Application Information

Clarkson University » Department of Physical Therapy » Pre-Physical Therapy Undergraduate Concentration

Undergraduate Student Admission Procedure

Apply once.  You can graduate with a doctorate in physical therapy in as few as six years of study when you enroll at Clarkson as an undergraduate and develop a course plan with your pre-PT adviser.  Upon successful completion of your undergraduate course work, you will automatically matriculate into the doctoral program without applying separately for graduate admission again. 

Applicants to Clarkson University's undergraduate program who want to go on to the graduate physical therapy professional curriculum at Clarkson,  which leads to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, must be first admitted by Clarkson University as an undergraduate student, and also by the Department of Physical Therapy into the Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration. To apply to Clarkson University and the Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, complete all required material for Clarkson undergraduate admission, as stated in the Clarkson University Freshman Application for Admission. Check the box for Pre-Physical Therapy as a "Special Advising Option" in addition to selecting an undergraduate major of your choice in a degree-granting program.

If you have not yet decided on a specific undergraduate major, a good choice may  be University Studies or Science Studies. You will get professional advising from both the first-year advising center and physical therapy faculty to help you to explore different possibilities, and to select an undergraduate major later in your first year at Clarkson that matches your personal and professional interests.

In addition to completing all required material for Clarkson undergraduate admission, as stated in the Clarkson University Freshman Application for Admission, the Department of Physical Therapy requires additional material. All material, including the general Clarkson University Freshman Application for Admission and the additional material for the Department of Physical Therapy, should be sent to:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
Clarkson University
PO Box 5605
Potsdam, NY 13699-5605

After the Office of Undergraduate Admission has reviewed your Freshman Application for acceptance as an undergraduate student, your entire file will be forwarded to the Department of Physical Therapy. The Department of Physical Therapy will review your Freshman Application, and the additional material listed below, for acceptance into the Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration. The list below should be used as a check-list to ensure that all required materials are submitted in a timely manner.

For Clarkson University

• Clarkson University Freshman Application for Admission
• Check Pre-Physical Therapy as a Special Advising Option
• SAT or ACT results
• All high school transcripts

For the Department of Physical Therapy

• Two letters of recommendation

Preferably one from a high school teacher, and one from a health care professional familiar with your interest in becoming a physical therapist.

• An Extracurricular Activities, Achievements, and Interests form
• A minimum of 20 hours of physical therapy observation or volunteer experience is recommended