Elizabethtown College Exercise Science Program Adds Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

Etown students utilizing the state-of-the-art Human Performance Lab

Elizabethtown College recently announced the addition of a Pre-Physical Therapy (PT) Advising track for Exercise Science majors. The program, which is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) upon completion of their bachelor’s degree, will be available beginning in the fall 2023 semester.

 The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) lists Exercise Science as one of the most common undergraduate degrees to be eligible for DPT program admission.

“We’re excited to offer the new Pre-PT concentration as an option within the Exercise Science Major,” Elizabethtown College Director of the Exercise Science Adam J. Swartzendruber said. “Entry into DPT graduate programs is highly competitive. Successful completion of a B.S. in Exercise Science improves acceptance rates into DPT programs because an Exercise Science Pre-PT concentration not only includes the required science prerequisites, but also the Exercise Science courses that help prepare students with the entry-level competencies required of Physical Therapists. This includes consultations and assessments, as well as the coaching of exercise techniques.”

Exercise Science is a fast-growing industry with an 8.4% growth in demand for exercise science professions in Pennsylvania. Etown’s program is an interdisciplinary major that explores the effects of exercise and physical activity on physical health and well-being and provides students with an education that leads to professional credentials in various areas, including medical, therapeutic, and athletic training.

Etown students have the opportunity to transform their courses into real-world action by utilizing the dynamic Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being, which provides purposeful programming that inspires, educates, and empowers students and the campus community to cultivate healthy and active lifestyles, and includes the state-of-the-art Human Performance Lab. Learn more about Etown’s Exercise Science Program.