Pre-Physical Therapy | Houghton University

Preparing you for graduate work in physical therapy in a Christ-centered environment.

Our pre-physical therapy program combines rigorous academic training with hands-on experience in labs and clinical settings, and a firm foundation in the Christian faith. You’ll study anatomy and physiology, the science of human movement and musculature, gain early exposure to clinical settings, and grow in your calling to serve others through healing and rehabilitation. Whether you're passionate about sports injury recovery, pediatric mobility, or geriatric care, you’ll be prepared to excel in top graduate schools and make a lasting impact—mind, body, and spirit. Accelerated graduation options also available!

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Pre-Professional Pathway

Recommended Majors: Exercise Science, Biology, Neuroscience

Pre-PT Advisor: Ransom Poythress

Field Experience Requirements Available Certifications

What will I learn?

Through Houghton’s Pre-Physical Therapy program you will gain hands-on experience as you:

Develop a strong academic base in subjects like anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and muscle biology to understand the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social factors that influence muscle health and injury.
Grow in your faith while learning to see clients not just as patients, but as image-bearers of God—worthy of dignity, hope, and holistic care.
Explore the roles of PTs in athletics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and other settings through coursework, case studies, and guest speakers.
Practice key skills like physical assessments, movement analysis, and therapeutic techniques in interactive and individualized lab settings
Apply classroom knowledge in by shadowing licensed PTs in local outpatient clinics, hospitals, or rehabilitation facilities that serve our community or through mission trips, service projects, or local ministries supporting people with disabilities or mobility challenges.
Build a portfolio of knowledge, certifications, connections, and experiences to help you succeed at the graduate level and beyond.

Why study Pre-Physical Therapy at Houghton?

Personalized Care

Receive individualized, supportive academic advising, spiritual encouragement, and career coaching from professors who know you and pray for you by name. Professors care about your academic success as well as your spiritual, emotional, and professional growth.

Hands-on Learning

As a pre-physical therapy student, you'll build your clinical and scientific skills through weekly lab sessions for every class in the major. You can work in the field through off-campus study, practicums, internships, shadowing, and have collaborative research with faculty (e.g., Shannon Summer Research Institute, Cornell University and the Sierra Nevada mountains of California)

Plan Ahead for Your Postgraduate Studies

Houghton University has collaborative agreements with D'Youville University and Messiah University for a select group of students to gain entry to Doctorate and Master programs upon graduation from Houghton.

Learn more about these partnerships

Field Experience Requirements

EXS 352 – Pre-Physical Therapy Field Experience I

Mastery of competencies in injury prevention, recognition and assessment; taping and bracing techniques; understanding of the lower extremity; and medical documentation.

Requires 25 hours of observation in each of three settings:

Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Geriatrics

Additional 25 hours assisting with rehabilitation in the Houghton University training room.

EXS 353 – Pre-Physical Therapy Field Experience II

Mastery of competencies in injury prevention, recognition and assessment; taping and bracing techniques; understanding of the back and upper extremity; and developing rehabilitation programs.

Requires 25 hours of observation in each of three settings:

Orthopedics
Cardiac
Neural rehabilitation

Additional 25 hours assisting with rehabilitation in the Houghton University training room.

Popular Courses

BIOL 372 - Advanced Vertebrate Physiology

This course gives a detailed look at how the major organ systems work, especially in animals with backbones (vertebrates), and how their bodies adapt to exercise. It also connects these ideas to real-life medical uses and the basic science behind them, like biochemistry and how cells function and communicate.

EXS 275 - Injury Evaluation & Management

This course teaches basic ideas about how to prevent, check, and treat common injuries to the arms, legs, pelvis, and trunk. Students learn how the body’s structure and movement affect these injuries and practice skills like examining injuries, testing movement, and using techniques such as taping and bracing.

Certifications Available

Choose to be certified in multiple areas through recognized leaders in the industry. Many of the certifications are integrated into the coursework. Certifications may require additional training and certification exams.