About the Program
Rice Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology (SMEP) majors interested in pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) may apply for the Rice-UTMB Physical Therapy Scholars (PTS) program. The Rice-UTMB PTS program is a collaboration between Rice University and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston’s Department of Physical Therapy housed in the School of Health Professions. Through this collaboration and subject to the number of slots available, up to three (3) Rice-UTMB PTS graduates who also meet all UTMB DPT admission requirements will be offered non-competitive admission into the UTMB Doctor of Physical Therapy annual cohort each upcoming fall.
The Rice-UTMB PTS program is administered by an advisory board whose members are appointed by the Chair of the Department of Kinesiology. The Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board members will review all applications and recommend three Rice SMEP majors each year for the program.
Please note that formal application and acceptance into the UTMB DPT program is a separate process from the Rice-UTMB PTS. Additional information about the UTMB DPT application and acceptance process may be found at https://shp.utmb.edu/PhysicalTherapy/.
Application Process
Any SMEP major interested in pursuing a DPT at UTMB is eligible to apply for the Rice-UTMB PTS. Recommendation for the Rice-UTMB PTS is based upon multiple criteria including academic performance, professional recommendation, and personal interviews.
Academic 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
- All grades of a repeated course are calculated into the student’s overall GPA, not replacing the previous grade
- A grade of “C” or better in all required UTMB DPT pre-requisite courses
As part of the academic criteria review process, the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board may contact the UTMB DPT Admissions Committee for guidance, particularly as it relates to the following UTMB DPT admission requirements (https://www.utmb.edu/shp/phyt/admissions):
- Repeated courses may be acceptable if deemed not excessive as determined by the UTMB PTS Admissions Committee.
- Courses required for UTMB DPT admission may be completed outside the Rice SMEP program, but this practice is discouraged to improve the probability of success in DPT graduate coursework.
- There can be no greater than 60 course credit hours toward the BA in SMEP and UTMB DPT prerequisite courses taken at a community college.
Professional criteria:
- Paid, volunteer, or observation experience totaling 40 hours under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist
- Names and letters from three (3) recommenders including one (1) from a Rice SMEP faculty member and one (1) from a licensed physical therapist
Interview criteria:
- Student résumé and personal statement
- Individual interview with the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board
Timeline
Application
The application process should begin two years prior to the desired UTMB DPT fall start date (see the general timeline found in Table 1). Required steps in the application process are as follows:
Fall Semester of Junior Year:
- Email formal interest in the program to the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisor
- Complete the individual career counseling and academic advising with the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisor
Spring Semester of Junior Year:
- Complete the formal application by February 1
- The application will include:
- Rice-UTMB PTS Application Form
- Student résumé (2-page limit)
- Documentation of volunteer/observation hours
- At least 40 completed hours prior to applying to the Rice-UTMB PTS
- All hours must be properly documented (date, time, name/PT license number/signature of supervising physical therapist) in an organized format
- Recommendation letters from three (3) recommenders including one (1) from a Rice SMEP faculty member and one (1) from a licensed physical therapist on official letterhead
- Letters should be confidential and emailed directly to the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisor by the recommender
- 1–2-page personal statement describing your interest in physical therapy, desire to pursue your DPT specifically at UTMB, and plan for completing remaining prerequisite courses and/or PT observation hours during the upcoming year
Recommendation
The Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board will evaluate all applicants and choose up to three students each year for the Rice-UTMB PTS program. These three students will be recommended for non- competitive admission to the UTMB DPT program.
Students recommended for the program must complete the following within the academic year (Fall/Spring) prior to the UTMB DPT fall start date:
- Maintain all academic standards outlined in the initial application process
- Complete a UTMB admissions interview during the fall semester
- Complete any remaining supervised PT observation hours prior to September 1 (80 hours total)
- Submit all UTMB DPT application forms via the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) by November 1
- Complete and submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test) scores to UTMB
- Complete the Rice BA in SMEP degree
- Any other UTMB DPT admissions requirements as per the UTMB DPT admissions website (https://www.utmb.edu/shp/phyt/admissions)
Table 1. General Application Timeline
| Fall – Junior Year (All Applicants) | Spring – Junior Year (All Applicants) | Fall – Senior Year (Recommended Students) | Spring – Senior Year (Recommended Students) | Fall – Post-Graduation (Recommended Students) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express formal interest to Rice-UTMB PTS advisor | Complete the formal Rice- UTMB PTS application and supporting documents by February 1 | Complete the UTMB DPT | Receive official notification of acceptance from UTMB DPT program | Begin UTMB DPT program pending official acceptance from UTMB DPT |
| Complete individual career counseling with the Rice-UTMB PTS advisor | Interview with Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board | - | Apply for scholarships (optional) | - |
Rice-UTMB PTS Program processes and academic criteria are determined by the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board.
UTMB DPT Pre-requisite Courses
Students in the Rice-UTMB PTS, as part of completing the requirements for admission into the UTMB DPT program, must complete the following courses while concurrently completing the BA in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology degree
| UTMB Pre-Requisite Requirements (40 hours) | Rice Courses (or equivalent) Meeting the Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chemistry -8 hours (must include lab) | CHEM 121/123 (4) Gen Chem I w/ Lab CHEM 122/124 (4) Gen Chem II w/ Lab |
| Physics - 8 hours (must include lab) | PHYS 101 (4) Mechanics w/ Lab PHYS 102 (4) Electricity and Magnetism w/ Lab PHYS 125 (4) Gen Physics I w/ Lab PHYS 126 (4) Gen Physics II w/ Lab |
| Biology - 8 hours (must include lab) | KINE 300 (4) Human Anatomy w/ Lab BIOS 201 (3) Intro Biology I BIOS 202 (3) Intro Biology II Multiple BIOS lab courses available (1-2) |
| Physiology - 4 hours | KINE 301 (3) Human Physiology KINE 320 (1) Human Physiology Lab |
| College Math – 3 hours (any one of Algebra, Calculus or Trigonometry, or higher is acceptable) | MATH 101 (3) Single Variable Calculus I or higher |
| General Psychology – 3 hours | PSYC 202 (3) Intro to Social Psychology PSYC 203 (3) Intro to Cognitive Psychology |
| Developmental Psychology – 3 hours | PSYC 321 (3) Developmental Psychology |
| Statistics - 3 hours | KINE 319 (3) Statistics for the Health Professional STAT 305 (4) Intro to Stats for Biosciences |
| Electives (80 hours) | At least 80 hours outside of these requirements to complete 120 hours, the usual minimum for a bachelors’ degree, with 43 hours of coursework required for the Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology major. |
*UTMB accepts a grade of 4 or above on an AP exam as credit for up to 8 hours of science coursework and 3 hours of math
**HEAL 132: Medical Terminology is not required but highly recommended for the UTMB DPT program. Special effort should be made to take the course prior to graduation from Rice.
FAQs
Application and Advising Process
- I’m not a Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology major at Rice. Can I apply for the Rice- UTMB PTS?
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No. Because of the unique human movement curriculum found only in the Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology degree, other majors are not qualified for the Rice-UTMB PTS. However, any major is welcome to apply for the UTMB DPT program through the standard competitive process using the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
- I’m a Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology major at Rice and want to earn my DPT after graduation. If I wish to attend a DPT program other than UTMB or am not accepted into the Rice-UTMB PTS, can I still get pre-physical therapy academic advising?
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Yes. Rice Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology major advisors are available to all students regardless of post-graduation plans. Assistance with academic planning and advising, including various DPT program and clinical observation hour requirements, is available by appointment with a major advisor.
- I am a rising sophomore at Rice, but with AP credits I am technically a junior. Can I apply for the Rice-UTMB PTS even though I plan on staying at Rice for three more years?
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No. The program is designed for students two years from entering the DPT program. They will apply two years from graduation and complete remaining prerequisites during their final year. Placement into the incoming fall UTMB cohort will occur directly after graduation.
- I’m currently in my first year at Rice, but I have enough credits to graduate in three years. So, I only have two years left at Rice. Can I apply for the Rice-UTMB PTS?
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Yes. The program is designed for students two years from entering the DPT program. They will apply two years from graduation and complete remaining prerequisites during their final year. Placement into the incoming fall UTMB cohort will occur directly after graduation.
- I’m currently in my senior year at Rice, but I plan to take a gap year after graduation prior to attending graduate school. Can I apply for the Rice-UTMB PTS?
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Yes. The program is designed for students two years from entering the DPT program. If all prerequisites are met, you may apply during your final year at Rice and begin the UTMB DPT after a gap year. However, gap year plans should be discussed clearly with the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board during the application process.
- I’m an international student. Am I eligible to apply for the Rice-UTMB PTS?
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Yes.
- What should my letter of recommendation cover? Whom should I ask to write for me?
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Recommenders should know you well and speak to the characteristics and qualities that make you uniquely prepared for the academically rigorous process found in graduate school and/or your promise as a future physical therapist. Your three letters of recommendation letters must include one (1) from a member of the Rice SMEP faculty and one (1) from a licensed physical therapist. Both must be on official letterhead with their signature and emailed directly to the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisor by the recommender.
- Is there an advantage to having more than three letters of recommendation?
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No. Only three letters will be considered for each applicant.
- I see that 40 hours of observation are required to apply to the Rice-UTMB PTS. Do these hours have to be in a particular therapy setting? Are hours done as a paid employee eligible?
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The 40 hours required to apply to the Rice-UTMB PTS, as well as the additional 40 hours required for UTMB (80 hours total), do not have to be in a particular practice area or setting. However, you should show “diversity” in your observation hours. In other words, all hours should not come from the same facility. Effort should be made to collect hours from a wide variety of physical therapy practice settings (e.g., acute, out-patient, pediatrics, geriatrics, neurological, orthopedic, sports).
Hours completed as a paid employed (e.g., physical therapy technician or aide) DO count toward the requirement if they occur under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist, not under the supervision of a physical therapist assistant. See above for additional considerations regarding observation diversity.
- Can my required 80 hours of volunteer/observation count toward course credit?
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Yes. As with any other internship, you may petition for KINE 375 credit. The petition and approval process for KINE 375 is the same as any other KINE 375 application.
- Does admission to the Rice-UTMB PTS guarantee that I will receive acceptance into the UTMB DPT program?
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No. To receive acceptance into UTMB, you must complete all UTMB DPT admission requirements.
- Does admission to the Rice-UTMB PTS guarantee that I will receive a DPT degree from UTMB?
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No. Students must satisfactorily complete all degree requirements and expectations of the DPT degree as determined by the UTMB DPT program. Rice plays no role in the awarding of the DPT degrees and cannot guarantee the awarding of the degree even if the student is admitted to the UTMB DPT program.
Recommendation
- When and how will I be notified if I am one of the three students chosen by the Rice- UTMB Advisory Board for the Rice-UTMB PTS?
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All applicants 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.
- Will I know if I am not selected?
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Yes. All applicants will receive an email with a Rice-UTMB Advisory Board decision whether they are recommended or not to assist with future graduation planning.
- If I am not selected, can I apply again in future years?
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Yes. Because the process is designed to be completed two years prior to beginning your DPT at UTMB, you can reapply during your final year at Rice with the intent to take a gap year. However, gap year plans should be discussed clearly with the Rice-UTMB PTS Advisory Board during the application process.
UTMB DPT Program
- Where can I find more information about the UTMB DPT Program?
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Full details about the UTMB DPT Program can be found on their website.
- I see that UTMB offers both a residential AND hybrid program for earning a DPT degree. Can I choose between the two options?
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Yes. During your official application process to UTMB through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), you should select either “residential” or “hybrid” as your program of choice. Feel free to visit with your UTMB representative if you have questions about the two options.
- Can I reuse my letters of recommendation from my application to the Rice-UTMB PTS for my official application at UTMB?
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Yes. Your letters can be used again for this process, particularly since you already have met the UTMB requirement of obtaining one letter of recommendation from a licensed physical therapist.
- What support is available to me from UTMB as a Rice undergraduate in the Rice-UTMB PTS?
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UTMB will provide each student in the Rice-UTMB PTS a contact representative to answer any questions students might have regarding the UTMB DPT portion of the Rice-UTMB PTS, the UTMB DPT program itself, and admission to the UTMB DPT program.
- Are scholarships available?
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Yes. More details are available from your UTMB representative. To start, you should fill out your FAFSA form to begin the financial aid process. Generally, scholarship applications open the spring after you are admitted to the program with awards announced in June prior to the August start date.
For additional information or questions, contact: Laura S. Kabiri, PT, DPT, PhD – Rice-UTMB PTS Advisor @ laura.kabiri@rice.edu