Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Pre-Physical Therapy

After completing the concentration requirements and earning the degree, students may pursue a professional master's or doctoral program in Physical Therapy. The Pre-Physical Therapy concentration allows students who desire to apply to the 3+3 programs (e.g. Andrews University) to complete the prerequisite courses by the end of the junior year. Students must complete the general education requirements at Oakwood University before entering the partnering institution. Students must complete: BI 111-112 Anatomy and Physiology with labs; BI 131-132 General Biology with labs; CH 141-142 General Chemistry with labs; PH 103-104 General Physics with labs; PY 101 Principles of Psychology; PY 307 Statistical Methods; PY 325 Developmental Psychology; PE 401 Physiology of Exercise; and AH 350 Medical Technology. Three-plus-three students who successfully complete the first year of the professional Physical Therapy graduate program will be awarded the B.S. in Health Science from Oakwood University. The Pre-Physical Therapy students have two options, the generic track and the accelerated (3+3) track:

• Generic track: Students complete the four-year B.S in Health Science curriculum at Oakwood University, then apply to a physical therapy graduate program. Earning a bachelor’s degree broadens the number of professional programs available and increases the likelihood of acceptance. A doctorate in physical therapy typically requires an additional three years of study after completing the Oakwood degree.

• Accelerated (3+3) Track: Students complete the Pre-Physical Therapy concentration curriculum through their junior year, then transfer to a 3+3 Physical Therapy program (e.g. Andrews University or Loma Linda University). After successfully completing the first year of professional graduate school, students are eligible to receive the B.S. in Health Science from Oakwood University. (Earning the doctorate in physical therapy typically requires three years of study beyond Oakwood.) See the Allied Health advisor for additional information.

Students who complete the B.S in Health Science with the Pre-Physical Therapy concentration will be proficient in the following student learning outcomes:

1. Plan strategies to integrate Christian principles and ethics in the care of patients

2. Construct critical thinking strategies to problem solving, decision making and evaluation of research

3. Apply principles of cultural competence

4. Arrange the organization and function of the human body from the cell to system levels

5. Demonstrate the importance of disease prevention, wellness promotion, and the impact of health disparities

6. Evaluate personal skills, traits, and goals in relationship to those traits required for physical therapy

7. Demonstrate essential communication skills and professional demeanor

8. Identify and assess graduate and career opportunities relative to Allied Health professions