Health Professions

Pre-Physical Therapy

Help People Move Better, Live Stronger

If you’re inspired by movement science, injury recovery, and improving mobility, a career in physical therapy could be the right path for you. At Southwestern, our Pre-Physical Therapy preparation goes beyond prerequisites—it equips you with a broad, people-centered education rooted in the liberal arts and enriched by relevant science coursework, hands-on learning, and personalized advising.

Students pursuing pre-PT preparation often major in disciplines such as kinesiology, biology, or psychology, but successful applicants come from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Courses in human anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, and/or biomechanics are especially valuable, providing a critical understanding of how the body functions and responds to movement and exercise—core knowledge for PT practitioners. Additional recommended coursework (dependent on the specific requirements of individual graduate programs) includes motor behavior, exercise prescription, nutrition, and advanced statistics.

Our graduates are known for their academic readiness, communication skills, and critical thinking, helping them stand out in competitive PT school applications.

Each professional program sets its own entrance requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to research individual schools and ensure all prerequisite coursework is completed accordingly.

Core Courses

  • BIO50-171: Inquiries in Biology (Lab)

  • BIO50-173: Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Biology

  • CHE51-101: Chemical Methods and Techniques Laboratory I

  • CHE51-103: General Chemistry I

  • CHE51-201: Chemical Methods and Techniques Laboratory II

  • CHE51-203: General Chemistry II

  • KIN48-251/253: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab + Lecture)

  • KIN48-261/263: Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab + Lecture)

  • KIN48-334: Physiology of Exercise

  • MAT52-114: Introduction to Statistics

  • PHY53-154: Fundamentals of Physics I

  • PHY53-164: Fundamentals of Physics II

  • PSY33-104: Principles of Psychology

  • PSY33-344: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Recommended Courses

  • KIN48-121: Structural Kinesiology

  • KIN48-214 or PSY33-204: Research Methods

  • KIN48-324: Motor Learning and Control

  • KIN48-344: Biomechanics

  • KIN48-374: Nutritional Sciences

  • KIN48-444: Exercise Prescription

Plan Your Path

Download our Pre-PT Course Sequence Guide (PDF) for a suggested four-year core course sequence option.

Curious about the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy? Explore PT vs. OT