PBH 420
|
Community Health
|
3
|
MAT 461
|
Biostatistics |
3
|
LIB 512
|
Healthcare Ethics
|
3
|
| BIO 345O/L
|
Exercise Physiology (w/lab)
|
4
|
| PHY 270/272L
|
Foundations of Physics I (w/lab)
|
4
|
Total Semester Hours
|
17
|
Year III Spring
|
PBH 330
|
Epidemiology |
3
|
PBH 340
|
Environmental Health
|
3
|
PBH 435
|
Public Policy and Public Health
|
3 |
PHY 274/L
|
Foundations of Physics II (w/lab)
|
4
|
| |
Humanities Elective
|
3 |
|
Total Semester Hours
|
|
16
|
|
Total Three Year Semester Hours*
|
98 |
*Remaining credits to earn the BS degree will be completed in the first year of the DPT program.