Health Sciences BS and Physical Therapy DPT Bridge Program

Major: Health Sciences and Physical Therapy
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 271.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.1199
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-9111
DPT Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code:
 51.2308
DPT Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1123

About the Program

Drexel’s undergraduate Health Sciences program and graduate Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program have partnered to offer a BS/DPT Bridge program option available to high-achieving students enrolled in the Health Sciences program. The BS/DPT Bridge program is a linked academic track that enables students to complete their Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees in six years.

Students pursue a BS degree in Health Sciences during their first three years of study and a DPT degree during their final two and a half years of study. The bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences is awarded following completion of year four (first year of graduate study), and the doctoral degree is awarded following completion of the Physical Therapy program.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the Health Sciences Department.

Degree Requirements

General Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
UNIV NH101The Drexel Experience1.0
English Sequence
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
Biology Sequence
BIO 131
BIO 134
Cells and Biomolecules
and Cells and Biomolecules Lab
5.0
BIO 132
BIO 135
Genetics and Evolution
and Genetics and Evolution Lab
5.0
BIO 133
BIO 136
Physiology and Ecology
and Anatomy and Ecology Lab
5.0
BIO 226Microbiology for Health Professionals5.0
Chemistry Sequence
CHEM 101General Chemistry I3.5
CHEM 102General Chemistry II4.5
CHEM 103General Chemistry III4.5
Mathematics Sequence
MATH 101Introduction to Analysis I4.0
MATH 102Introduction to Analysis II4.0
Physics for Life Sciences
PHYS 152Introductory Physics I4.0
PHYS 153Introductory Physics II4.0
Communications
COM 320 [WI] Science Writing3.0
Health Systems
HSAD 210Health-Care Ethics I3.0
Complete one of the following courses:3.0
Advanced Health-Care Ethics
Introduction to Health-Systems Administration
Ethics in Health Care Management
Psychology
PSY 101General Psychology I3.0
One Psychology (PSY 100-499) and/or Behavioral Health Counseling (BACS 100-499) course (minimum 3.0 credits)3.0
Sociology
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
One Sociology (SOC 100-499) course (minimum 3.0 credits)4.0
Public Health
PBHL 101Public Health 1013.0
One Public Health (PBHL) course (minimum 3.0 credits)3.0
Anatomy & Physiology Courses
HSCI 206Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences I5.0
HSCI 207Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences II5.0
HSCI 208Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Sciences III5.0
Research Courses
HSCI 310Introduction to Research Methods4.0
HSCI 315Current Issues in Health Sciences4.0
or HSCI 450 Undergraduate Research Experience
Statistics and Assessment
HSCI 201Health Assessment through the Lifespan4.0
HSCI 345Statistics for Health Sciences4.5
Free Electives3.0
Health Sciences Electives **20.0
Physical Therapy DPT Requirements ***
PTRS 507Neuroscience I3.0
PTRS 508Neuroscience II2.0
PTRS 530Kinesiology I4.0
PTRS 531Kinesiology II3.0
PTRS 532Human Gross Anatomy I4.0
PTRS 533Human Gross Anatomy II4.0
PTRS 534Physical Therapy Exam & Intervention I3.0
PTRS 535Physical Therapy Exam & Intervention II3.0
PTRS 600Clinical Reasoning4.0
PTRS 541Topics in Pathophysiology I3.0
PTRS 607Topics in Pathophysiology II3.0
PTRS 610Issues in Pharmacotherapy3.0
PTRS 613Integrated Clinical Experience I0.5
PTRS 614Integrated Clinical Experience II0.5
PTRS 615Integrated Clinical Experience III0.5
PTRS 616Integrated Clinical Experience IV0.5
PTRS 620Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Upper Extremity4.0
PTRS 621Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Lower Extremity4.0
PTRS 622Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Spine4.0
PTRS 623Physical Agents3.0
PTRS 624Functional Mobility3.0
PTRS 627Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy I4.0
PTRS 630Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy II3.0
PTRS 639Motor Learning2.0
PTRS 641Neurological Exam and Intervention I4.0
PTRS 642Neurological Exam and Intervention II5.0
PTRS 644Integumentary Physical Therapy1.5
PTRS 648Prosthetics and Orthotics3.0
PTRS 649Culture, Ethics and Interprofessionalism in Healthcare2.5
PTRS 654Topics in Health Policy & Services3.0
PTRS 655Health Administration2.5
PTRS 656Motor Control and Rehabilitation2.0
PTRS 663Pediatric Physical Therapy I3.5
PTRS 665Pediatric Physical Therapy II3.5
PTRS 680Geriatric Physical Therapy3.0
PTRS 733Advanced Clinical Reasoning2.0
PTRS 751Evidence-Based Practice3.0
PTRS 752Evidence-Based Practice II2.0
PTRS 791Clinical Experience I4.5
PTRS 792Terminal Clinical Experience II4.5
PTRS 793Terminal Clinical Experience III4.5
Electives (600 and 700 level PTRS)6.0
Total Credits271.0
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Health Sciences electives include HSCI or NFS courses at the 100-499 level. Up to two science courses (BIO 200-499, CHEM 200-499, PHYS 100-499) may be used as Health Sciences electives with advisor permission. All 100-Level freshman course requirements in BIO, CHEM, ENGL, and MATH must be completed by the time a student reaches 135.0 credits.

***

Students receive their BS degree in Health Sciences after successful completion of the Fall, Winter, and Spring term courses in the first year of the DPT curriculum and fulfilling the undergraduate degree requirements.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

Fall-Winter Co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV NH1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
 MATH 1014.0  
 12.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0COOP 101*1.0COM 3203.0HSAD 2103.0
HSCI 2065.0HSCI 2075.0HSCI 2085.0PSY 1013.0
HSCI 3104.0HSCI 3454.5HSCI 315 or 4504.0Health Sciences Elective4.0
Health Science Elective3.0Health Science Elective4.0SOC 1013.0Public Health Elective3.0
 Free Elective3.0 Sociology Elective4.0
 17 17.5 15 17
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCEPBHL 1013.0HSCI 2014.0
  PHYS 1524.0PHYS 1534.0
  One of the following:3.0Health Sciences Elective4.0
  Psychology Elective3.0
   
   
  Health Sciences Electives5.0 
 0 0 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PTRS 5304.0PTRS 5313.0PTRS 5073.0PTRS 5082.0
PTRS 5324.0PTRS 5334.0PTRS 6150.5PTRS 6160.5
PTRS 5343.0PTRS 5353.0PTRS 6204.0PTRS 6214.0
PTRS 6004.0PTRS 5413.0PTRS 6233.0PTRS 6274.0
PTRS 6130.5PTRS 6140.5PTRS 6392.0PTRS 6414.0
 PTRS 6243.0PTRS 7513.0PTRS 7522.0
 15.5 16.5 15.5 16.5
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PTRS 6224.0PTRS 7914.5PTRS 6103.0PTRS 6073.0
PTRS 6303.0 PTRS 6425.0PTRS 6543.0
PTRS 6441.5 PTRS 6552.5PTRS 6653.5
PTRS 6483.0 PTRS 6633.5PTRS 6803.0
PTRS 6492.5 Elective3.0PTRS 7332.0
PTRS 6562.0  Elective3.0
 16 4.5 17 17.5
Sixth Year
FallCreditsWinterCredits  
PTRS 7924.5PTRS 7934.5  
 4.5 4.5  
Total Credits 271
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

 Spring-Summer Co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 131
BIO 134
5.0BIO 132
BIO 135
5.0BIO 133
BIO 136
5.0VACATION
CHEM 1013.5CHEM 1024.5CHEM 1034.5 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV NH1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0MATH 1024.0 
 MATH 1014.0  
 12.5 17.5 16.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIO 2265.0HSCI 2075.0COM 3203.0COOP 101*1.0
HSCI 2065.0HSCI 3454.5HSCI 2085.0HSAD 2103.0
HSCI 3104.0Health Science Elective4.0HSCI 315 or 4504.0PSY 1013.0
Health Science Elective3.0Free Elective3.0SOC 1013.0Health Science Elective4.0
   Public Health Elective3.0
   Sociology Elective4.0
 17 16.5 15 18
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PBHL 1013.0HSCI 2014.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
PHYS 1524.0PHYS 1534.0  
One of the following:3.0Health Science Elective5.0  
Psychology Elective3.0  
   
   
Health Science Elective4.0   
 14 16 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PTRS 5304.0PTRS 5313.0PTRS 5073.0PTRS 5082.0
PTRS 5324.0PTRS 5334.0PTRS 6150.5PTRS 6160.5
PTRS 5343.0PTRS 5353.0PTRS 6204.0PTRS 6214.0
PTRS 6004.0PTRS 5413.0PTRS 6233.0PTRS 6274.0
PTRS 6130.5PTRS 6140.5PTRS 6392.0PTRS 6414.0
 PTRS 6243.0PTRS 7513.0PTRS 7522.0
 15.5 16.5 15.5 16.5
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PTRS 6224.0PTRS 7914.5PTRS 6103.0PTRS 6073.0
PTRS 6303.0 PTRS 6425.0PTRS 6543.0
PTRS 6441.5 PTRS 6552.5PTRS 6653.5
PTRS 6483.0 PTRS 6633.5PTRS 6803.0
PTRS 6492.5 Elective3.0PTRS 7332.0
PTRS 6562.0  Elective 3.0
 16 4.5 17 17.5
Sixth Year
FallCreditsWinterCredits  
PTRS 7924.5PTRS 7934.5  
 4.5 4.5  
Total Credits 271
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.