Admissions and Application Requirements

The hybrid pathway of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program from University of Southern California equips students to excel as leaders in the profession of physical therapy.

We look for applicants who are personally and academically prepared to meet the demands of an intensive, full-time graduate physical therapy program.

See below for more information on the application process and requirements.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you can receive an admissions decision and begin planning your future. The USC DPT Program Hybrid Pathway offers one start date in May of each year.

Early Action Deadline	Priority Submit Deadline 1	Priority Submit Deadline 2	Final Submit Deadline
October 10, 2025	December 12, 2025	February 6, 2026	March 20, 2026

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Admissions Criteria

To be eligible for admission into the USC DPT Program Hybrid Pathway, you must meet the following requirements:

Traditional track:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the date of enrollment
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum science GPA of 3.0
Complete courses in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology and Statistics and Mathematics
- Applicants must have completed each course with a grade of a “C” or higher
- To ensure a strong academic foundation, all prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade—courses completed on a “pass/no pass” basis will not be accepted. Additionally, AP credits cannot be used to satisfy prerequisite requirements.
- All prerequisite courses must be designed for science or pre-health majors. Please note that “survey-style” or introductory overview courses do not meet the prerequisite criteria.

Application Requirements

The University of Southern California reviews applications holistically. No GRE scores are required to apply. You will need to submit the following materials to be considered for admission to the hybrid USC DPT program:

Complete the online application. The application fee is $90.
You will need to submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions you have attended. You may upload unofficial transcripts to the online application for the purposes of application review, but official transcripts are required upon admission.

To submit unofficial transcripts, request them directly from the school(s), and then upload them to your application.

If admitted to the program, you will need to provide official transcripts before you can register for your second term of the program. These can be emailed to appsvcs@dpt.usc.edu. If you need to mail any application items, use the following address:

University of Southern California

Application Processing Center
1551 Emancipation Hwy, Unit 1321
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.
Please submit an essay detailing responses to all of the following prompts:
- What unique traits will you bring to the physical therapy profession that will help you be successful?
- Physical therapy is an inherently service-oriented profession. Describe in detail how an experience in service or leadership has impacted your perspective on the world.
- Describe why you feel the hybrid online/on-campus model of Doctor of Physical Therapy education at USC would create an environment where you can successfully complete the rigorous DPT degree. Include any learning styles, individual preferences, or personal experiences that might support your success in completing the program through the hybrid pathway.
Three letters of recommendation are required. Choose recommenders who can speak to your academic or professional readiness to successfully complete a rigorous graduate program. These recommenders must be:
- A third person who is another academic reference, another physical therapist supervisor, or can otherwise speak to your academic, professional, or personal qualities
- A professor or academic reference who has taught you in at least one class
- A physical therapist who has supervised you directly
While not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete at least 150 hours of clinical experience in a physical therapy setting. The Admissions Committee believes that exposure to a variety of clinical environments helps applicants make more informed decisions about pursuing a career in physical therapy.

We also recognize that valuable insight can come from supporting friends or family members who have undergone physical therapy. Applicants are encouraged to share these types of experiences in their responses to the essay prompts and through their resume.

If choosing to gain direct experience in a clinical setting, please note that the Admissions Committee does not differentiate between volunteer hours and paid work as a physical therapy aide.