It is recommended that all the general education courses listed on the PTA degree curriculum (nine co-requisite courses) be completed prior to admission to the program. General education courses not completed before program entry must be taken in the semester listed. However, BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 must be completed prior to applying. Points will be awarded only for course work completed by June 1st.
The nine co-requisite courses are as follows:
- BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- HPRS Medical Terminology
- HPRS 1204 Basic Health Professions
- ENGL 1301 English Composition
- PSYC 2301 General Psychology
- Math Core Elective
- Communications (SPCH) Elective
- Creative Arts OR Language, Philosophy and Culture Core Elective
To become a competitive applicant, the student should strive to complete all nine co-requisite courses.
The criteria are as follows:
- Cumulative GPA (nine co-requisites listed above)
- 3.7 – 4.0 = 15 points
- 3.3 - 3.6 = 9 points
- 3.0 - 3.2 = 6 points
- Less than 3.0 = Ineligible
- Letter grades for completed curriculum courses: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, HPRS 1106, HPRS 1204, ENGL 1301
- A = 10 points
- B = 7 points
- C = 4 points
- D = 2 points (No points for D grades in BIOL 2401 & BIOL 2402 and must be retaken before applying)
- Letter grades for completed curriculum courses: PSYC 2301, SPCH Core Elective, Creative Arts OR Language, Philosophy and Culture Core Elective, MATH Core Elective (Math will receive up to 8 points)
- A = 5 points (Math = 8 points)
- B = 3 points (Math = 5 points)
- C = 2 points (Math = 3 points)
- D = 1 point
- TEAS Composite Score (Reserved for the top 40 candidates by invitation only)
- 76 – 100% = 12 points
- 60 – 75% = 8 points
- 41 – 59% = 2 points
- 0 – 40% = 0 points
If total points scores are tied, GPA will be used as the tiebreaker. BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 must be completed within a five-year period prior to applying to the PTA Program. Applicants missing BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 during the application process, will not be admitted to the program. These two courses are foundational to students’ comprehension of the first semester material. Any corequisites with a grade of D will have to be retaken in the semester listed on the degree plan.
All applicants are numerically ranked and placed into available openings according to their rank. Applicants will not be informed of the numerical ranking as it potentially hurts morale once the students are placed in the program.
In this program all students regardless of admissions ranking have the same opportunity to be successful. To achieve success in this program, students must have a positive attitude, be prepared for class discussion through reading ahead, determination, demonstrate a willingness to receive instruction/feedback with a good attitude, and have a growth mindset towards learning/growing.
Even though Del Mar College has an open-door-policy, the Physical Therapist Program must limit their enrollment due to limited classroom space and available clinical facilities.
After submission of all required documents, the top 40 candidates will be notified by July 1st. The top 40 applicants will then take the Test of Essential Academic Skills for Allied Health (TEAS) as the final step in the admissions process. The top 20 students will be notified by July 15th and are chosen to begin the PTA Program each Fall. Other applicants not selected will be notified within 30 days of the application deadline.
The Program accepts 20 students each year.
The selected students must notify the Program Director, Dr. Rebekah Pounds at rpounds@delmar.edu of acceptance. An alternate list will be utilized in case admission is not accepted by a student.
Contact the Allied Health Department for more information at 361-698-2820 or the PTA Program Director at 361-698-1848.