Biological Sciences - Prephysical Therapy (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ohio University

Program Overview

The Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy, B.S. at Ohio University gives students a strong foundation in the life sciences while completing the prerequisite preparation needed for Ohio University's DPT program and most other physical therapy schools. It is a strong fit for students planning a career in physical therapy or other health professions, with study spanning genetics, cell biology, immunology, human physiology, neuroscience and related biological sciences.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students begin by developing their foundation in biological sciences and supporting subjects, with introductory coursework such as BIOS 1700 and BIOS 1705 providing the essential preparation needed to progress into the Biological Sciences major. Chemistry, mathematics and other foundational courses complement the biology curriculum and establish the scientific base needed for later health-science study.

Year 2:

Students progress into more advanced biological and health-science concepts while completing coursework aligned with physical therapy prerequisites. The curriculum develops understanding across areas such as genetics, animal cell biology and human physiology, helping students build the scientific knowledge expected for professional healthcare study.

Year 3:

Upper-level study expands into specialized areas including immunology, neuroscience and human physiology, while students continue completing the prerequisite coursework required for their intended DPT pathway. Students can also use academic advising to ensure their course choices meet the specific requirements of their target physical therapy schools.

Year 4:

The final year focuses on completing the bachelor's degree and preparing for graduate-level professional study. Students are encouraged to apply to physical therapy graduate programs during their senior year, while Ohio University's Pre-Health Advising Center supports preparation for professional health careers and the university's Physical Therapy Early Assurance Program can provide a pathway to conditional admission to the DPT program for eligible students.

Focus Areas:

Biological sciences, genetics, animal cell biology, immunology, human physiology, neuroscience, life sciences, physical therapy prerequisites, health sciences, pre-professional preparation and allied health careers.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop a strong life-science foundation, complete prerequisite preparation for physical therapy and other health-profession programs, develop laboratory and field experience, and build the academic preparation required for competitive graduate-level professional study.

Professional Alignment:

This is a pre-professional bachelor's pathway rather than a professional physical therapy degree. Ohio University states that physical therapy programs are offered at the graduate level and that students normally complete bachelor's-level prerequisite coursework before applying to a professional physical therapy program. At OHIO, the Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy major is one of the most direct undergraduate routes into the university's three-year entry-level DPT program.

Reputation & Employability:

Ohio University is an R1 research university and is currently designated by Carnegie as an Opportunity University; OHIO reports that it is one of only five R1 universities nationwide with the “Professions-Focused” and “Opportunity University” distinctions. The university also reports a 79.2% one-year post-graduation employment rate for bachelor's-degree graduates based on the 2019–2021 cohort, although this figure covers all bachelor's programs rather than this specific major.

Ohio University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program was ranked No. 48 nationally and No. 2 in Ohio in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings, providing an additional pathway for students who continue into physical therapy at OHIO.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy, B.S. at Ohio University gives students opportunities to build practical skills through laboratory courses, biological research, fieldwork and clinical observation. The program specifically highlights laboratory and field experience in areas such as neuroscience, microbiology, genetics and pathogens, while students preparing for physical therapy can also gain observation or volunteer experience through Ohio University Therapy Associates.

Students can strengthen their practical and research experience through the following opportunities:

Undergraduate research: Students can enroll in BIOS 4940 Undergraduate Research for academic credit when they have completed the required BIOS coursework and meet the GPA requirement. Eligible students can also develop their research into a BIOS 4941 Senior Research and Thesis, including presenting their work as a poster or talk.
Research immersion: The Undergraduate Research Immersion Program (UGRIP) provides a structured research experience through seminars and formal research courses, with opportunities to become involved in scientific inquiry during the undergraduate years.
Physical therapy observation: Students preparing for DPT programs can gain clinical exposure through observation or volunteering. Ohio University notes that some volunteer experience is available through Ohio University Therapy Associates, while its DPT pathway requires applicants to report observation or volunteer experience.
Biological research laboratories: Students may access research opportunities in areas including neuroscience, microbiology, genetics, pathogens and ecology, depending on faculty research opportunities.
Life Sciences Research Facility: The facility supports biological and biomedical research and includes an electron microscopy suite, histology laboratories, comparative biomechanics lab, biosafety level 2 laboratories, microscopy capabilities and facilities for biochemistry and molecular biology research.
Advanced research equipment: Biological Sciences facilities include laser-scanning confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, microCT, mass spectrophotometry, exercise and metabolic physiology facilities, a hybridoma facility and advanced computing resources.
Field experience: Biology students can participate in field-based research as well as laboratory research. Ohio University specifically describes opportunities where a faculty member's “lab” may be a forest or stream, providing practical field experience alongside traditional laboratory work.
Internships: Biological Sciences students can undertake internships in a faculty member's laboratory, field research site, company or park. The university highlights summer internship experiences in areas including marine science and ecosystem surveys.
Libraries and research resources: Alden Library provides access to approximately 1.1 million volumes and more than 1,000 biological and biomedical journals, along with research support, technology, study spaces and access to additional collections through OhioLINK.
Research institutes and centers: Students can encounter research environments connected with the Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies (OCEES), Quantitative Biology Institute, Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute and other biological-science research programs.
Specific software/digital tools: Ohio University identifies advanced computing facilities and bioinformatics resources within its biological sciences research environment, but the Pre-Physical Therapy major page does not specify a particular required commercial software package.
Group projects: The official Pre-Physical Therapy and Biological Sciences pages do not identify a specific required group-project component, so none is listed here.
Field trips: The university documents field-based research opportunities, but does not identify a specific mandatory field-trip component for the Pre-Physical Therapy major.

Facilities & Resources: Students in the Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy pathway can draw on Ohio University's Life Sciences Research Facility, Biological Sciences research laboratories, exercise and metabolic physiology facilities, microscopy and imaging facilities, comparative biomechanics resources, Alden Library, OhioLINK resources and faculty research laboratories. These resources are particularly valuable for students who want to strengthen their scientific background before progressing to a DPT or another health-profession program.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy, B.S. at Ohio University is primarily designed to prepare students for graduate-level physical therapy education, while also providing a foundation that can support careers in healthcare, research and biological sciences. Ohio University specifically identifies recent Pre-PT graduates progressing to institutions such as Ohio University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Marshall University and Cleveland State, as well as roles connected with sports medicine and healthcare.

Typical career directions include: Physical Therapist (after completing a professional DPT), Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy Assistant, Sports Medicine Professional, Clinical Research Assistant.

Students can build their career and academic progression through these opportunities:

Career and professional-school support: Ohio University's Pre-Health Advising Center provides individualized advising, professional-school preparation, applicant workshops, standardized-test preparation, personal-statement guidance, interview tips and mock interviews.
Career services: Arts & Sciences students can access individualized career coaching through Career Services, while Handshake provides access to internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities.
Physical Therapy Early Assurance: Eligible incoming students can apply for OHIO's Physical Therapy Early Assurance Program, which provides conditional admission to the DPT program, specialized advising, mentorship from current physical therapy students, waived DPT application fees and service-learning opportunities.
Graduate outcomes: Ohio University lists recent Pre-PT graduates progressing to Ohio University, Ohio State University, University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati, Marshall University and Cleveland State, as well as students working in sports medicine and at Nationwide and Cincinnati Children's hospitals.
Employment and salary data: Ohio University provides an OHIO Outcomes Dashboard that reports employment rates, average annual wages and further-education outcomes by degree level, college, field and major. The university does not publish a specific salary figure for the Biological Sciences – Pre-Physical Therapy major on its program page, so a program-specific salary should not be assumed.
Healthcare connections: The Biological Sciences and Psychology departments work cooperatively with OHIO's School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences, creating an academic connection between the pre-professional pathway and physical therapy education.
Professional preparation: The bachelor's degree itself is a pre-professional pathway, not a professional physical therapy qualification. Students must complete an accredited professional physical therapy program, such as a DPT, before entering practice as physical therapists.
Graduation and further-study outcomes: Ohio University's broader outcomes system tracks employment, further education and licensure outcomes, while the Pre-PT pathway is structured to complete the prerequisite coursework needed for competitive admission to professional physical therapy programs.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., the most direct progression is into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. At Ohio University, eligible Pre-Physical Therapy students can use the Early Assurance pathway toward the DPT, while other students can apply competitively to OHIO or other accredited physical therapy programs after completing their bachelor's-level prerequisites. Students interested in other areas of biological science can also pursue Ohio University's M.S. or Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, with areas including Cell, Developmental and Microbiology; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; and Physiology and Neuroscience.