A common home base for future physical therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Program
Your Path to Physical Therapy School
Major in a science you love, complete the prerequisites Doctor of Physical Therapy programs require and graduate ready to apply.
Pre-physical therapy at Goshen College is a pre-professional track, not a major. This track prepares you for DPT programs. You major in biology, exercise science or a related science while completing the prerequisite courses DPT schools require. You do all that with individualized advising and small classes to prepare you for your next professional steps.
You will build a foundation in anatomy, physiology and patient care, surrounded by an academic community that values health and wellness.
Majors That Pair With Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-physical therapy builds on a science major. Most students choose biology or exercise science, but several health-sciences paths line up with the prerequisites DPT programs want. Pick the one that fits you, then work with your advisor to map your specific path.
Exercise Science
Biology
A strong foundation in anatomy and physiology for the prerequisite courses DPT programs require.
Public Health
Pair prevention and community health with your DPT prerequisites if you want a wider view of wellness. Plan the added science coursework with your advisor.
Get the Observation Hours DPT Schools Want
You will gain experience through internships and job shadowing in healthcare settings. Goshen College’s closeness to area hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers lets you observe licensed professionals in action, exactly the kind of hours DPT programs ask for.
I knew I wanted a small college centered in science. I wanted professors to see me as an individual person who I could feel comfortable talking to about homework and career paths.”
Dakota Cain '23
Medical Laboratory Technician at Indiana University Health
Where Pre-PT Graduates Go
Graduates of the program have gone on to DPT programs and now work in hospitals, sports clinics, private practices, and rehabilitation centers across the country. A Goshen College science degree with a pre-physical therapy focus prepares you for graduate school and a career as a:
- Physical Therapist
- Orthopedic or Sports Physical Therapist
- Pediatric Physical Therapist
- Geriatric Physical Therapist
- Neurologic Physical Therapist
Common Questions About Pre-Physical Therapy Track
No. Pre-physical therapy is a professional advising track, not a major. You major in biology, exercise science, or another science-related field while completing the prerequisite courses Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs require, with individualized advising mapping your path the whole way.
Yes. Goshen College sits in Goshen, Indiana, an easy drive from Elkhart County, and its closeness to area hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers means you log observation and job-shadowing hours nearby. Living at home and staying near family is the norm here, not a compromise.
Graduates have gone on to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs and now work across the country as physical therapists and in related roles. Related health careers such as occupational therapy and athletic training require their own graduate degrees and prerequisites, so talk with your advisor early if you are weighing those alongside physical therapy.
You get small classes, where 91% of Goshen classes have fewer than 30 students, plus individualized advising from kinesiology and science faculty. International and first-generation students join a community built to help you arrive, belong and finish, not just enroll.
Anatomy and exercise science courses meet in modern campus lab spaces and the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center. You can also join the Maple Scholars summer research program and volunteer at local care centers, putting hands-on experience within walking distance of class.
Jewel Lehman
Professor of Kinesiology
Justin DeWeese
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
