Requirements

Pre-P.T./P.A. Advisory Program

Two of the fastest-growing and most professional of all allied health and medical fields are those of Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant. A graduate degree in P.T. promises to be one of the most marketable investments of one's time and effort. The profession is based on a number of interrelated areas of study with primary focus to return people to an optimal level of physical function while dealing with the psychological and emotional aspects of patient care as well. A career as a Physician Assistant allows one to practice medicine with physician supervision in a multitude of clinical specialty areas.

It is not easy to obtain admission to a professional program in either Physical Therapy or Physician Assistant. Prerequisite clinical observation and work in a variety health care settings of up to 1000+ hours are becoming the norm. The requirements are as demanding as the professions are rewarding. We have found that an undergraduate, liberal arts education with special attention to careful scheduling of pre-requisites and particular attention to early clinical observation and education in a wide variety of settings has proven to be an excellent path to graduate study.

In order to meet the criteria for admission to P.T. and P.A. school, we attempt to identify prospective students as early as possible in their academic career. The unique nature of the Block Plan makes it essential that those students be familiar, not only with the C.C. general education requirements but also with the pre-requisites of the more than 100 P.T. and P.A. programs on file within the advisory program. This early identification is essential to plan a full four year course of study which will not only give the student a broad-based liberal education, but also satisfy admission criteria specific to each program.

The advisory program is not isolated in its function but works with the student's major advisor to insure that the student can fulfill requirements for a declared major in the subject area of his/her choice. Solid academic performance is essential as well as a legitimate dedication to explore a multiple number of volunteer clinical experiences which have been established through the years in the Colorado Springs/Denver metro area. Clinical observation is essential so that the prospective students have a realistic view of the multiple challenges involved in the professions of Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant today.

Early communication with the P.T. and P.A. programs of the student's choice is also encouraged to determine early-on if there are specific requirements that will need special consideration or study away from C.C. in the summer. Current course recommendations are included to illustrate pre-P.T. requirements as linked specifically to the Block plan and academic program at Colorado College. Physician Assistant prerequisites are based upon current information from a variety of schools and the Physician Assistant Program Directory. Please check The Colorado College Home Page for further information. Two additional web sites would include:
The National PA Page and 
American Physical Therapy Association