A Bachelor’s Degree (or expect to graduate prior to enrollment)

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or expect to graduate prior to enrolling in the DPT program. Credit hours must have been earned in colleges or universities whose names appear in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs as compiled by the U.S. Department of Education. The bachelor’s degree may be in any field. No preference is given to applicants majoring in the sciences versus those with non-science majors.

Minimum GPA Requirements for Eligibility

• Program-specific Prerequisite GPA: 3.0 minimum

Prerequisite Courses

Prospective students may submit an application while enrolled in pre-requisite courses, but all courses must be completed prior to starting the DPT program. Grades of C- (C minus) and below cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for admission. Where possible, we will accept spring and summer 2020 coursework that is graded on a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis to fulfill a prerequisite course requirement, particularly if the applicant was not given the choice to take the course on this basis. We may, however, require proof from applicants that they were not offered the choice of receiving a letter grade, or that the choice to move to a Pass/Fail grading basis was made prior to seeing the final letter grade in the course.

Credit hours must have been earned in colleges or universities whose names appear on the current list of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education as compiled by the American Council on Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, DC 20036. Students who have completed coursework in Maryland may review transfer courses at ARTSYS – Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities. This is an online evaluation system that enables students to determine how courses taken at any two-year college in Maryland transfer to any four-year college or university in Maryland. The following courses, or equivalent, are required:

• Human Anatomy (with lab, 4 semester credit hours). One course in Human Anatomy or the first course in the series of Anatomy and Physiology I & II. Anatomy content should include skeletal and muscular systems of the human body.
• Physiology (with lab, 4 semester credit hours). One course in Physiology or the second course in the series of Anatomy and Physiology I & II. Physiology content should cover various systems including: cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, etc.
• Biology (with lab, 4 semester credit hours) - In addition to Human Anatomy and Physiology listed above, one or two courses from the field of biology, not to include Botany.
• General Chemistry I (with lab, 4 semester credit hours). Content must include atomic and molecular structure. This course should be the first in the Chemistry I & II series.
• General Chemistry II (with lab, 4 semester credit hours) - In addition to Chemistry I listed above. This course should be the second course in the Chemistry I & II series and must include a lab.
• General Physics I (with lab 4, semester credit hours). Non-calculus or calculus-based.
• General Physics II (with lab 4, semester credit hours). Non-calculus or calculus-based.
• Statistics (3 semester credit hours). Course content should include mean, median, mode, standard deviation, t-tests, etc.
• Psychology (3 semester credit hours). Abnormal or Developmental Psychology is recommended.
• Human Behavior (3 semester credit hours) - in addition to Abnormal Psychology or Developmental Psychology listed above, one or two courses that include knowledge of human behavior from an individual or societal perspective.

Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits may be used. AP or CLEP credits must appear in PTCAS. If used to fulfill prerequisite courses, the official scores must be mailed to PTRS.
AP SCORE CODE: 7784

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• More information on GRE testing is available on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) website.
• Official score reports must be sent directly from the ETS website.
• PTRS Department Code: 1089

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

A TOEFL score is required as part of the application process for individuals who do not speak English as their first or native language and/or for individuals who have lived less than five years in the United States. The minimum required TOEFL score for admission into the DPT program is 213 for the computer-based exam and 80 for the internet-based exam.

TOEFL scores are valid for two years.

• University of Maryland Institution Code: 5848
• PTRS Department Code: 48

Letters of Recommendation

• One recommendation from a U.S. licensed physical therapist you have observed.
• One recommendation from PT-related, non PT-related, participation in college and university groups that provide service, cultural and faith-based groups, and national, regional, state, or local organizations.
• One recommendation from an academic source. The academic recommendation must be completed by a college or university faculty member who has served as your instructor and has personally observed you in the classroom environment.

Physical Therapy Observation

A minimum of 50 hours is required at time of matriculation.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete observation of physical therapy practice in at least two to three different clinical settings (acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and/or outpatient practice) and with different patient populations (i.e. across the lifespan, varied clinical conditions) to ensure exposure to a broad scope of physical therapy practice.

Current CPR Certification

• Certifications must be valid on the first day of class and must remain active throughout your enrollment in the DPT program.
• CPR certification must include infant, child and adult resuscitation.
• Courses delivered solely via a web-based format are not acceptable.
• Hybrid format courses are acceptable: on-line instruction and in-person skills practice and testing.
• Students are required to provide documentation of their current CPR certification.

The following are considered acceptable CPR certification programs:

• AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for Healthcare Providers
  please visit the American Heart Association website for more information

When to Apply

The application for the current 2024-2025 admissions cycle is accessible through PTCAS. The deadline to submit your application to be reviewed for admission to the program for May 2025 is November 1st.

Offers of admissions will begin mid-November and continue until the class is full. All applicants will receive a final decision (acceptance, denial or waitlist) by January 15th.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and submit ALL required documents well in advance of the November 1 deadline.

Tuition
Tuition and fees vary based on the year in which the student is enrolled in the DPT program and whether you are a Maryland state resident.
Tuition and Fees for DPT Program
CAPTE DPT Financial Fact Sheet

Required Device
The Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science (PTRS) will issue the required device to all incoming DPT Program students that the department specifies for their particular cohort. The device will be distributed at new student orientation. The fee for this device will appear on your tuition bill from Student Accounting. The projected cost of the device is approximately $900 which includes a 4 year warranty with on-site next business day service. There is no negotiation on using another device or exceptions to this policy. Students are financially responsible for the cost of the required device as soon as they matriculate into the DPT Program.

Financial Aid

Federal Grants, Loans and Work-Study
The University of Maryland Office of Financial Aid can answer questions concerning the federal aid process. Federal financial aid includes grants, low-interest loans and work-study.

Website: http://www.umaryland.edu/fin/
E-mail: aidtalk@umaryland.edu
Phone: (410) 706-7347

Maryland State Awards
Maryland residents may apply for grants, scholarships and need-based financial aid through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) - Office of Student Financial Assistance. Information concerning eligibility requirements for the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program and other awards are available on the MHEC website at http://www.mhec.state.md.us.

Residency Classification

Application for In-State Classification

VA Benefits

Upon receipt of your Enrollment Certification form, the department's SCO (School Certifying Official) will certify your enrollment to the VA using the Veterans Enrollment Management system. Once enrollment is certified, your tuition is paid directly to Student Accounting. In accordance with federal regulations, GI Bill® students should not be imposed a late fee, and therefore, a list of GI Bill® students is reported to Student Accounting to prevent penalty.

All new and continuing veteran and dependent students who are eligible for and intending to use educational benefits are REQUIRED to submit the following documentation to ptadmissions@som.umaryland.edu

• Declaration of Intent
• Copy of Eligibility
• Copy of Tuition Bill

You can visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, http://www.gibill.va.gov, or contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI-Bill-1) and speak with a veteran’s benefits counselor.

Right to Appeal

All applicants have the right to appeal an admissions decision. Your appeal should be in writing and addressed to the following:

University of Maryland School of Medicine
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Attention: Director for Academic Affairs for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program
100 Penn Street, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21201