Applied Health Science (B.S.) Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

Program Overview

Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration. Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in physical therapy should select this concentration. Dedicated faculty, a human performance laboratory, and a state-of-the-art fitness/wellness facility are some of the resources that enable Messiah to offer a quality Applied Health Science major.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Early Assurance Program
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Early Assurance Program is for select Messiah University undergraduate pre-physical therapy students who were selected during their senior year of high school.  To progress from the undergraduate major to professional phase in the Messiah University Graduate School for their DPT, students must have:

  • a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3
  • a prerequisite GPA of 3.3
  • completed all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher (see list below)
  • completed 20 hours of observation, and
  • submit all graduate school application material.  

Messiah University students who are not in the High School Early Assurance Program may be eligible for the Messiah University Junior Early Assurance pathway. Please check the Doctor of Physical Therapy website for the eligibility requirements.

Prerequisite courses:

BIOL 170 Animal and Cell Physiology and BIOL 265 Microbiology

CHEM 105 General Chemistry I and CHEM 106 General Chemistry II

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology

PHYS 201 Introductory Physics I and PHYS 202 Introductory Physics II

BIOL 460 Physiology
BIOL 465 Gross Anatomy

STAT 260 Introduction to Statistics or APHS 225 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis

ATHT 203 Medical Terminology

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Applied Health Science program can:

  1. Describe the anatomical and physiological responses to acute and chronic exercise.
  2. Explain the role of exercise in disease prevention.
  3. Prescribe safe and effective exercise programs for diverse individuals.
  4. Integrate scientific information and research into professional situations.
  5. Identify factors influencing health and human performance.
  6. Identify how faith impacts professional practice in the applied health sciences.

 

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

APHS 170Concepts of Holistic Wellness

2

APHS 215Chronic Disease and Exercise

3

APHS 271Kinesiology

3

APHS 301Exercise Physiology

4

APHS 325Exercise Nutrition and Metabolism

3

APHS 412Senior Seminar for Applied Health Science

3

PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology

3

Three credits from the following:

GERO 251Biology, Nutrition, and Healthy Aging

3

PSYC 209Life Span Development

3

HDFS 210Child Development

3

HDFS 311Adolescent Development

3

HDFS 312Adult Development

3

Three Credits from the following

APHS 225Research Methods and Statistical Analysis

3

STAT 269Introductory Statistics

3

Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration (44-45 credits)

BIOL 170Cellular Foundations of Life

4

BIOL 265Microbiology

4

BIOL 460Physiology

4

BIOL 465Gross Anatomy

4

CHEM 105General Chemistry I

4

CHEM 106General Chemistry II

4

PHYS 201Introductory Physics I

4

PHYS 202Introductory Physics II

4

Three to four credits from the following:

MATH 102The Mathematics of Growth

3

MATH 108Intuitive Calculus with Applications

3

MATH 111Calculus I

4

At least 9 credits from the following:

APHS 210Sport and Exercise Psychology

3

APHS 220Health Promotion Management

3

APHS 310Elite Athletic Performance

3

APHS 315Stress Testing and ECG Interpretation

3

APHS 330Advanced Research Methods

1-3

APHS 360Exercise Testing and Prescription

3

APHS 410Topics in Health and Exercise Science

2-3

APHS 415Advanced Exercise Physiology

3

ATHT 203Medical Terminology & Topics

2

ATHT 235Musculoskeletal Assessment

3

ATHT 339Musculoskeletal Interventions

3

HPED 229Motor Learning

3

HPED 332Teaching Adapted Physical Education

1

NUTR 222Principles of Nutrition

3

APHS 220: May meet ELI requirement- work closely with advisor for confirmation

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 3
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics (MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 111) met/major
Science with Lab (BIOL 170, CHEM 105, PHYS 201) met/major
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
Social Science (PSYC 101) met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 24GE History 3
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
Literature or Arts 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing

Philosophy or Religion

3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language 3
Bible
24GE Bible 3
Christian Beliefs
24GE Christian Beliefs  3
Holistic Wellness
WELL 1xx (APHS 170) met/major
Ethics and the Common Good
24GE Ethics and the Common Good 3
Intercultural Perspectives
Intercultural U.S. or Domestic Cross-cultural 3
Common Learning
Experiential Learning
General Education requirements   39
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   71-72
Free Electives    12-13
Total credits   123