Pre-Physical Therapy Info Sheet

PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY

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The Dordt Difference Physical therapy continues to be a thriving profession for students to pursue beyond college. Practitioners as well as their patients experience the rewards that come with helping a body heal.

“Having worked full time in a physical therapy clinic for three years, I gained an incredible appreciation for the healing process that God built into our bodies, the impact that caring physical therapists can have in that healing process, and the depth of knowledge that physical therapists have about anatomical structures and their orientation to each other,” says Dordt College Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor Chad Hanson.

At Dordt College, we’ve set up our program after carefully researching the requirements of 20 schools of physical therapy. We continue to revise it as we see their requirements change. We’ll prepare you well for the challenges of the profession. We’ll also help you see the satisfaction that comes with serving people in a way that helps them live their lives in a more enjoyable way.

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT “The education I received at Dordt College gave me a solid foundation for graduate school and my career as a physical therapist. After receiving my exercise science degree from Dordt College, I was accepted to several physical therapy graduate schools including my first choice, the University of Iowa. The rigorous undergraduate education I received made for a smooth transition to the difficult academic workload that physical therapy school demands, and it prepared me to succeed in PT school and receive my doctorate in physical therapy degree.”

Leah DeStigter, DPT Sioux Center Health

THE FACILITIES Our campus Recreation Center offers the perfect setting and equipment to learn about fitness and its effect on health.

Our well-equipped training room allows our students to get valuable experience working with athletes in a rehabilitative setting.

THE PROGRAM Our pre-physical therapy program is grounded in a comprehensive Christian education that prepares you for your profession while preparing you for living as a Christian in God’s world. You’ll find: • a specialized and carefully researched pre-physical therapy curriculum • strong biology, chemistry, psychology, and exercise science classes • a mentorship program pairing beginning students with advanced students and students with alumni • hands-on learning through labs with licensed physical therapists • clear guidance from advisors—set in the context of a comprehensive core education Our pre-physical therapy program can be taken as an emphasis in biology, exercise science, and psychology

HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES Serving others is an important emphasis in the education we offer, and you’ll be able to help us in these efforts. Our students have worked faithfully with several local people in special circumstances including a gentleman with a brain injury and a young boy with spina bifida.

As a physical therapy student you may have opportunities to assist athletic trainers on campus.

You’ll participate in field experiences or internships, which are important for getting into physical therapy school.

Our pre-physical therapy club not only takes on service projects, but also provides opportunities to visit physical therapy practices, practice different therapies, and interact with guest speakers about getting into graduate school and tips from the profession.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES The need for physical therapists is expected to grow for the foreseeable future. Even though graduate school is highly competitive, our students have been very successful getting accepted into the top-rated physical therapy schools in the country. Several of our graduates have earned a doctor of physical therapy (D.P.T.) from the University of Iowa, one of the top programs in the nation. On average, 90 percent of Dordt physical therapy majors who apply to graduate school have been accepted at schools across the nation.

THE FACULTY Craig Stiemsma, Ed.D., University of South Dakota, health and human performance professor and women’s basketball coach Craig.Stiemsma@dordt.edu Chad Hanson, B.S., Washington State University; volleyball coach and certified athletic trainer

August 2015

Chad.Hanson@dordt.edu