Physical Therapy

When must prerequisite course work be completed?
All prerequisite course work must be completed before you begin the program in August. Application, however, may be made prior to completion of all prerequisites. We do not have a minimum number of prerequisite courses that must be completed at the time of application. Students that are admitted with outstanding prerequisite course work are admitted conditionally and must successfully complete all outstanding prerequisites prior to matriculation to meet the conditions of acceptance.

Do I need to complete some or all of the highly recommended courses in order to be accepted?
No. Highly recommended courses are not a requirement to apply. These courses are strongly recommended to enhance your foundational knowledge in preparation for a doctoral degree in physical therapy. Though not required, completing some or all of these courses prior to the application deadline will grant you additional consideration during the review of your application.

Where can I take my prerequisites?
You can take prerequisites at any regionally accredited university or college.

Can I take prerequisites at a community college?
Yes, prerequisites may be taken at a community college; however, taking prerequisites at a four-year institution may better prepare you for the course work you'll need to take as a graduate student.

What is the time limit on prerequisites?
We recommend that prerequisites be taken within the last five years; however, we will consider all courses regardless of the amount of time since completion. Because of the nature of the program, it is important that students have knowledge of all prerequisite subjects in order to build on that foundation.

Can online courses meet the prerequisite requirements?
Yes. We accept online courses for prerequisite requirements as long as they meet the following: completed at a regionally accredited institution, meet the semester hour and grade requirements, and contain a lab component if required.

If I’ve ever taken a higher-level biology course for four semester hours can I be exempt from the eight-semester hour requirement?
No. All applicants must complete a total of 8 semester hours of biology, including lab course work. Any biology course with a lab will count toward the eight-semester-hour prerequisite requirement, but a total of eight semester hours is required.

What courses count for the Behavioral Science prerequisite requirement?
Any course taken in a psychology, sociology or anthropology department will count toward this requirement. Although Development and Abnormal Psychology are recommended, any six semester hours from these departments will fulfill this requirement.

What statistics course do I need?
The statistics course must include inferential and descriptive statistics. It is recommended that the statistics prerequisite be taken in a department of psychology, sociology, education, or public health but we will accept statistics courses from other departments as well.

Do you accept combined Anatomy and Physiology courses?
We will accept combined courses as long as the full series was completed and the courses included lectures and labs. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a C or above.

Can I take ________ course for _______ course?
Students often want to determine if a particular course will substitute for one of the prerequisites. Typically, course substitutions are not accepted and students need to complete the courses as listed. However, if you would like to send a course description from the school catalog, and preferably a course syllabus, with a note regarding your rationale for substitution to dpt@regis.edu, we will be glad to evaluate your request.

Do Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school count toward prerequisite requirements?
Yes. We currently accept AP courses as prerequisite requirements if your undergraduate institution accepted them as credits toward your undergraduate degree.

How do you calculate repeated courses into the prerequisite GPA for Regis University?
Any repeated courses will be factored into your Regis University prerequisite GPA as an average. PTCAS GPAs include all United States college courses with grades and credit hours at all United States regionally-accredited institutions, including repeated courses.

What is the deadline for submitting applications?
Application for the class starting in Fall 2023 is available through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) beginning July 2022. Go to ptcas.org for details. Applications must be e-submitted on or before the priority application deadline of November 1, 2022. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm that all application items (including all transcripts and references have been received and the application is complete by the deadline.

Does Regis University require the essay portion of the PTCAS application?
Yes. You are required to submit the essay portion of the PTCAS application.

Does Regis University require additional applications, application fees or supplemental items?
No, Regis University does not require any additional fees, applications, or supplemental items. Once a PTCAS application has been submitted and verified, we do not require any additional information. Communication will be sent to confirm receipt of your application and additionally to determine a complete or incomplete application.

Do I need to send transcripts directly to Regis University or only to PTCAS?
As part of the application process, you should submit official transcripts directly to PTCAS. You do not need to submit official transcripts directly to Regis University at the time of application.

Are there any requirements as to who should complete the letters of recommendation and how many are needed? Three electronic letters of recommendation, sent directly to PTCAS on the standard PTCAS form. Paper references are no longer accepted by PTCAS. One letter of recommendation must be completed by a licensed physical therapist, and one completed by a college-level faculty. The third recommendation should be completed by either a second physical therapist, a second academic reference or a professional reference. Arrange for PTCAS to receive all your references by the application deadline date. Personal letters of recommendation are not accepted.

Should I submit additional material like a resume, observation hour forms, etc?
No. You only need to submit the items required for your PTCAS application which includes the PTCAS application, essays, all official transcripts from schools attended and required references.

Does the Doctor Physical Therapy program consider credit for transfer from other health profession education programs?
Transfer credit from other health professions education programs to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will be considered for each individual student's request. Courses under consideration for transfer must be graduate level and must have been taken within the past three years in a ground-based format.

The school dean and director of graduate studies will evaluate the syllabus from each requested course for equivalency of course content and rigor. Credit hours earned with grades of B- or better at an accredited institution of higher education prior to admission to the DPT program may be transferred based on equivalency review. Grades of C+ or below are not accepted. Credit hours are transferred, but quality points are not. The grade point average of the student will be determined only by work done at Regis University. A maximum of 12 semester hours of transfer credit will be accepted.

The GRE is optional and not used for ranking.

What is the institution code and department code for sending GRE scores?
Regis University Physical Therapy GRE code is 7671. Your official score will be sent to PTCAS and provided to Regis University via your PTCAS file. Applicants need to complete the General Test of the GRE which includes the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections. Additional information on the GRE can be found by going to www.gre.org.

What is the last test date for the GRE for the current application cycle?
You must take your GRE prior to the November 1, 2022 deadline.

If I take the GRE more than once, how do you interpret the scores?
We will use the best score from each individual section if multiple scores are available.

Do you have a specific undergraduate major that is preferred over others?
No. You may complete an undergraduate degree in any major. No academic major is given priority consideration during the selection process. The requirements for the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program are a baccalaureate degree and the program prerequisites.

Do you have a minimum GPA to apply?
We recommend a minimum cumulative anatomy and physiology and science GPA of 3.0, and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.75 to be eligible to apply.

Did you give preference to Colorado residents?
No. Preference is not given to Colorado residents over other applicants.

Do you give preference to Regis College undergraduates?
We give additional consideration to applicants who complete the undergraduate Health and Exercise Science major or minor at Regis University, but we do not guarantee admission to these students.

As a Jesuit institution, do you have a faith tradition that is a criterion or expectation for acceptance?
No. Regis University does not use religion as a criterion for admission. However, additional consideration is given to graduates of Jesuit institutions, regardless of faith.

How many hours of volunteer service do I need for the program?
We don't require a specific number of hours; however, we expect candidates to have enough experience to serve as evidence of their commitment to the career choice of physical therapy. You should obtain broad exposure to the various roles and responsibilities of the practicing physical therapist and have a general understanding of the future direction of physical therapy as a profession. A great reference for information about the field of physical therapy is the American Physical Therapy Association (www.apta.org).

How many applications do you receive?
We received close to 1,200 applications this past year and interviewed nearly 300 of those applicants.

What is the size of each DPT cohort?
Each year we bring in a new DPT class of 83 students.

What are your acceptance and matriculation rates?
We have an average application-to-acceptance rate of 47%, and admit-to-matriculation rate of 56% over the past four admissions cycles.

If I applied last year, do I have to send in an entire application?
Yes. Regis University participates in the common application (PTCAS). Therefore, all re-applicants will need to submit new complete applications via the PTCAS system.

What are my chances of being accepted into the program (if I have a low GPA)?
We look at a number of factors when evaluating applications, including prerequisite grades; cumulative anatomy and physiology, and sciences GPAs; recommendations; and completion of highly recommended courses. Additional consideration is given to applicants who complete the undergraduate Health and Exercise Science major or minor at Regis University, and/or come from a diverse background, have earned a graduate-level degree, or have earned an undergraduate degree from a Jesuit university. It is the combination of these factors that determine whether you will be invited for an interview.

When will I find out if I have been selected to interview? When will my application be reviewed?
We will begin to review applications upon submission up until the deadline. Invited candidates will be notified of their invitation to interview by email starting in mid-December. As a final step of the admissions process, a select number of qualified candidates will be invited to interview. While on-campus interviews on our Northwest Denver campus are recommended to maximize the candidate experience, we will continue to follow health and safety guidelines set forth by the state and accommodate requests for a limited number of virtual interviews. Both on-campus and virtual interviews will be scheduled in January 2022. Approximately 300 candidates are interviewed annually for 83 seats in our fall class.

Those candidates who are not selected to interview will be notified by email as well.

Are your interview dates flexible?
No. While accommodations may be made to interview virtually, no exceptions are made to an assigned interview date.

Do you offer virtual interviews?
For the health and safety of our candidates and campus community, we are following the guidance of the Colorado Department of Public Health. While we plan to host in-person interviews, we must adhere to guidelines set forth by local, state and federal agencies. To maximize the candidate interview experience, it is recommended that you interview on our Northwest Denver campus. However, accommodations will be considered for a limited number of virtual interviews.

How do students pay for the program?
Most students in the program pay for tuition and living expenses through student loans. Once admitted to the program, you will have a financial aid counselor available to work with you on securing loans. Additionally, we offer several merit-based scholarships, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per scholarship to each incoming class. All students admitted to the program are considered for scholarships. Awards are based on academic achievement and/or diversity.

Is there housing available for graduate students on campus?
First-year Physical Therapy and Pharmacy graduate students have the opportunity to apply for a room in the Vince J. Boryla Apartments. While rooms are limited, an application must be submitted for a lottery selection. These two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments come fully furnished and include utilities, internet and streaming cable. Located one block south of Regis University, the modern, and contemporary apartments are easily within walking distance to class.

The majority of DPT students live within a 5- to 20-minute commute from campus in apartments or homes for rent. Once admitted to the program, the Office of Admissions works with incoming students to help those that are interested get connected with roommates. Additionally, incoming new students are paired with current students to help them make a smooth transition to Regis.

To browse off-campus housing options and look for potential roommates, visit offcampushousing.regis.edu*. You will find information on apartments in the area and can sign up for information on other individuals seeking roommates in the area. You will be asked to “sign up” by entering a username and creating a password to optimize your use of this site.

*Please note that Regis University and Off Campus partners do not inspect such rental properties, investigate their owners, or investigate any roommate. Inclusion of any property or rental unit or any roommate posting on this website does not constitute, and shall not be construed or reported as an endorsement or approval by Regis University or Off Campus Partners stings, and cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of any such information posted on this website.

What is the structure of the DPT curriculum?
The central concept of the curriculum is the movement system, presented through a systems approach across the lifespan. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in the sciences supporting physical therapy intervention and the rationales linking theory and application to clinical practice. Embracing the concept of “adult learning”, where instructors serve as facilitators of learning and thinking, and not solely as dispensers of knowledge, the study of structured problems and issues in small group tutorial sessions throughout the curriculum enhances the integration of information from current and previous courses.