No kinesiology/ exercise science classes?

[mgs1994]

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Hi all!

I've come here to get some advice. I really would like to go to pt school next year and have all my prereqs done, however, I am concerned that I do not have enough background on the actual field of Physical Therapy and what I'm going to be learning in school.

Firstly, I am a biology major and have taken gen Chem/ gen bio I&II, Anatomy & physiology I&II, Physics I&II, Stats, calculus, gen psych and developmental psych. These are the main pre-reqs for most schools.
Overall GPA: 3.75
Shadowing hours: ~70 (will get to 100 this summer)

My main concern is...I haven't taken kinesiology OR any exercise science class and I am scared that if I do get into pt school, I will be behind all other students because I never took these courses. I am trying to find a kinesiology course I can take next spring. But, if I can't find a course...do you think this is a major problem that can hinder my ability to do well once I am in PT school? Or will I learn everything I need to know once I am in school?

Thanks!

 

[Phyline]

If it's not a prerequisite, you don't need to have taken it. Sure, it will enhance your knowledge, but you will not be at a disadvantage.

 

[DesertPT]

PT curriculums generally have one course on clinically relevant kinesiology and one on ex phys. Such a large number of pre-PTs major in these two areas because either 1.) they are ignorant about what PT actually is and they think it will help them, or 2.) their school has these majors structured to where all the PT pre-reqs count toward the major, so it is the most effective route. I think the latter is the most common reason, which is perfectly understandable. Yes, PTs are the experts in human movement, but the basic sciences of kinesiology and ex phys are like 3% of what you need to learn in PT school. Biology is also a small fraction of what you learn in PT school. No undergrad major gives you a significant advantage, particularly once you complete the basic science portion of the curriculum and on to the really clinical stuff. Just apply to schools that don't require classes you haven't taken as a pre-req and you will be totally fine.

Do not waste your time and money taking extra classes just because you think you will be behind in PT school if you don't. You will not be. I have not been able to perceive any correlation whatsoever between undergraduate major and how much people in my class have to study. The school sets the pre-reqs that they believe are necessary, and you need nothing more, nothing less. Only take extra classes if your state school or somewhere you really want to go requires them. Even then, proceed with thoughtfulness. Taking multiple extra classes just to be able to apply to one school probably isn't worth it (unless it happens to be by far the cheapest school you could go to).

In my opinion bringing a background in biology (especially molecular, cellular and evolutionary biology) to PT school will by the end of your education actually leave you with a more well-rounded knowledge of how the human organism functions than if you had majored in ex phys or kinesiology. Many will strongly disagree with me, which if fine. People assume that all three of these majors are dime-a-dozen really once you're in PT school, and to some extent they are right, but my biology knowledge has actually been helpful conceptually in a lot of my classes. When you're in the daily grind of PT school though, you really are just memorizing a ton of crap, 95% of which you won't know before PT school regardless of major. Which is why undergrad major really is a non-issue at the end of the day.

 

[PTpursuit]

PT curriculums generally have one course on clinically relevant kinesiology and one on ex phys. Such a large number of pre-PTs major in these two areas because either 1.) they are ignorant about what PT actually is and they think it will help them, or 2.) their school has these majors structured to where all the PT pre-reqs count toward the major, so it is the most effective route. I think the latter is the most common reason, which is perfectly understandable. Yes, PTs are the experts in human movement, but the basic sciences of kinesiology and ex phys are like 3% of what you need to learn in PT school. Biology is also a small fraction of what you learn in PT school. No undergrad major gives you a significant advantage, particularly once you complete the basic science portion of the curriculum and on to the really clinical stuff. Just apply to schools that don't require classes you haven't taken as a pre-req and you will be totally fine.

Do not waste your time and money taking extra classes just because you think you will be behind in PT school if you don't. You will not be. I have not been able to perceive any correlation whatsoever between undergraduate major and how much people in my class have to study. The school sets the pre-reqs that they believe are necessary, and you need nothing more, nothing less. Only take extra classes if your state school or somewhere you really want to go requires them. Even then, proceed with thoughtfulness. Taking multiple extra classes just to be able to apply to one school probably isn't worth it (unless it happens to be by far the cheapest school you could go to).

In my opinion bringing a background in biology (especially molecular, cellular and evolutionary biology) to PT school will by the end of your education actually leave you with a more well-rounded knowledge of how the human organism functions than if you had majored in ex phys or kinesiology. Many will strongly disagree with me, which if fine. People assume that all three of these majors are dime-a-dozen really once you're in PT school, and to some extent they are right, but my biology knowledge has actually been helpful conceptually in a lot of my classes. When you're in the daily grind of PT school though, you really are just memorizing a ton of crap, 95% of which you won't know before PT school regardless of major. Which is why undergrad major really is a non-issue at the end of the day.

Hey DesertPT, I have to say, I always love reading your insightful posts. You really do put a lot of time into helping those who need advice , which is really nice of you! Where do you go to school, if you don't mind me asking? You will be a great PT!

 

[aroszko]

Hi all!

My main concern is...I haven't taken kinesiology OR any exercise science class and I am scared that if I do get into pt school, I will be behind all other students because I never took these courses. I am trying to find a kinesiology course I can take next spring. But, if I can't find a course...do you think this is a major problem that can hinder my ability to do well once I am in PT school? Or will I learn everything I need to know once I am in school?

Thanks!

I was a psychology/art double major in undergrad and had neither of these classes. In my program during second semester there is an ex pays class and a kines class - I felt that the classes leveled any discrepancies between my classmates knowledge of the subjects. I also didnt feel that I was behind or lacked certain knowledge that some of my classmates had as the professors kinda started exactly where we needed to be and then built upon that. From talking with some of my classmates who were kinesiology or ex science majors they even stated that the kines done in PT school was different from what they did in undergrad (more in-depth obviously) and they had to stay on top of it just as much as those of us who had not had it before. I almost felt it was easier for me to learn it from just PT school as I have one professor teaching me the way I'm going to be using it throughout the program.

all in all, you'll be fine without taking them just keep your grades up, get lots of observations in different settings - make connections for good LORs, kill the GREs and you'll be good.

 

[ssummerss]

I didn't have either of those classes and I got into UW and regis, so I wouldn't worry too much about it!