5 Top Physical Therapy Majors to Prepare for a DPT

Do you want to help people move better and regulate pain as a licensed physical therapist? If so, set yourself up for success as early as possible.

You will need to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from an accredited program. To gain admission to physical therapy school, earn a bachelor’s degree in one of many physical therapy majors.

While you can enroll in one of the top physical therapy programs with a bachelor’s degree in any subject, some undergraduate physical therapy majors are more relevant to a PT career than others.

Look for a physical therapy major that allows you to complete prerequisite courses and gain the valuable skills to succeed in one of the top PT programs.¹ So, what major do you need to become a physical therapist? Here are the top five undergraduate degrees for physical therapy, according to USAHS’ internal database.

1. Kinesiology

While biology explores the general science of life, kinesiology hones in on the dynamics of human movement.² As the field is closely related to physical therapy, many students find this physical therapist major to be a natural stepping stone into a DPT program.¹

Kinesiology takes a well-rounded approach to health sciences, encouraging students to learn about biology, chemistry and physics. More specifically, this physical therapy major explores:²

• The prevention, management and treatment of injuries
• The optimization of movement for workplace or athletic performance
• The promotion of general health and well-being
• The restoration of body functions

2. Exercise Science

As far as majors for physical therapy go, exercise science takes the principles of kinesiology and boils them down even further. Rather than looking at all human movements, exercise scientists focus specifically on intentional movement—in other words, exercise.³

Because activity-related injuries are one of the most common reasons people see physical therapists, exercise science is an ideal physical therapy major if applying to a DPT program.

In fact, according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), exercise science is one of the most common physical therapy majors to pursue before applying to many DPT programs.¹

3. Health Science

Pursuing a health science degree as a physical therapist major offers a comprehensive foundation for your career.⁴ It’s a multidisciplinary field that encompasses critical topics and subjects that will give you a head start at any DPT program, such as human anatomy, physiology and healthcare policy.

Students who pursue this physical therapy major will develop a broad understanding of the health sector. Health science majors gain insights into the determinants of health and disease, which can prepare them for the holistic approach required in physical therapy.

Education in this physical therapist major meets the prerequisites for many advanced DPT programs and instills a strong ethical framework and problem-solving skills essential for patient care. It’s an ideal launch pad for anyone seeking to enroll in any of the best physical therapy programs in the country.

4. Biology

Physical therapy requires knowledge of the human body, so it should be no surprise that biology is one of the ideal majors for physical therapy to pursue before applying to PT school.^{1, 5} Biology students explore the science of life in a broad sense, tapping into the inner workings of various living organisms—all of which can provide insight into health and wellness.⁵

In this physical therapy major, you’ll encounter a range of topics applicable to a future PT career, such as:

• Anatomy
• Scientific and medical terminology
• Genetics

Because this physical therapist major touches on chemistry and physics as well, you should have no trouble meeting your prerequisites for top physical therapy programs.

5. Psychology

Perhaps you’ve heard the adage, “Pain is mental.” While the saying doesn’t address all the questions a physical therapy degree seeks to answer, the mind is part of the well-being puzzle, which makes psychology one of the ideal physical therapy majors.

Psychologists study the mind and behavior, while physical therapists often work to adjust physical activity and behavior to treat movement dysfunction.^{6, 7} Therefore, the two disciplines can go hand in hand.

Gaining an understanding of human psychology provides insight into the motivations behind an individual’s actions, a crucial competency for applicants to physical therapy programs. The study of human movement, behavior and response forms a vital component of PT education — meaning this physical therapy major offers extensive benefits for a future in the field.

Want to know more about our PT programs?

Program InformationRequest Information

A note about prerequisites

You can apply to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at top-ranked physical therapy schools with an undergraduate degree in any field. You don’t need to pursue one of the five physical therapy undergraduate majors we reviewed. However, most DPT programs require the completion of specific prerequisite courses. Regardless of your physical therapy major, you’ll need to fulfill the DPT admission requirements outlined by your future university.

For example, students applying to the DPT program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) must complete the following DPT program prerequisites:

• Chemistry (general or upper level with lab)
• Physics (general or upper level with lab)
• Biology (general or upper level)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology (general or upper level with lab)
• Social Sciences
• Medical Terminology

If you use your electives to complete the prerequisite courses, you should be able to transition from any degree into one of the many accredited universities for physical therapy. To optimally equip yourself for top PT programs, pursuing these comprehensive majors for physical therapy may provide a competitive advantage.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a hands-on Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Join a collaborative cohort of peers who learn under the mentorship of expert faculty-practitioners. Practice with mock and real patients in our state-of-the-art simulation centers and learn anatomy with our high-tech tools. Prepare for clinical practice with a wide range of patients, as well as for advanced roles in research, practice leadership and policy making. Residential (blended didactic courses + in-person labs on weekdays) and Flex (online courses + in-person labs on select weekends) formats are available.

Sources

1. American Physical Therapy Association, “DPT Admissions Process,” APTA, 2024, https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/pt-admissions-process.
2. Ilana Kowarski, “What You Can Do With a Kinesiology Degree,” U.S. News & World Report, January 14, 2021, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/what-you-can-do-with-a-kinesiology-degree.
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Exercise Physiologists: Summary,” BLS, August 29, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm.
4. Christine Comizio and Kara Coleman Fields, “What You Need to Know About Becoming a Health Science Major,” U.S. News & World Report, June 27, 2024, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/health-science-major-overview.
5. Nicole Vulcan, “What You Need to Know About Becoming a Biology Major,” U.S. News & World Report, January 10, 2024, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/biology-major-overview.
6. American Psychological Association, “Science of Psychology,” APA, 2013, https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/science.
7. American Physical Therapy Association, “Becoming a Physical Therapist,” APTA, 2024, https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt.