What should I major in if I want to become a Physical Therapist?

<p>I currently want to go to a University mainly in California and Pennsylvania. I live in Pennsylvania. I know that I could major in Biology or Kinesiology, but are these the only available majors for the career?</p>

<p>I want to go to a college that offers Pre- Physical Therapy in an undergraduate University.</p>

<p>The Universities I have looked at so far are:
UPenn
Temple
UCLA</p>

<p>These are the major schools I want to go to, but I don't know if they have the majors for me.</p>

<p>Can anyone help me? I want to go to a University that offers "Pre- Physical Therapy"</p>

<p>A Good qualifying degree would include exercise science with an emphasis in personal training. Other ones might include nutrition and health (what dieticians go to school for). Exercise science would encompass a lot of the necessary skills you would use in physical therapy such as the RICE method and other rehabilitation strategies</p>

<p>A Pre-Physical Therapy program basically involves completing the admission pre-requisite courses for PT programs to which you will apply.
[Physical</a> Therapist (PT) Admissions Process](<a href=“http://www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents/Admissions/PTProcess/]Physical”>Admissions Process for Doctor of Physical Therapy Education Programs | APTA)
<a href=“APTA Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service | APTA”>http://www.ptcas.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/Educators/Curriculum_Resources/APTA/PTCAS/PTCAS_CoursePrereqSummary_1011.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As long as you complete these pre-requisite courses, you can major in most anything. From the APTA website:
" You are not required to select a particular major in order to be eligible for admission to a PT program. The most common undergraduate majors among PT students include exercise science, biology, kinesiology, and psychology. In selecting a college major, consider how you will you satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses for your designated physical therapist programs in addition to the college/university’s degree and major requirements. Work with your academic and/or prePT advisor to plan your course schedule. For additional information about college majors for the most recent applicant pool, review the PTCAS Applicant Data Report."</p>

<p>At UCLA, appropriate majors include:
Integrative Biology <a href=“https://www.ibp.ucla.edu/[/url]”>https://www.ibp.ucla.edu/&lt;/a&gt;
Neuroscience [UCLA</a> General Catalog 2013-14: Neuroscience Undergraduate Study](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-599.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-599.htm)
Psychology [UCLA</a> General Catalog 2013-14: Psychology Undergraduate Study](<a href=“http://registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-672.htm]UCLA”>http://registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-672.htm)
Psychobiology [UCLA</a> General Catalog 2013-14: Psychology Undergraduate Study](<a href=“http://registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-672.htm]UCLA”>http://registrar.ucla.edu/catalog/catalog13-14-672.htm)
[UCLA</a> Career Center](<a href=“http://career.ucla.edu/students/gradprofschcounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/PhysicalTherapy.aspx]UCLA”>http://career.ucla.edu/students/gradprofschcounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/PhysicalTherapy.aspx)</p>

<p>At Temple, appropriate majors include:
Psychology [Temple</a> University Undergraduate Bulletin - CLA/Psychology](<a href=“http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Academic_programs/schools_colleges/cla/programs/psychology/cla_psychology.shtm]Temple”>http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Academic_programs/schools_colleges/cla/programs/psychology/cla_psychology.shtm)
Neuroscience [The</a> Neuroscience Program at Temple University](<a href=“http://www.cla.temple.edu/neuroscience/]The”>http://www.cla.temple.edu/neuroscience/)
Biology <a href=“https://bio.cst.temple.edu/undergraduate/[/url]”>https://bio.cst.temple.edu/undergraduate/&lt;/a&gt;
Kinesiology [Welcome</a> | College of Health Professions and Social Work](<a href=“http://chpsw.temple.edu/kinesiology/home]Welcome”>http://chpsw.temple.edu/kinesiology/home)
The Accelerated BA + DPT program [3+3</a> - Accelerated BA and DPT | College of Science and Technology | Temple University](<a href=“http://www.temple.edu/cst/undergraduate/cst_dpt.html]3+3”>http://www.temple.edu/cst/undergraduate/cst_dpt.html)
Anthropology (Human Biology) [Temple</a> University Undergraduate Bulletin - CLA/Anthropology](<a href=“http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Academic_programs/schools_colleges/cla/programs/anthro/cla_anthro.shtm#bio]Temple”>http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Academic_programs/schools_colleges/cla/programs/anthro/cla_anthro.shtm#bio)</p>

<p>At Penn, appropriate majors include:
Biological Basis of Behavior [Biological</a> Basis of Behavior Program](<a href=“http://www.sas.upenn.edu/bbb/]Biological”>Neuroscience Program - Home | Neuroscience)
Biology (Neurobiology) [Neurobiology</a> concentration | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://www.bio.upenn.edu/undergraduate/concentrations/neurobiology]Neurobiology”>Neurobiology | Department of Biology)
Psychology [Welcome</a> to the Department of Psychology | University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychology](<a href=“http://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/]Welcome”>http://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/)</p>

<p>Since you live in Pennsylvania, also check out U Pittsburgh <a href=“http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/pdf/infosheets/PRE-PHYSICAL_THERAPY.pdf[/url]”>http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/pdf/infosheets/PRE-PHYSICAL_THERAPY.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
and Penn State [Physical</a> Therapy Advising Notes - Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) - Pennsylvania State University](<a href=“http://dus.psu.edu/students/physical_therapy.html]Physical”>http://dus.psu.edu/students/physical_therapy.html)</p>

<p>Like zapfino said, there is not a specific major required for PT school as long as you meet the prerequisites. However, exercise science and other health related fields will give you much deeper basis in understanding the concepts involved in PT</p>