Best Undergraduate Major for Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Do you want to help people move better and manage 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 several 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 lets you complete prerequisite courses and gain the skills you need 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.

Does Your Major Actually Matter?

If you are wondering what is the best major for physical therapy, here’s the good news: your undergraduate major is typically less important than completing the required prerequisite courses for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs.

Most DPT programs accept students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, as long as they’ve completed courses in subjects such as biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics and psychology. While majors such as kinesiology or exercise science naturally include many of these prerequisites, students who major in biology, health sciences or even unrelated fields can still be competitive applicants with careful planning of coursework.

The best major for physical therapy is ultimately the one that helps you excel academically, complete your prerequisite coursework and prepare you for the demands of graduate-level study. Below are five of the most popular and effective majors for aspiring physical therapists.

1. Kinesiology

While biology explores the general science of life, kinesiology centers 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

Physical Therapy - Excersize Science

2. Exercise Science

Among the best majors for physical therapy, exercise science builds on the principles of kinesiology with a more specialized focus on how the body responds and adapts to physical activity, training and rehabilitation. Rather than treating all human movements, exercise scientists focus specifically on intentional movement—in other words, exercise.³

Because activity-related injuries are a common reason people see physical therapists, exercise science is an ideal physical therapy major if you are 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 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.

Pursuing this physical therapy 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
Medical terminology
Genetics

Because this physical therapy 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 Because of their strong overlap, these two disciplines complement each other well and provide a solid foundation for a future career in physical therapy.

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.

Physical Therapy Career Outlook

Pursuing a DPT can lead to a rewarding career with strong earning potential and job stability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for physical therapists is $101,020, and employment is projected to grow 11% between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.⁸^†

The BLS also projects about 13,200 job openings for PTs each year over the decade, driven by growing demand for rehabilitation services and an aging population.⁸

These strong employment trends make physical therapy an attractive career path for students considering majors for physical therapy before pursuing a DPT program.

Want to know more about our PT programs?

Program Information Request Information

Learn About Our DPT Program

DPT Prerequisites: What You Need Regardless of Your Major

While choosing a strong undergraduate major can help prepare you for graduate study, your major alone won’t determine whether you are eligible for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Most accredited DPT programs accept applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, provided they complete the required prerequisite coursework.

Because prerequisite requirements vary by school, it’s important to review the admission requirements for each DPT program you are considering early in your undergraduate career. Planning ahead allows you to use elective courses to satisfy any missing prerequisites without delaying your application. 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

Students can successfully apply to DPT programs with majors ranging from kinesiology and exercise science to biology, psychology or other fields. The key is completing the prerequisite courses while maintaining a strong GPA and gaining relevant healthcare or observation experience. Majors that naturally include many of these science requirements may make planning easier, but with thoughtful course selection, almost any bachelor’s degree can lead to a successful application.

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 policymaking. Residential (On-Campus Weekday Classes and Labs + Some Online Coursework), Hybrid Immersion (Online Coursework, Live Virtual Weekday Sessions + 2 On-Campus Lab Immersions Per Term*) and Flex (Online Coursework, Live Virtual Evening/Weekend Sessions + On-Campus Labs on Select Weekends) formats are available.

^*Each of the first four trimesters includes two on-campus immersive learning experiences, following an initial orientation held on campus before the program begins.

^†This data represents national figures, is not based on school-specific data and represents national median annual wages, not starting pay for recent grads. Conditions in your area may vary. USAHS does not guarantee salary levels.