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Seton Hall University Health and Medical Sciences
admissions requirements for physical therapy program

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements below are for prospective students who already have completed a bachelor's degree. If you are looking for information about Seton Hall's Dual Degree program (B.S. + D.P.T.), please visit here ».

The Seton Hall Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program welcomes your application. All applications must be submitted through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). The curriculum of the D.P.T. program is rigorous, and the admissions process is extremely selective.

Application Deadline and Information:

  • This PTCAS application deadline is a soft deadline. For 2025 admission, the deadline is October 15, 2024. All applications must be submitted by March 3, 2025.
  • Review of applicants occurs throughout the fall and spring until the time that the program begins in July.
  • Applicants must submit Summer and/or Fall 2024 coursework during the "Academic Update" process provided by PTCAS.

Please Note:

  • Students with incomplete prerequisites may apply; however, they must state how they will satisfy the prerequisites by June 1st prior to the start of the program.
  • All math and science prerequisite courses must be completed no longer than 10 years prior to the application date.
  • Applicants may be asked to provide proof of enrollment in any outstanding prerequisite courses at the time when an admissions offer is made.

DPT Admission Requirements and Prerequisites:

  • Completion of the application at the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) website
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Cumulative and prerequisite grade point averages (GPA) of 3.2 on a 4-point scale
  • A minimum of twenty-five (25) hours of clinical observation with a licensed physical therapist in the delivery of physical therapy services in a clinical environment. This requirement may be met through paid or volunteer experiences. Hours must be completed by May 1, 2025.
  • Two letters of recommendation from sources able to attest to an applicant's academic ability and character; one letter must be from a licensed physical therapist and another must be from an academic faculty,academic advisor and/or employer.Letters from family members and casual acquaintances are not acceptable.
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be taken within five years. While the program does not use a strict cutoff score, most competitive applicants will have scores at or above the 50th percentile in each test area, and a 3.0 or higher on the analytical writing section. Candidates who already have earned a graduate degree in another health profession or biological science may request that the GRE requirement be waived. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Last acceptable GRE test date for this cycle is 03/01/2025 and the oldest GRE test date considered for this cycle is 07/01/2020. The PTCAS Seton Hall GRE code is 3886.
  • If English is not the native language, a student must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Score Report documenting a computer-based score of 220or above, or pass all four sections of the TOEFL internet-based examination. The passing section scores are: Writing = 24; Speaking = 26; Listening = 18; and Reading = 21.
  • Academic transcripts from institutions outside of the United States or Canada must undergo a course-by-course evaluation conducted by an independent credentials evaluation agency, that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. A custom application has been created exclusively for Seton Hall University allowing our applicants to request their evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access the application here: SpanTran Application - Seton Hall University. Failure to submit a required credential evaluation from a NACES member will result in your application for admission being incomplete and, thus, unable to be reviewed.
  • Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better:
    • Biology (with laboratory): 8 credits
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology (with laboratory): 8 credits
    • Chemistry (with laboratory): 8 credits
    • Physics (with laboratory): 8 credits
    • Psychology: 3 credits
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3credits
    • Statistics: 3 credits
    • English/Comp. Writing: 3 credits

Admission Considerations:

In reviewing applications, the Admissions Committee will determine candidates' eligibility upon review of the following:

  • Undergraduate academic performance
  • Performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • Non-quantifiable items such as letters of recommendation, healthcare experiences, professional and community activities and essay review

Upon acceptance into the D.P.T. program, students must read, understand, meet and sign the Essential Functions of the School of Health and Medical Sciences and the D.P.T. program during on-campus orientation in July.

Regardless of previous educational or work experience, all students are required to complete the entire physical therapist curriculum. No advanced placement, transfer credit or credit for experiential learning will be granted.

Special admissions consideration is given to students enrolled in the undergraduate-to-graduate dual-degree program at Seton Hall University.

How to Apply:

  • All applicants must have a bachelor's degree and must complete the PTCAS online application.
  • All admission materials must be sent to PTCAS. Do not send anything directly to Seton Hall University.
  • If you are applying for undergraduate admission to the Dual Degree Program in Physical Therapy (B.S. + D.P.T)., visit admissions.shu.edu for the online application.

DPT Admissions Questions:
Patrick McDermott, M.A.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Enrollment and Student Affairs
School of Health and Medical Sciences
shms@shu.edu
(973) 275-2062

Qualified students are admitted without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, natural origin, sexual orientation, ancestry or gender.

For additionalinformation, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page»