Frequently Asked Questions

The San Diego State University (SDSU) is an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree and will be eligible to take the national licensure exam for physical therapists.

To be considered for the DPT Program, verification of a Bachelors’ (BA/BS) degree is required.

Many students receive a degree in Kinesiology or Exercise Science to fulfill the prerequisites for Physical Therapy School; however, you may complete your degree in any area of study as long as you meet the minimum requirements needed to apply.

All students begin their course work in May of the year they are admitted.

Admission to the DPT Program occurs once a year. The application deadlines can be found on the Application Process page. Students are admitted through the Graduate School with the agreement of the DPT Program. Please refer to the University Catalog for the University graduate admission application, procedures and deadlines. The due dates are subject to change each year, so please check the website for the most current deadlines.

No. Before graduates from accredited physical therapy programs can practice physical therapy they must pass a licensure board examination. Once the license examination has been passed, you are entitled to practice physical therapy in that state. All 50 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia recognize the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy examination as the standard for determining licensure eligibility.

The DPT is the entry-level degree for physical therapists for which there will be an increased demand as our population ages. The California Employment Development Department estimated that between 2020 and 2030, there will be a need for an additional 4,700 physical therapists in the state, which represents a 19% increase. The median annual wage for physical therapists was $99,710 in May 2023 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The SDSU DPT is a general degree which covers all basic aspects of physical therapy. We do not offer specialties, but there is opportunity for emphasis in an area through your choice of electives, clinical affiliations, volunteer experiences, and a scholarly doctoral project.

The DPT program lasts approximately three years. The first year begins in mid/late May and the third year ends in mid-May. This includes didactic coursework and clinical requirements.

Students are required to complete a scholarly doctoral project as part of the curriculum. Please refer to the course curriculum and course descriptions. Students may also volunteer with a faculty member to assist with research in their laboratory.

Yes. San Diego State University is a State school, therefore preference is given to residents of the State of California. However, this does not imply that California residents receive automatic acceptance. Admission to Physical Therapy Programs is fairly competitive and all completed applications are processed. Consequently, several out-of-state students may receive admission into the SDSU DPT Program. California residency of graduate students is in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Regents and the laws of the State of California. A full statement of the regulations is available in the SDSU University Catalog. Out-of-state residents must pay the out-of-state graduate student tuition rate.

General information about the DPT degree may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) website.

See Tuition and Other DPT Student Financial Facts.

Students can apply for funding through the SDSU Grant Fund and merit-based scholarships are offered through the SDSU Office of Financial Aid. Low-interest loans are also available to qualified applicants. International students do not qualify for these loans. Please contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office at (619) 594-6323 for more specific information.

The SDSU Financial Aid office can discuss information regarding specific financial aid options. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at (619) 594-6323 for more specific information.

For the most recently admitted class at SDSU (entering Summer 2024), the average overall cumulative GPA was 3.80, and the average prerequisite GPA was 3.78 on a 4.0 scale.

Acceptance is on a competitive GPA basis. The Admissions Committee reviews all aspects of the application, such as overall GPA, prerequisite GPA, GRE scores, recommendations, etc., when making an admissions decision.

Regardless of undergraduate major, there are specific prerequisite courses that are required:

• General Biology with lab and higher-level biology with lab (2 courses/one year)
• Human anatomy with lab and human physiology with lab (2 courses/one year, only within last 5 years)
• General lecture and lab-based chemistry (2 courses/one year)
• General physics lecture and lab-based (2 courses/one year)
• General psychology and higher-level psychology (2 courses)
• Statistics (one course)
• English writing

Please see Admission Requirements for more details.

SDSU DPT will accept all lecture and laboratory courses completed via online/virtual for Spring, Summer, Fall 2020, Spring, Summer, Fall 2021, Spring, Summer, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 semesters only, although in-person labs are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

At the present time, Credit (from Credit/No credit classification) or Pass (from Pass/Fail classification) grades will be accepted in lieu of letter grades for Spring, Summer, Fall 2020, Spring, Summer, Fall 2021, Spring and Summer 2022 semesters only. Credit or Pass grades will be credited as being completed but no grade value will be included in the final pre-requisite or overall GPA determination. Thus, provided the option to take a course for a letter grade, a letter grade would generally benefit the student’s pre-requisite GPA and overall application.

You may complete the prerequisite requirements at any accredited community college or university. However, it is recommended that most science and math prerequisites be completed at the University level.

Yes. All applicants must have taken the GRE within the past five years. However, GRE scores used for a completed Master’s degree may be used. Please request that scores are sent specifically to SDSU Graduate Admissions Cal State Apply using the code (Code 4682). The GRE is not required for applicants with verified PhD degrees.

We will use the highest combined score earned at one testing session.

A minimum combined Verbal and Qualitative score of 300, and minimum Analytical Writing score of 4.0 is recommended for program admission. The average GRE score for the most recently admitted class (entering Summer 2024) was a 308.3 (Verbal 154.2, Quantitative 154.1), with a 4.4 for the average writing score.

Other than what is listed on the Prerequisite Coursework grid (see Admission Requirements), no courses may be substituted for a required prerequisite course.

Experience in a Physical Therapy setting, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist is required. The minimum amount of volunteer work needed is 100 hours. A variety of types of clinical settings (for example: inpatient hospital settings, rehabilitation facilities, and outpatient clinics) is recommended so that the applicant will have a well-rounded perception of the physical therapy profession.

No. Again, only the hours spent observing or volunteering in a physical therapy department (e.g., hospital or outpatient) under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist will be counted toward the hours required for admissions.

All interested persons are encouraged to apply to our program. We value life experience in physical therapy applicants.

The admissions process involves submitting an application to SDSU Graduate Admissions through Cal State Apply, and submitting supplemental materials through Interfolio. After applications are reviewed by the SDSU DPT program, you will receive an email by early February stating whether or not you have been accepted into the program, or have been placed on the waiting list. If you are accepted into the program, the email will also include a date by which you must pay a deposit to reserve your spot in the program.

Applicant information is required online via Cal State Apply and Interfolio. While there is a $70.00 fee to the Graduate School, there is no supplemental fee or application to the DPT program. See the application process page.

The three required recommendations must be submitted electronically via Interfolio. One recommendation must be from a licensed physical therapist with whom you have volunteered, worked or observed, and one from a professor for whom you have completed a course. The remaining recommendation must come from another licensed physical therapist with whom you have had a professional association and can appropriately evaluate your potential as a student in the physical therapy program, from another professor or instructor for whom you completed a course and can speak to your ability in a classroom setting, or an individual that the applicant worked, volunteered, served or participated with in a professional environment or setting. We require letters using our recommendation form.

The SDSU DPT program is committed to recruiting and matriculating minority students for a career in Physical Therapy. We are committed to multicultural diversity in the program.

All applicants are expected to meet the same admissions requirements. Each applicant is evaluated on an individual basis.

We accept approximately 38 students into each class. Approximately 500 students are expected to apply to our program for the 2024-25 Academic year. We strongly encourage everyone who is interested in a physical therapy career to apply.

The DPT curriculum is a three year full-time commitment. We will not offer a part-time option.

Most coursework takes place during the day, but a few classes may be scheduled in the evening.

See Graduate Outcomes.

See Graduate Outcomes.

See Graduate Outcomes.

Due to the time intensive nature of the Program, outside employment is discouraged.

On-campus housing is available for students. Additional information about on-campus housing is available online.

See the SDSU DPT Program Technical Standards for Admission (pdf) and/ or contact the SDSU Student Disability Services (619) 594-6473 for information concerning disabilities and reasonable accommodations.

To participate in clinical education (clinical clerkship and internships), student must comply with the SDSU student code of conduct, nondiscrimination policies, including diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and vaccination requirements, including, but not limited to, measles/mumps/rubella, tetanus/diphtheria (TDap), Provaricella (chicken pox), hepatitis B, and COVID-19 (seasonal flu vaccinations are highly encouraged). Non-compliance with these and any other University or agency policies may delay a student’s ability to graduate on time, may require a leave of absence, may require the student’s withdrawal from the program, or may lead to dismissal from the program.

DPT Class Observation for Pre-PT Students (pdf)