Program Overview
Introduction to the Rice-UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars Program
The Rice-UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars (PTS) program is a collaborative effort between Rice University and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston's Department of Physical Therapy. This program is designed for Rice Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology (SMEP) majors who are interested in pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) at UTMB.
About the Program
The Rice-UTMB PTS program offers non-competitive admission to the UTMB DPT program for up to three qualified Rice SMEP majors each year. The program is administered by an advisory board appointed by the Chair of the Department of Kinesiology. The advisory board reviews all applications and recommends students for the program based on multiple criteria, including academic performance, professional recommendation, and personal interviews.
Application Process
To be eligible for the Rice-UTMB PTS program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Junior classification or higher with no more than 4 semesters remaining to complete the BA in SMEP
- A cumulative GPA of 3.00+ for all courses in the BA in SMEP curriculum (or 3.00 in the last 90 hours) and a cumulative GPA of 3.00+ for all math and science courses in the BA in SMEP curriculum
- A grade of "C" or better in all required UTMB DPT pre-requisite courses
The application process involves:
- Expressing formal interest in the program to the Rice-UTMB PTS advisor
- Completing individual career counseling and academic advising with the Rice-UTMB PTS advisor
- Submitting a formal application by February 1, which includes:
- Rice-UTMB PTS Application Form
- Student résumé (2-page limit)
- Documentation of volunteer/observation hours
- Recommendation letters from three recommenders, including one from a Rice SMEP faculty member and one from a licensed physical therapist
- A 1–2-page personal statement describing interest in physical therapy and plans for completing remaining prerequisite courses and/or PT observation hours
Timeline
The application process should begin two years prior to the desired UTMB DPT fall start date. The general timeline is as follows:
- Fall Semester of Junior Year: Express formal interest in the program and complete individual career counseling and academic advising
- Spring Semester of Junior Year: Complete the formal application by February 1
- Fall Semester of Senior Year (for recommended students): Complete the UTMB DPT application and supporting documents
- Spring Semester of Senior Year (for recommended students): Receive official notification of acceptance from UTMB DPT program
- Fall – Post-Graduation (for recommended students): Begin UTMB DPT program pending official acceptance from UTMB DPT
UTMB DPT Pre-requisite Courses
Students in the Rice-UTMB PTS program must complete the following UTMB DPT pre-requisite courses while concurrently completing the BA in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology degree:
- Chemistry: 8 hours (must include lab)
- Physics: 8 hours (must include lab)
- Biology: 8 hours (must include lab)
- Physiology: 4 hours
- College Math: 3 hours (any one of Algebra, Calculus, or Trigonometry, or higher is acceptable)
- General Psychology: 3 hours
- Developmental Psychology: 3 hours
- Statistics: 3 hours
FAQs
Application and Advising Process
- The program is only open to Rice Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology majors.
- Students can still receive pre-physical therapy academic advising if they are not accepted into the Rice-UTMB PTS program or wish to attend a different DPT program.
- The program is designed for students two years from entering the DPT program, but students with AP credits or planning to take a gap year may also be eligible.
Recommendation
- Students will be notified by email of the Rice-UTMB Advisory Board's decision regarding their application prior to the last day of class of the spring semester in which they apply.
- Students who are not selected can reapply in future years, but gap year plans should be discussed with the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board during the application process.
UTMB DPT Program
- More information about the UTMB DPT program can be found on the UTMB website.
- Students can choose between the residential and hybrid program options during the official application process.
- UTMB will provide each student in the Rice-UTMB PTS program with a contact representative to answer questions and provide support.