Doctor of Physical Therapy

North Georgia College & State University offers an accredited entry level program leading to the Doctorate in Physical Therapy Degree. The curriculum consists of 9 semesters, 130 semester hours. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to sit for the national licensure examination in Physical Therapy. For more information regarding physical therapy as a career may be obtained through www.APTA.org.

 

Call or E-mail DPT Program	Call or E-Mail Office of Graduate Admissions
Physical Therapy 469 Health and Sciences Building Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001 Ms. Lynn Youngblood 706-867-1863 lyoungblood@northgeorgia.edu or visit the DPT website.	Office of Graduate Admissions North Georgia College & State University 110 South Chestatee Street Room 349 Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001 706-864-1543 (phone) 706-867-2795 (fax) grads@northgeorgia.edu

 

Application

• The Department of Physical Therapy at North Georgia College participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application System (PTCAS).
• All applicants to the DPT program for the class entering May 2012 must apply online using the PTCAS application which opens July 5, 2011.
• North Georgia DPT supplemental form is also required.

Physical Therapy Admissions Procedures

• Apply for admission through PTCAS.
• Complete the North Georgia DPT supplemental form.
  
  

Regular Admission Requirements

1. Baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, 4-year institution with at least a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 (or a minimum grade point average of 3.4 in the last 40 semester hours attempted).
2. Earn a combined score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the General Record Exam General Test (GRE), with a minimum score of at least 400 on each section, and a minimum score of at least 3.5 on the analytical writing section. Although most students meet these minimum requirements, students with a minimum combined score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections may be considered as long as a minimum score of at least 400 has been earned on each section. Only those scores that are less than 6 years old will be considered.
3. Three recommendations.
4. PT observation hours.
5. Complete prerequisite courses from a regionally-accredited institution with at least a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 (4.0 scale):
   

   Full academic year of the following with labs:
   -	General Chemistry I & II (for science or health profession majors)
   -	General Physics I & II (does not need to be calculus based)
   -	General Biology I & II (for science or health profession majors) OR Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II.  If the anatomy course does not include physiology, a separate human physiology course should be taken (mammalian or vertebrate physiology also accepted).
   -	Two courses in Social Sciences (psychology, sociology). We strongly recommend Abnormal Psychology and Human Growth and Development, although General Psychology / General Sociology will satisfy the requirement.
   One course each:
   -	One additional higher level Biology course
   -	Elementary Statistics
   Recommended Prerequisite Courses
   	Recommended courses (not required) may be selected from:
   	Exercise physiology, human growth and development, applied kinesiology, abnormal psychology, biomechanics, exercise prescription/fitness training, and additional behavioral sciences and biological sciences.
   Students must earn a C or higher in all required pre-requisite courses.  All prerequisites must be completed before the program begins.

6. North Georgia DPT supplemental form.
7. Meet all other admission requirements.

Special Considerations

The successful DPT candidate will generally have:

• high prerequisite course GPA (biology, chemistry, physics, statistics)
• documented leadership abilities
• an abundance of courses above the 300 level
• evidence of embracing cultural diversity
• life and self-directed work experiences compatible with taking responsibility for one's own behavior
• demonstrated commitment to learning to be a skilled generalist with a focus on rural practice

Additional Information Regarding the Application Process

Admission to the Physical Therapy Program requires an orderly progression through checkpoints and due dates by which certain requirements must be completed if the student is to be considered for admission. These requirements include the admission standards of:

• On-campus interviews are a final step in the application process. 
• After review of application materials submitted, applicants will be contacted by the Physical Therapy program if invited for an interview. 
• Notification from the Physical Therapy program will be mailed to all applicants verifying acceptance or denial.

Once an applicant has been offered a seat in the next entering class, the applicant must submit to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. Official transcripts from all regionally-accredited institutions of higher education previously attended. You do not need to request official transcripts if you graduated from North Georgia. International transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation done an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution and a cumulative gpa of at least a 2.50 (4.0 scale).
2. Official GRE scores (North Georgia's institutional code for the GRE is 5497).
3. DPT Supplemental form.
   
4. DPT Immunization form.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the U.S., if applying for in-state tuition.
   

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate who was invited for an interview by the Admissions Committee but whose is denied admission has the right to appeal that decision.

• Appeals must be made in written form to:
  DPT Admissions Committee
  Department of Physical Therapy
  North Georgia College & State University
  Dahlonega, GA  30597-1001
• Letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal.
• A student whose appeal is accepted will be reconsidered for admission.  

All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at North Georgia become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for 1 year for incomplete application files and for 3 years for completed and accepted applicants, but who did not enrolled.