Doctoral Admissions

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Doctor of Physical Therapy Admission Policies

Class size for the Physical Therapy doctoral degree program is typically limited to 50 students, and acceptance into the program is on a competitive basis. Preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Mississippi, however, up to 10% of the total class may be non-residents of the State of Mississippi.  

The Department of Physical Therapy is offering an opportunity for applicant interview and notification of admission prior to January in the year of admission.  The opportunity for early admission is open to applicants who meet specific criteria THAT ARE ABOVE THOSE required for general admission.  The applicant must meet all of the following additional criteria to be considered for the early admission process including:

  • Minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores of
    • Verbal: 145
    • Quantitative: 145
  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Minimum prerequisite course GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale
  • Legal residency in  the State of Mississippi; Non-residents of the State of Mississippi will not be considered for early admissions.

To be considered for early admissions the application deadline is Oct. 1 of the year that precedes potential entry into the program. 

Applicants considered for early admissions will be notified of their consideration in early October, with an interview scheduled between mid-October to mid-November.  Final notification of early admission will be provided by the end of December.  Applicants who are considered for early admissions but are not accepted for early admissions will remain in the admissions process for the spring application cycle.

Applicants accepted into the program will be assessed a nonrefundable, $300 enrollment fee, which will be applied to the first year tuition.

Transfer of credit

Transfer of credit is not accepted in any portion of the three-year DPT curriculum.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Since verbal and written communication skills are vital to success in the academic programs in the School of Health Related Professions, applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination and to demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. Information on the TOEFL examination may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, (877) 863-3546.

Disclaimer

Prospective students should contact the Office of Enrollment Management or the School of Health Related Professions for current information regarding application information, prerequisites, program requirements, or tuition and fees.

Health insurance

All students attending UMMC must show proof of health insurance coverage. Students may complete a waiver showing coverage already obtained or may enroll in the group plan offered by the Medical Center. More information on this requirement may be found online in the UMMC Bulletin or on the Student Accounting webpage. Any questions should be directed to the Office of Student Accounting at (601) 984-1060.

Background check

Mississippi law requires all health care workers, including students, to have completed criminal background checks. All UMMC students who will participate in patient care activities will be required to successfully complete a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting, prior to beginning clinical activities. Applicants are advised that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for certification, registration, or licensure examinations. There is no fee associated with the background check performed at UMMC for students admitted into the program.

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