The 3+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is an early decision accelerated program that allows students from SUNY Brockport to complete both their undergraduate degree and their physical therapy doctoral degree in just six years — rather than the traditional seven — through a combined degree program with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
Physical Therapy is the wave of the future, with job growth increasingly rapidly. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, the DPT degree is considered the gold standard in physical therapy education and will drive the future of the profession. In many states physical therapists practice independently, without physician referral. Our program prepares students for this opportunity. SUNY Upstate graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as physical therapists throughout the United States.
About the Program
The 3+3 DPT program is a combined degree program between SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Brockport. Students complete their first three years of study at Brockport. The first year at Upstate Medical University then counts as both the fourth year of undergraduate and the first year of graduate study. After completing their first year at SUNY Upstate, students receive a bachelor’s degree from Brockport. Upon successful completion of the two more years of graduate work at Upstate, students are awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Students are able to choose from three approved majors while at SUNY Brockport:
Entry-level prerequisite college courses that students must complete at Brockport prior to starting at SUNY Upstate include:
| Course | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I and II or one semester each of Anatomy and Physiology | 8* |
| General Biology I, II | 8* |
| General Chemistry I and II | 8* |
| General Physics I and II ** | 8* |
| English (Composition recommended) | 3 |
| Psychology (Child or Developmental recommended) | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 |
| Statistics | 3 |
*All science courses must include labs.
*May substitute PES 335 for Biology II.
**Pre-calculus is a prerequisite for Physics.
CPR is required at the time of matriculation.
Admission to the Program
Admission to the 3+3 DPT program is highly competitive. To be considered for an interview with SUNY Upstate, applicants must have:
-
- An unweighted High School GPA of 90 or higher
- 4 years of science and math - Regents, Honors, AP, or IB courses recommended
- Observational experience with a Physical Therapist - 8 hours of shadowing is required
- Submitting SAT and/or ACT scores is optional. If submitted, recommended minimum scores are 1270 SAT or 26 ACT.
To apply, high school seniors must apply to the Early Admission Program at SUNY Upstate at the same time they apply to SUNY Brockport:
Applications for admission to SUNY Upstate may be downloaded from the Upstate website. The application deadline for the 3+3 DPT application for SUNY Upstate is February 1.
To apply for admission to SUNY Brockport, use the regular SUNY application.
Upon acceptance to both SUNY Upstate and SUNY Brockport, students will be guaranteed acceptance into the 3+3 Doctorate of Physical Therapy program provided they maintain performance criteria. Early Admission 3+3 students are NOT required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
SUNY Upstate encourages students considering the 3+3 DPT program to add themselves to their contact list to receive more information about the Physical Therapy program, admissions information and to be notified about events.
SUNY Brockport students not accepted into Upstate Medical University’s 3+3 program as a high school senior can apply to Upstate’s Early Assurance Program for College Sophomores or regular admission during their senior year of college.
For more information about Brockport’s 3+3 DPT Program:
Dr. Eileen Daniel
Associate Vice Provost
Division of Academic Affairs
SUNY Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420
(585) 395-5505
edaniel@brockport.edu