General Requirements
| Requirement | Policy |
|---|---|
| Minimum grade | C or better |
| Pass/Fail courses | Not accepted |
| Credit minimum | 3 semester / 5 quarter credits per course |
| Anatomy & Physiology currency | Must be completed within 5 years of application |
| Laboratory courses | Not required (recommended) |
| AP/IB credit | Accepted if approved by the undergraduate institution |
| Online or community college courses | Accepted if the institution is accredited |
Required Coursework Summary
| Area of Study | Credits (Sem/Qtr) | Course Type | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy | 3 / 5 | Human or Vertebrate Anatomy | Musculoskeletal focus recommended; evolutionary/comparative anatomy not accepted |
| Physiology | 3 / 5 | Human or Vertebrate Physiology | Sequential A&P or standalone courses accepted |
| Biological Science | 6 / 9 | General or Upper‑Level Biology | Two biology courses required |
| Chemistry | 6 / 9 | General or Upper‑Level Chemistry | Must be taken within the Chemistry Department |
| Physics | 6 / 9 | General Physics | Physics I & II; biomechanics may replace Physics II |
| Statistics | 3 / 5 | Statistics | Calculus or non‑calculus courses accepted |
| Psychology | 6 / 9 | General or Upper‑Level Psychology | A total of two psychology courses is required |
Acceptable Course Details
| Subject | Acceptable Courses | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy | Human or Vertebrate Anatomy | Cadaver‑based courses recommended |
| Physiology | Human or Vertebrate Physiology | Exercise physiology cannot double‑count |
| Biology | General or Upper‑Level Biology | Must be taken in a Biology Department (except exercise physiology) |
| Chemistry | General, Organic, Inorganic, or Biochemistry | Chemistry Department required |
| Physics | General Physics I & II | Topics include mechanics, heat, light, electricity, and sound |
| Statistics | Biostatistics, research methods, quantitative analysis, etc. | Accepted across multiple disciplines |
| Psychology | General, abnormal, developmental, biological, social, and sports | Sports psychology accepted |
Fulfillment Options
| Requirement | Acceptable Combinations |
|---|---|
| Biology | Two general courses OR two upper‑level courses OR one general and one upper‑level |
| Chemistry | Two general courses OR two upper‑level courses OR one general and one upper‑level |
| Psychology | Two general courses OR two upper‑level courses OR one general and one upper‑level |
Accreditation Requirement
Online and community college coursework must be completed at an institution accredited by one of the following agencies:
MSCHE • HLC • NEASC • NECHE • NWCCU • SACS • WASC • ATS
Quarter System Note
Applicants attending quarter‑system institutions must meet equivalent credit‑hour requirements (for example, BIO I/II/III instead of BIO I/II).
Duke DPT Prerequisite Worksheet
Use this worksheet to track completion of Duke DPT prerequisite coursework. Refer to the Duke DPT Prerequisite Overview for credit-hour and eligibility requirements.
| Requirement | Institution / Location | Course Name | Term | Credit Hrs | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy (Example) | Meredith College, Raleigh, NC | BIO 112: Human Anatomy | Summer 2022 within 5 years of application |
3 / Sem | B+ |
| Anatomy | within 5 years of application | ||||
| Physiology | within 5 years of application | ||||
| Biology #1 | |||||
| Biology #2 | |||||
| Chemistry #1 | |||||
| Chemistry #2 | |||||
| Physics #1 | |||||
| Physics #2 | |||||
| Psychology #1 | |||||
| Psychology #2 | |||||
| Statistics |
Note: Quarter‑system institutions must meet equivalent credit‑hour requirements.