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Admissions

Interested in becoming a physical therapist?

The application period for the next class will begin July 1, 2019. For reference purposes, the average prerequisite GPA of students recently admitted to the program (Class of 2022) is 3.57 and the average GRE scores are 152 (quantitative) and 153 (verbal).

We are excited that you have selected Tennessee State University as one of your options for earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. We are happy to help you with any questions you may have about our application and admission process. However, we ask you to please read the instructions and all details very carefully.

If there is anything you cannot find on our website or in PTCAS, or if you would like advisement regarding the profession and/or your application, feel free to contact us. We are very proud of our program and take pride in our customer service. We are willing to set up meetings and schedule class visits or campus tours.

Information and Questions

All application and admission information is available in the Tennessee State University homepage on PTCAS. Please read the instructions and all details very carefully. If you still have any questions after reading all information and instructions, please to contact our Administrative Assistant, Ms. Dorothy Fisher, at (615) 963-5881 or by email at dfisher9@tnstate.edu.

Applying to the Program

• PTCAS Application - The application process for our program must be completed through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Please visit the Tennessee State University homepage on PTCAS for specific application information and admission criteria..
  
  
• Early Decision Option -  If our program is your top choice, we highly recommend considering the Early Decision option, since there is a strong possibility that we may fill the next class with Early Decision candidates.

• Graduate School Application - Admission to the program requires all students to pay a non-refundable Graduate School application application fee.
  
  
• Reservation Fee - Applicants who have been recommended to the Graduate School for acceptance into the DPT program are required to pay a non-refundable $250.00 reservation fee to secure their slot in the program. The reservation fee goes toward the cost of tuition once the applicant matriculates into the program.

Clinical Practicum Requirements

All students accepted for admission into the graduate program in Physical Therapy must meet the following requirements prior to enrollment in the clinical practicum:

• Proficiency in medical terminology
• Documentation that they are free from communicable disease
• Tuberculosis screening and all required immunizations
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic First Aid certification
• Health/Accident insurance coverage
• Professional student liability insurance coverage
• Criminal Background Checks: Criminal background checks and or drug screens may be a requirement for training at some affiliated clinical sites. Based on the results of these checks/screens, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow your participation in training at their facility. This could result in your inability to successfully complete the requirements of this program. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment.
• The following are Essential Functions that students should be able to meet, whether unaided or with reasonable accommodation, for a clinical practicum:

• • Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment;
  • Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds;
  • Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective physical therapy care;
  • Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs;
  • Visual acuity sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in physical therapy care;
  • Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and treatment;
  • Physical ability to assist moving, transferring and ambulating patients who have physical impairment or dysfunction.

If students are unable to perform the aforementioned Essential Functions, they have the right to request reasonable accommodations from the Office of Disability Services as outlined in the  TSU Student Handbook.

Tuition and Fees

Information about tuition and fees may be accessed through the Bursar's Office. The information below is only an estimate based on the Summer 2018 fees and a full time load of 15 credit hours in the fall, 15 credit hours in the spring, and 9 credit hours in the summer. The figures may change.

The figures in the table above do not represent total cost for attending program; it does not include the cost of textbooks, materials, housing, etc. Tuition and fees can change each year and thus the total cost for the program can change. Tuition and fees differ whether or not the student is classified as instate or out-of-state. Read more.

Grants, Scholarships, and Aid

• Scholarships - A number of physical therapy scholarships exist, but some scholarships have application qualifications and may be institution specific. Read more.
  
  
• 250-Mile Radius Tuition Rate Program - Out-of-state students in a county within a 250-mile radius of Nashville, Tennessee are eligible for a discounted 250-Mile Radius Rate. Read more.
  
  
• POTUS Fellows Program - Qualifying students who have been accepted into the program may also avail of the Preparing Our Tomorrows Uniquely in STEM (POTUS) Fellows program. Read more.
  
  
• Financial Aid - The Office of Financial Aid administers federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid in accordance with federal and state laws. Read more.
  
  
  

 Admission Decision Plan

• Early Decision: Application deadline is August 15. Please be sure to read the Early Decision information on the  PTCAS  website. You must indicate that you are applying Early Decision if you apply prior to the August 15 deadline. If you do not indicate you are applying Early Decision, your application will not be reviewed as an Early Decision application.
  • File reviews of completed/qualifying applications: 3^rd and 4^th weeks of August
  • Notification of applicants and invitation for interview: first week of September
  • Applicant interviews: September 13, 2019
  • Admissions decision: on or around the last week of September

• General Application: Regular application deadline is October 1
  • It is very possible that the class will be filled with Early Decision candidates. If so, General Applications will not be reviewed.
  • If the class is not filled with Early Decision candidates, completed/qualifying applications submitted through the General Application process using PTCAS will be reviewed using a rolling review process.
  • Should candidates from General Application be considered, the applicant interviews for this group is scheduled for October 25, 2019