Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Pre-Physical Therapy

Following completion of the concentration requirements and the degree, the student can complete professional masters or doctoral education at a physical therapy graduate school. This concentration is designed to allow students who desire to apply to the 3+3 programs (e.g. Andrews University) to complete all the prerequisite courses by the end of the junior year. The student must complete the general education requirements at Oakwood University before entering the partnering institution. The student 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 physical therapy professional graduate school 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: complete the four year B.S in Health Science curriculum at Oakwood University, then attend a physical therapy graduate school. Having a bachelor degree expands the number of professional school programs that a student can choose from, and increases the likelihood of acceptance. Completion of a doctorate in physical therapy requires 3 years after Oakwood.
• Accelerated (3+3) Track: complete the Pre-Physical Therapy concentration curriculum through the junior, then transfer to a 3+3 physical therapy program (e.g. Andrews University or Loma Linda University). After successful completion of the first year of professional graduate school, the student is eligible to receive the B.S. in Allied Health Science from Oakwood University (completion of the doctorate in physical therapy requires 3 years after 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