Prerequisite Courses
To fulfill a requirement, prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher. Applicants are encouraged to complete most of the prerequisites, especially core science courses, prior to submitting the DPT application. Enrolling students must complete all necessary coursework before DPT classes begin in Fall.
Required
Anatomy & Physiology (8 semester hours)
Two semesters/three quarters with lab: 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours total.
- Courses in human, mammalian or vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology (A & P); combined or separate A & P courses are acceptable
- Should be taken through the biology or anatomy department
- Laboratory experience in Anatomy is required and may not be completed online unless taken during COVID-19
Behavioral Sciences (6 semester hours)
Six semester/nine quarter hours.
- Must include one course in general/introductory Psychology
- One additional course in Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology or other areas that focus on human behavior (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Abnormal Psychology, Family Relationships, Medical Sociology, Cultural Diversity, Social Networks)
Biological Sciences (8 semester hours)
Two semesters/three quarters with lab: 8 semester/12 quarter hours total.
- Any level of college Biology is acceptable, except Botany
- Laboratory experience is recommended
Acceptable Courses:
- Biology: Advanced
- Biology: Biostatistics
- Biology: Cell
- Biology: Embryology
- Biology: General
- Biology: General I
- Biology: General II
- Biology: Genetics
- Biology: Histology
- Biology: Immunology
- Biology: Microbiology
- Biology: Molecular
- Biology: Zoology
Chemistry (8 semester hours)
Two semesters/three quarters with lab: 8 semester/12 quarter hours total.
- Any level of college Chemistry is acceptable; course content should include topics such as properties of solids, liquids and gases, chemical bonding
- Courses must include laboratory experience
Acceptable Courses:
- Chemistry I
- Chemistry: Biochemistry
- Chemistry: Inorganic
- Chemistry: Organic
- Chemistry: General
- Chemistry: General I
- Chemistry: General II
Physics (8 semester hours)
Two semesters/three quarters with lab: 8 semester/12 quarter hours total.
- Any level of college Physics is acceptable; course content should include topics such as mechanics, electricity, magnetism, heat, light and sound waves
- Courses must include laboratory experience
- Calculus-level Physics is recommended
Acceptable Courses:
Physics 1
Physics 2
Statistics (3 semester hours)
Recommended
Behavioral sciences (3 semester hours)
- Three semester hours/one course.
- Additional course in Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology or other areas that focus on human behavior (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Abnormal Psychology, Family Relationships, Medical Sociology, Cultural Diversity, Social Networks).
Calculus (3 semester hours)
- Three semester hours/one course.
- Introductory or higher level Calculus.
Composition/Writing (3 semester hours)
- Three semester hours/one course.
- English composition or course with significant writing requirements.
COVID-19 Prerequisite Course Requirements
- Prerequisite Courses– For the time period impacted by COVID-19 where alternative grading was utilized, we will accept course grades of Pass, Satisfactory, or a letter grade of C or higher for prerequisite courses.
- Online Labs– If you were enrolled in an Anatomy lab course that ended up moving online, we will accept online Anatomy labs for the time period affected by COVID-19. We currently accept online labs for all other prerequisite courses.
If there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out: dpt-admissions@northwestern.edu