Pre-PT 3+3 Program with RU

WPUNJ / Rutgers School of Health Professions 3+ 3 Pre-Physical Therapy Program (updated Fall 2025)

The Department of Biology at William Paterson University (WPUNJ) in conjunction with the Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP) has established a collaborative 3 + 3 program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from WPUNJ and the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the SHP after completion of a six-year joint program.  Successful students will spend three years (or the time required to complete 90 credits) in the Pre-Physical Therapy program at WPUNJ fulfilling the requirements for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at SHP.

The following requirements must be completed at William Paterson, no transfer credits will be accepted:

Major Science and Mathematics Courses:

UCC (NEW)

*Attributes: WI: Writing Intensive; AI LIT: Artificial Intelligence Literacy; TI: Technology Intensive

WPU Program Requirements and Details:

• Students will declare a major in Biology, general concentration, in the Freshman year.
• All candidates for the 3+3 program must be approved by Chair of Biology at the end of the 1^st
• Students must meet with Chair of Biology and faculty of the Rutgers DPT program at the end of the first year to discuss the program details.
• Advisement will be coordinated with the WPU Advisement Center and Chair of Biology. Annual meetings with Rutgers DPT program faculty will be planned to ensure progress and student success.
• Total number of credits required at WPUNJ 90 credits.
• Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 to be competitive for admission to the Physical Therapy program at SHP through the 3+3 program.
• Admission to the Physical Therapy Program at SHP is not guaranteed.
• The articulation agreement states all major science and mathematics courses be completed at WPU. Additionally, half of the non-science UCC courses be taken at WPU.
• Students accepted in the Physical Therapy Program at SHP will receive the BS from William Paterson University after successful completion of the first year curriculum at SHP (Fall semester: 17 credits Spring semester: 18 credits; click here) and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree after the completion of the program.
• SHP will not limit the number of WPU 3+3 applicants each year.

SHP Admission Process & Requirements

• Students should apply to SHP during the summer (e.g., July, August) before their third year. Deadline for applications is October 1st.
• Applicants must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Admission (PTCAS).
• Applications must include 3 letters of recommendation from 2 licensed PT’s from 2 different clinical settings. The third letter should be from a reference that can address your leadership, communication, time management, resilience and overall character.
• Knowledge of the PT profession is required with a 50-hour minimum of shadowing experience in two different treatment settings to arranged by the student applicant.
• Life examples of extracurricular activities and service to others are expected. Research experiences are highly desirable.
• The GRE is not currently required for admission, but Doctor of Physical Therapy program reserves the right to include that as a requirement following annual assessments of student outcomes.
• Admission decisions will be made in the fall of the 3^rd year of study. Students accepted to RU DPT program will need to maintain the 3.5 GPA and meet all other standards required by 3+3.
• Students not admitted to the Physical Therapy program after their 3rd year of study in the Pre-PT program, may complete the Biology or Biotechnology major within the 4^th year at William Paterson University.
• Students may apply the to the RU DPT program as they complete the last year of study for the traditional BS from WPU.

Additional Information About The Pre-Physical Therapy/Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at WPUNJ/SHP:

The primary advantage for a student in this articulated program is that it reduces one year of schooling.  Students who apply to SHP from non-articulating schools must have a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants should contact the Biology Department Chairperson who will assist with application packets. Information and application procedures for SHP’s Physical Therapy program are available online at:  https://shp.rutgers.edu/doctor-of-physical-therapy/

Tuition for the Rutgers SHP, PT program is available on their website at: https://finance.rutgers.edu/student-abc/tuition-fees

Undergraduate financial aid will end when the student completes the program at William Paterson University. Students may apply for graduate financial aid at Rutgers

After the required 90 credits at WPUNJ, the number of credits required in the Physical Therapy program at Rutgers SHP is 109, with a required summer semester at the beginning of the program.

Three Year Plan for 3+3 PT with RU, BS Biology

Plan to finish BIO at WPU