Natural Sciences
Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum
The University of St. Francis offers excellent undergraduate preparation for physical therapy and other health related professional schools. There is not a specific major required for admission to physical therapy programs so USF offers a biology degree with a pre-professional track for students interested in becoming physical therapists. USF students complete a core of courses which prepare them for entrance into professional school and still enjoy the freedom and flexibility to design a curriculum in advanced science courses which are appropriate to their interests.
Physical therapy schools are looking for students who have completed a core of specific course work in biology, chemistry, math and physics and who have performed at a high academic level. Additional coursework may be required by individual PT programs in such areas as psychology, sociology, and statistics; however, it is important to check with individual programs to determine their specific requirements. Physical therapy schools require volunteer work or other specific types of clinical experience outside the classroom.
REQUIRED BIOLOGY COURSES:
BIOL 124/5 Principles of Biology I and Lab 4 BIOL 126/7 Principles of Biology II and Lab 4 BIOL 211 Microbiology 5 BIOL 221 Human Anatomy 4 BIOL 252 Human Physiology 4 BIOL 331 Botany or
BIOL 361 Ecology4 BIOL 350 Genetics 4 BIOL 410 Senior Seminar or
BIOL 411/2 Senior Thesis I & II*3 *Required of Biology Fellows
ELECTIVE BIOLOGY COURSES (SELECT 2):
BIOL 311 Pathophysiology 3 BIOL 322 Molecular Biology 4 BIOL 321 Human Dissection Anatomy 3 BIOL 342 Medical Microbiology 4 BIOL 343 Immunology 4 BIOL 353 Endocrinology 3 BIOL 480-483 Selected Topics 3-4 REQUIRED CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS and MATH COURSES:
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 CHEM 122 General Chemistry II 5 CHEM 224/5 Organic Chemistry I and Lab 5 CHEM 226/7 Organic Chemistry II and Lab 5 CHEM 322/3 Biochemistry and Lab 5 PSCI 111 General Physics I 4 PSCI 112 General Physics II 4 MATH 181 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 5