 Admission to the
Physical Therapy Program
Deadlines
Application postmarked deadline: November 16, 2009
Note: After the deadline, applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until the class fills.
Enrollment deposit deadline: A deposit must be received within two weeks of notification of admission.
Application
The Department of Physical Therapy at Chapman University is participating in the new Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Applicants applying to the entry-level professional physical therapist program for the 2009 entering class will apply online using the PTCAS application. Applicants can begin their PTCAS application on July 15, 2009. The PT program application deadline is November 16, 2009. To begin the PTCAS application process, visit the PTCAS web site at www.ptcas.org.
Overall Admission Requirements
A complete list of admission requirements can also be found on PTCAS website: www.apta.org/ptcas/chapman.html.
All Applicants:
Accepted Students:
Priority Admission
Applicants eligible for Priority admission will receive an early admission decision, prior to that of regular applicants, and will have priority consideration for scholarship money awarded to outstanding, incoming DPT students. Applicants who have a GPA of 3.4 or higher at the time of application (the last 30 hour rule does not apply to priority admission); and no more than two science courses and a total of three prerequisite courses remaining after the fall semester in which the application is submitted are considered for priority admission to the 2009 class. Applicants with the least remaining prerequisite course work may be given preference over other applicants. After receiving your file from PTCAS, the Department will determine whether or not you are eligible for priority admission.
GRE scores as follows:
The deadline for priority admission is November 16, 2009, for enrollment in fall 2010. Admission decisions will be made available to all priority applicants at the end of January and the beginning of February.
Regular Admission
Applicants eligible for Regular admission will receive an admission decision on a rolling basis beginning at the end of February and continuing until the class is filled. Regular admission applicants will receive consideration for scholarship money awarded to outstanding, incoming DPT students as funds are available. Applicants are qualified with a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of application (you may substitute the last 30 hour rule for calculation of your GPA, see below for specific guidelines).
GRE scores are required as follows:
- Verbal: 400
- Quantitative: 500
- Analytical writing: 3.5 or higher
In addition, no more than two science courses and a total of three prerequisite courses can be remaining after the fall semester in which the application is submitted. Applicants with the least remaining prerequisite course work may be given preference over other applicants. After receiving your file from PTCAS, the Department will determine whether or not you are eligible for Regular or Priority admission.
The deadline for Regular admission is November 16, 2009, for enrollment in fall 2010.
Admission Instructions
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Complete and submit the admission application
Chapman University participates in the PTCAS application process. The PTCAS application is available on the PTCAS website at: www.ptcas.org. Chapman does not require a supplemental application. After completing the application, make sure to submit it online.
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Meet GPA expectations of 3.0 for CGPA & PGPA
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Cumulative Grade Point Average: The Department will use the CGPA calculated by PTCAS. The CPGA will be calculated based on all courses taken up to the fall 2008 semester. A minimum CGPA of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 is required for admission to the Chapman University DPT program. Applicants who do not have a CGPA of 3.0 or higher may demonstrate readiness for rigorous academic performance through the last 30 semester credits of course work (or 45 quarter credits). Any courses remaining to meet degree or other requirements must be completed with a grade of C or better, and a CGPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained until the matriculation date in August of 2009.
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Grade Point Average for the Last 30 Semester Credits: The 30-credit GPA may substitute for the CGPA if it is at least 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), contains at least 15 credits of science course work, has no more than 7 credits of repeated course work, and is at least 10% higher than the CGPA. Science courses must be courses for science majors. This substitution is for the purpose of admission to the professional curriculum in physical therapy only. Any courses remaining to meet degree or other requirements must be completed with a grade of C or better, and a 30-credit GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained until the matriculation date of August 2009.
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Prerequisite Grade Point Average: The Department will use the PGPA calculated by PTCAS. PGPA will be calculated based on all prerequisite courses taken up to the fall 2008 semester. Preference for admission is given to students who lack no more than two science courses and no more than a total of three prerequisite courses at the time of application. All remaining prerequisite course work must be completed with a grade of C or better, and a PGPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained until the matriculation date in August of 2009. Prerequisite coursework may be repeated only once; the second grade will be used to calculate PGPA.
Prerequisite Coursework
Acceptance into the program is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the following prerequisite course work with a required cumulative and prerequisite GPA of at least 3.0 and no grade below C. Chapman University's prerequisite course work is in accordance with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
|
Course |
General Credit Expectation |
|
|
|
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Biology |
4-5 credits with lab (botany unacceptable) |
|
Human Anatomy |
4-5 credits with lab (mammalian unacceptable) |
|
Human Physiology |
4-5 credits with lab |
|
General Chemistry |
1 year sequence with labs |
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General Physics |
1 year sequence with labs |
|
Psychology and/or Human
Behavior |
2 courses/6 credits |
|
Statistics |
3 credits |
Additional Information:
- All science courses must be for science majors. General education or introductory sciences courses are not acceptable.
- Human Anatomy and Physiology must have been completed within five years of application deadline. If a combined Anatomy/Physiology course is completed, two semesters or three quarter courses are required.
- All other prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the application deadline.
- Prerequisite courses may be repeated only once; the second grade will then be used to calculate GPA.
- Pass/Credit grades will be converted to a “C” if letter grading options are not available.
- Courses which received advanced placement credit (AP or CLEP) may fulfill prerequisite requirements. The credit hours and grade points will not be computed in the GPA calculation.
Additional Requirements (All Applicants):
- Letters of recommendation are NOT required.
- Persons who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may not be eligible for licensure in any or some states even after successful completion of a physical therapy program. Contact the Physical Therapy Department at (714) 744-7620 for additional information.
- Applicants who decline or are denied admission may reapply and submit updated transcripts (if additional coursework was taken since the previous application). Admission requirements are subject to change, and admission in one year does not guarantee admission in any subsequent year.
- Persons who have been dismissed from another physical therapy program are not eligible for consideration for admission to Chapman University.
- Accepted students are required to meet technical standards and specific health requirements (such as physical examinations and vaccinations). Information on these standards and requirements, as well as information on program costs, financial aid and acceptance and matriculation rates may be found on the Department’s website, www.chapman.edu/cs/pt/.
- Chapman University considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, special needs, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal civil rights laws. Some information requested in the application is requested for federal or accreditation reporting and will not be used in a discriminatory manner.
Observation/Experience
Applicants are required to satisfactorily complete at least 40 hours of observation (or paid work) to ensure at least minimal knowledge of the practice of physical therapy. Observation hours must be supervised by a licensed physical therapist and must be completed by August 3, 2009. Applicants are required to report their hours on the PTCAS application.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores
Applicants must submit GRE test results for all attempts. GRE scores will be considered relative to the scores of other applicants and the GPAs. The exam must have been taken within last five years and scores from various test dates are not combined. The test results should be sent to Chapman University, institutional code 4047.
The minimum acceptable scores for both regular admissions and priority admissions are as follows:
| |
Regular admissions |
Priority admissions |
|
Verbal 400 |
Verbal 450 |
|
Quanitative 500 |
Quanitative 530 |
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Analytical Writing 3.5 |
Analytical Writing 3.5 |
The following website or phone number may be convenient in registering for the GRE (www.gre.org or 1-800-473-2255).
International Application Requirements
In addition to completing the application for admission, international students must submit the following:
1. TOEFL/IELTS Scores: International applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL scores must be a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet-based) and must have been taken within 2 years of the date of application for admission to Chapman. Scores must be sent directly to PTCAS. The ETS recording code for Chapman University is 4047. IELTS scores of 6.5 or higher are acceptable. International students who have completed their undergraduate degrees at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university do not need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
2. Academic Documentation. Submit official transcripts, diplomas, and certificates from all post-secondary institutions. Please note that official transcripts submitted in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Documents will not be returned, so please send a notarized photocopy if only one transcript can be issued from the school. Chapman University will submit your transcripts to the International Educational Research Foundation (IERF) to be evaluated.
3. Financial Certification. A Financial Certification form provided by Chapman University certifying that you have sufficient financial funding to cover the expenses of your first year of study. Please note that appropriate documentation (U.S. Immigration I-20) will not be issued without this certification.
Exceptions or Appeals
Applicants who do not meet the requirements or the time frame for specific courses may seek an exception. A written request stating the extenuating circumstances should be submitted to the Department of Physical Therapy by the application deadline or within ten days of notification that the requirements are not met. Students who feel they were denied admission arbitrarily or capriciously should appeal to the Department of Physical Therapy Chairperson.
Accepted Students
- Upon acceptance into the Chapman University DPT program, students are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, even if only one course was taken at the institution or if the courses were subsequently transferred to another institution and are reflected on transcripts from that institution.
- Evidence of a baccalaureate degree must be posted on the transcript by August 3, 2009. If a baccalaureate degree has not been earned by the time the program begins, a completion letter is required. A completion letter should be requested from the institution’s registrar’s office and should certify the anticipated date your degree will be posted on the transcript. A final GPA cannot be computed until the degree is conferred and posted on the transcript.
- Acceptance into the program is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite coursework with required CGPA and PGPA of at least 3.0 and no grade below C. Please refer to the Prerequisite Course Addendum for specific prerequisite requirements.
- Please note that all admitted applicants are required to make a financial commitment ($500 enrollment deposit) payable to Chapman University. The deadline for the deposit is anticipated to be within two weeks of being accepted for all applicants. Admitted students who do not deposit by this deadline cannot be guaranteed a position in the class.
- Accepted students are required to meet technical standards and specific health requirements (such as physical examinations and vaccinations).
Campus Visits
Admitted students are encouraged to visit the Physical Therapy facilities, and our campus in Historic Old Towne Orange, and meet with professors. You may arrange a visit by contacting the Department of Physical Therapy office. Because visitations must be coordinated with the schedules of hosting students and faculty professors, admitted students are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of Physical Therapy at least one to two weeks prior to the anticipated visit. Walk-in visits are not ideal because the student hosts and faculty professors may not be readily available.
Contact:
Serena Healey
(714) 744-7620
healey@chapman.edu
Ethical and Professional Standards
Students enrolled in the professional curriculum must sign a statement to agree to abide by the APTA Code of Ethics, APTA Guide for Professional Conduct, and Chapman University's Standards of Academic Integrity (see Handbook for Physical Therapy Students). Students also must acknowledge their ability to carry out the technical standards and essential functions of the physical therapy curriculum at the time of matriculation into the program.
The DPT program involves preparing people to work with the public. The faculty assume the responsibility for reasonably assuring that individuals who complete the program are not only academically competent but also aware and capable of functioning within the established ethical and professional standards of the profession. The Department has both the right and obligation to continually evaluate students, and if necessary, to dismiss students based on these standards as well as academic performance expectations. This philosophy is consistent with other physical therapy programs,which are engaged explicity or implicitly in certifying that their graduates are competent to engage in the practice of physical therapy.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year is set at $27,360 ($9,120 per semester).
File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form (for U.S. citizens only)
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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form at www.fafsa.edu.gov. The Federal government can be contacted for information about completing the FAFSA at 1-800-4FED-AID.
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When completing the FAFSA, please list “Chapman University, Orange, CA” under school information. The Title IV School Code is 001164.
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The preferential filing date for mailing the FAFSA is March 1; however, applications received after this date will still be considered depending on the availability of funds. For more information, please contact Chapman University’s Office of Financial Aid at (714) 997-6741.
Orientation & First Day of Classes
Orientation will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2008 from approximately 9 AM to 5 PM. All newly admitted students are required to attend Orientation. The Fall 2008 term begins on Monday, August 25, 2008.
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