Pathway to Doctor of Physical Therapy for First-Year Students

For select high-achieving first-year students, Marist offers a unique pathway to earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Accepted Marist students who qualify can gain direct entry into our accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This encompasses a 4+3 year academic program, at the end of which students will have completed their undergraduate degree, as well as earned their Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Should these students choose to attend Marist directly out of high school, they will have automatic admission into our DPT program, provided they meet the 3.5 grade point average requirement at Marist, in addition to other requirements. 

Academic Requirements

To be considered for guaranteed admission, students must submit an application and all required documentation through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application System (PTCAS), and meet the following criteria.

Students must have:

1. an earned baccalaureate degree at the time of acceptance
2. a 3.5 cumulative GPA
3. a 3.4 GPA for the DPT science prerequisite courses with no grade below C+
4. a GRE Analytical Writing Score of 3.5 or higher
5. submitted two letters of recommendation
6. completed Clinical Observation Hours Documentation (minimum of 80 hours, preferably in at least 2 settings)
7. successful interview with the DPT Admission Committee

Students who are not invited to the Pathway program at the point of undergraduate admission may still qualify and must fulfill the criteria indicated above.

About the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Marist

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Marist is accredited by CAPTE and will prepare you for a successful career in the rapidly expanding field of Physical Therapy. 

The Marist DPT facility is housed in the Allied Health Science building which includes a physical therapy skills lab, research lab, and a technologically advanced suite of clinical simulation labs, including trauma, surgery, and traditional examination rooms. In addition, the facility has a full gross anatomy laboratory that supports the learning experience. Graduates of this program have seen tremendous success in turning their passion for helping others into meaningful careers in physical therapy.