How to Apply

Submit your application through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).

• General PTCAS Information for Applicants
• Seton Hill University PTCAS Application Information
• PTCAS Application

Admission Requirements

• A completed graduate study application form (see above)
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and official undergraduate transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Official transcript(s) from any institution(s) in which postbaccalaureate or graduate course work was completed.
• Three letters of recommendation written by appropriate professionals.
• A current resume.
• A personal statement explaining how the Seton Hill graduate program can help you accomplish your professional goals.

In addition to the admission requirements above, students applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, must:

• Have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.  
• Have completed at least 80 hours of shadowing, volunteering, or employment under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. These experiences must be with at least two different physical therapy patient populations prior to admission. For example, an applicant may spend 40 hours working with clients in an outpatient orthopedic setting and another 40 hours working with clients in an acute care setting or in a skilled nursing facility, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation clinic, etc. It is not necessary that these patient populations be seen at different clinics or hospitals if one shadowing/volunteering site delivers care to multiple kinds of patients.
• Participate in an interview (if invited) with faculty from Seton Hill and the Physical Therapy Program. 
• Possess strong oral and written language skills. International students are required to have an IELTS score of 7.5 or TOEFL scores of 100 (Internet).
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to complete this intensive program of study and clinical training, personal maturity and a professional attitude.
• Have completed the prerequisite courses listed below with a combined GPA for these courses of at least 3.0. We do not require that all prerequisites be complete at the time of application, but by matriculation into the program if accepted. A minimum of 25 credits of prerequisites completed at the time of application is required to be considered.
  • Biology I & II with laboratories
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II with laboratories
  • Chemistry I & II with laboratories
  • Physics I & II with laboratories
  • Psychology
  • Statistics


Prior to beginning study in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Seton Hill, all prospective students must:

• Have completed all prerequisite coursework
• Have a completed background check
• Complete a drug screen

Application & Interview Process

Seton Hill's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Admissions Committee reviews all applications. Selected applicants are invited for an interview on campus (or online) with program faculty members. The interview process takes one-half day to complete, and includes:

• standard interview questions
• a communication exercise 
• a writing assessment

How to Succeed at the Program Interview

Our program receives many applications from qualified prospective students for a limited number of available seats. To improve your chances of being placed in one of those seats, you must prepare for the interview. Here is a list of items that will prepare you and give you an edge in the interview process:

• Research Seton Hill University and the DPT Program
• Research the profession
• Research possible interview questions and think about your responses
• Talk with physical therapists
• Think about why you want to be a physical therapist
• Get adequate sleep the night before your scheduled interview
• Arrive early for the interview

Deadlines for Application & Admission Interview Dates

Each admission cycle opens July 1 for the term beginning in the fall semester of the following year. The suggested deadline for application is December 1 for the subsequent August class. Applications will be accepted past December 1. Eligible candidate interviews will begin in August and continue until the class is full. 

Tuition

Seton Hill’s Doctor of Physical Therapy features a low tuition cost that includes a MacBook Air laptop, books and fees.  For 2022 - 2023, it breaks out like this:

• $14,935 each for 7 16-week semesters
• $8,755 for 1 8-week semester (Term 6)
• $113,300 for the entire program (includes tuition, books, fees & MacBook Air)

Financial Assistance

Federal Loans

To qualify for any federal assistance a student must be a U.S. citizen or hold an alien registration card, must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling Session at www.studentloans.gov.

Seton Hill University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). For further information regarding Seton Hill’s accreditation status visit setonhill.edu/dpt.