Entry-Level Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program

1. How can I get more information about the program?
2. What are the deadlines for applying to the program?
3. How many classes does the program accept each year? How many students?
4. Can I enroll in classes if I miss the deadline for application?
5. Do I have to take the GREs to apply to the program?
6. If I am a returning student who completed my undergraduate degree more than ten years ago, will those courses satisfy the prerequisites?
7. Does my GPA for any graduate work or graduate degree factor into my overall GPA?
8. Can I retake a science course to improve my grade? How does retaking a science course affect the science GPA?
9. Can you tell me which institutions offer the 300 level physiology course?
10. Is there any alternative to taking the 300 level physiology course?
11. If a student completes a baccalaureate degree and later returns to school to complete prerequisites for physical therapy, does the GPA from the bachelors degree count toward the overall GPA?
12. If a student returns to school for prerequisites and earns a very strong science cum (> 3.5), but has a low overall GPA due to a poor grades during the undergraduate experience, will he/she still be considered for an interview?
13. Do two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology at a community college count for either of the two Biology prerequisites or only the first one?
14. Do Stony Brook undergraduates get preferential admission to the program?
15. Where can I get information about financial aid?
16. Do I get to choose where I complete my clinical experiences?
17. Where are the classes held?
18. When are the classes held?
19. Will I be able to work while attending classes?
20. Are any of the courses offered on-line?
21. What degree will I receive at graduation?
22. How will this degree help me?
23. How much time do I have to complete my degree?
24. Do I need a computer for this program?
25. Do you have an employment placement service for graduates of the program?
26. How do SBU PT students perform on the National Licensing Board Exam?

Question #1: How can I get more information about the program?

Answer: We encourage you to visit us for an information session where you can learn about our program. These sessions will also provide the opportunity for you to review your goals with a faculty member of the entry-level DPT program. If you have any further questions about attending the information session, please contact the physical therapy program at 631-444-8356. Individual appointments are available by calling Richard Johnson (631-444-3251), Janice Sniffen (631-444-3253), or Anita Santasier (631-444-8130).

Question #2: What are the deadlines for applying to the program?

Answer: Applications can be found on PTCAS (www.ptcas.org) starting August 1. The application deadline is January 15th.

Question #3: How many classes does the program accept each year? How many students?

Answer: There is one entering class of 33 students each year. The starting date for each class is late June or early July of the year of admission.

Question #4: Can I enroll in classes if I miss the deadline for application?

Answer: No. Only students accepted and enrolled in the entry-level physical therapy program may take professional classes.

Question #5: Do I have to take the GREs to apply to the program?

Answer: Yes, GREs are a required component of the admissions process. However, there is currently no minimum required score.

Question #6: If I am a returning student who completed my undergraduate degree more than ten years ago, will those courses satisfy the prerequisites?

Answer: Preference is given to applicants who have completed all science prerequisites within the past ten years. Science knowledge changes at such a rapid pace that courses completed more than ten years ago will not adequately prepare the student for the physical therapy curriculum. However, the other prerequisites (Arts and Humanities, English Composition etc) are acceptable even if they are from a very old transcript. The only other prerequisite that has a time limit is the CPR/1st aid, which must be current when school starts.

Question #7: Does my GPA for any graduate work or graduate degree factor into my overall GPA?

Answer: No, although you may utilize some of these courses to meet the prerequisites, credits from a graduate program cannot be factored in with the undergraduate GPA.

Question #8: Can I retake a science course to improve my grade? How does retaking a science course affect the science GPA?

Answer: The higher of the two grades is the only one that will be factored into the Science GPA.

Question #9: Can you tell me which institutions offer the 300 level physiology course?

Answer: Stony Brook University usually offers this course in the fall semester only; it has occasionally offered the course during the summer session. University of California at Davis has an on-line course. Students have also been able to find courses at New York University, Pace University, Brooklyn College, Queens College and Hunter College. Community colleges do not offer courses at the 300 level.

Question #10: Is there any alternative to taking the 300 level physiology course?

Answer: The physiology prerequisite may be met by an upper division (300 level) 3 credit physiology course with no lab required OR 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology with a lab. The 8 credits can be taken at a 4 year or a 2 year school. Other individual circumstances may be acceptable; please discuss with department chairperson.

Question #11: If a student completes a baccalaureate degree, and later returns to school to complete prerequisites for physical therapy does the GPA from the bachelors degree count toward the overall GPA?

Answer: Yes, the transcript leading to the baccalaureate degree is counted in the overall GPA since the degree itself is a prerequisite. However, if the student has attended several schools and there is a transcript that contains grades that are not strong and are not needed for the undergraduate degree credits or for the preqrequisites, it will not be factored into to the overall GPA.

Question #12: If a student returns to school for prerequisites and earns a very strong science cum (> 3.5), but has a low overall GPA due to a poor grades during the undergraduate experience, will he/she still be considered for an interview?

Answer: This very much depends on the circumstances. This would be a decision made by the Admissions Committee, and it would be based on the overall strength of the application.

Question #13: Do two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology at a community college count for either of the two Biology prerequisites or only the first one?

Answer: Anatomy and Physiology I and II taken at a community college for 8 credits can fulfill the pre-requisite for one Bio OR for Physiology, but not both.

Question #14: Do Stony Brook undergraduates get preferential admission to the program?

Answer: While the rigor of undergraduate education at Stony Brook is well recognized, all applicants to the program are given equal consideration with respect to admission to the program.

Question #15: Where can I get information about financial aid?

Answer: Financial aid advisors in the Health Sciences Center Office of Student Services at 631-444-2111 are experts in this area and make every attempt to assist students seeking financial aid.

Question #16: Do I get to choose where I complete my clinical experiences?

Answer: Students list their top choices for each clinical affiliation and participate in a lottery selection process. All students participate in one acute care, one outpatient, and one rehabilitation experience. The remaining experience may be geared toward the student’s interests in specific settings or patient populations.

Question #17: Where are the classes held?

Answer: Most classes are held on Level 2 or Level 3 of the Health Sciences Center (HSC) in Stony Brook, Long Island. The HSC is located on the east side of the Stony Brook campus in close proximity to the Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Question #18: When are the classes held?

Answer: Classes are scheduled Mondays through Fridays from 8 AM to 7:30 PM. The schedule varies each semester depending on the time constraints of the courses offered. In most cases, Friday afternoon is free of scheduled classes; however special events or circumstances do arise which result in schedule changes.

Question #19: Will I be able to work while attending classes?

Answer: Although many students work on a part-time basis, the intensive nature of the PT curriculum and the class and study hours involved take most of a student’s time. The clinical experiences (8,8,8,16 weeks) require full-time commitment to patient care plus preparation time, making it difficult to work during these periods.

Question #20: Are any of the courses offered on-line?

Answer: The curriculum is considered an onsite educational model, allowing students to interact as they learn together in the classroom. There are currently no courses offered online.

Question #21: What degree will I receive at graduation?

Answer: Upon successful completion of the program, students are granted a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) and are eligible to sit for the Physical Therapist Licensing Exam. State licensure is required to practice in all 50 states and other national or international jurisdictions.

Question #22: How will this degree help me?

Answer: The DPT program offers the breadth and depth in educational preparation for autonomous practice in contemporary health care environments. The majority of entry-level physical therapy programs are now at the clinical doctorate level.

Question #23: How much time do I have to complete my degree?

Answer: The program is completed in three years of full time study, including summers.

Question #24: Do I need a computer for this program?

Answer: Owning a computer is strongly recommended. If you do not own a computer, you should have daily access to one. In several courses, students will be utilizing Blackboard and responding to, and providing, e-mail correspondence several times each week. Increasingly, email is used to communicate between the program and students.

Question #25: Do you have an employment placement service for graduates of the program?

Answer: Many Stony Brook students are offered employment from contacts made during their clinical affiliations. The PT Department maintains a listing of job opportunities that is available to graduates from both the entry-level and post-professional programs.

Question #26: How do SBU PT students perform on the National Licensing Board Exam?

Answer: The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) publicly reports 3-year pass rates by institution for The National Licensing Board Exam. In addition, it is important to determine 1st time pass rates. As of Spring 2008, SBU PT is proud to report an ongoing 3 year pass rate of 100% with a 100% 1st time pass rate for the graduating Class of 2007 on the National Physical Therapy Licensing Board Exam.