What is a physical therapist?
A physical therapist is a healthcare provider educated to diagnose movement dysfunction and direct programs of care for individuals of all ages who have functional limitations or disabilities due to injury or disease. Physical therapists work to restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and optimal quality of life as related to movement and health.

Where do physical therapists work?
Physical therapists practice in a broad range of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings, including the following: · Hospitals (e.g, critical care, intensive care, acute care, and subacute care settings) · Outpatient clinics or offices · Rehabilitation facilities · Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities · Home Health· Education or research centers · Schools and playgrounds (preschool, primary, and secondary) · Hospices · Corporate or industrial health centers · Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments · Athletic facilities (collegiate, amateur, and professional) · Fitness centers and sports training facilities.

What degree is offered at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)?
MUSC offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

How many students do you accept each year?
We accept up to 60 students each year who will start the program at the end of May.

What is the minimum GRE score required for admission to the program?
Applicants must take the GRE, including the writing component.  While there is not a minimum score requirement, it is strongly suggested that an applicant is in at least the 40th percentile for each component of the GRE.  The GRE may be taken multiple times in attempt to improve scores.

What is the minimum GPA required for admission to the program?
The minimum overall GPA required for entry into the program is 3.0.  The mean GPA over the past years has been 3.55.  In addition, the GPA for the prerequisite courses and the prerequisite science courses are considered in the admissions process.

When does the program start and end?
The program starts at the end of May each year. This is the only time for new students to enter the program. This is a three-year, lock-step curriculum with year-round classes during the summer, fall and spring semesters of each year. Graduation is mid-May of the third year.

Do I need a degree before I enter the program?
Yes. You need to have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited program prior to entering the Physical Therapy program.

Do I have to complete all the prerequisite courses before I apply to the PT Program, or before I enter the PT program?
All courses do not have to be completed prior to submitting an application. It is anticipated that some applicants will be enrolled in prerequisite courses at the time of application. These prerequisite courses must be completed by mid-May for the applicant to be eligible to begin the PT program at the end of May. NOTE: Applicants must have completed at least 16 semester hours of the specific science prerequisites (8 SH of Chemistry, 8 SH of Physics, 4 SH of Anatomy, 4 SH of Physiology and 8 SH of Biology) when the application is submitted. There is a form in the application titled "Plans for Remaining Academic Year" which allows an applicant to list courses currently in progress and courses they plan to complete prior to the start of classes.

What is the clinical component of the program?
Students have the opportunity to observe patient care, either in class or in local clinics, in a variety of courses throughout the curriculum. Additionally, student physical therapists complete one 6-week and three 8-week full time clinical practica where they provide hands-on patient care under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Our program contracts with over 300 clinical facilities throughout the United States to provide these clinical practica sites.

Must applicants complete volunteer/work hours in a PT clinic prior to applying?
It is mandatory to complete volunteer hours prior to submission of an application. An application will not be considered complete without 100 PT-specific volunteer hours. Volunteering or working in a PT environment will allow the applicant to assess if this is the correct career path.  While a reference form must be submitted by a physical therapist who supervised a minimum of 50 hours of observation, it is recommended for each applicant to obtain a variety of experiences when possible.

How many references do I need to send with my application?
One reference is needed in addition to the Volunteer/Work Evaluation Form. The same person should not complete and sign both forms. The reference must be from an individual other than the volunteer/work experience supervisor.

Do you take out of state students?
As part of the mission for the Physical Therapy Educational Program at MUSC, physical therapists are educated for the purpose of serving the citizens of the state of South Carolina.  The Physical Therapy Educational Program does take out of state students, with many remaining in the state following graduation.

Are there opportunities for research?
The faculty of the Physical Therapy Educational Program are involved in independent and collaborative research.  For a limited number of students, opportunities to be involved with research are available.  In addition, for a limited number of students, an opportunity is provided to complete a Master's of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) through the College of Graduate Studies, while attending MUSC.  Students choosing this option will have a 4-year curriculum and will defer the DPT degree until completing the MSCR program.  Students in the DPT and MSCR programs have an opportunity to have tuition waived and receive a stipend during the research year of the program.  During the DPT course work, students must pay full tuition (3 years).  Information concerning the MSCR can be found at:  http://www.musc.edu/dbbe/academics/mscr.php.