BGSU-UT sign academic partnership

Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo may be rivals on the football field, but the two schools continue to be partners in the classroom.

BGSU and UT recently signed an early-decision agreement that allows up to three BGSU students annually to receive early acceptance into UT’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

The universities also updated and signed an early-decision agreement that began with the Medical College of Ohio, which allows qualified BGSU students to be accepted into UT’s Occupational Therapy program.

The early-decision agreements provide BGSU students access to these competitive graduate degree programs for growing careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is expected to grow 36 percent from 2012-22 and occupational therapists to grow 29 percent, both much faster than average for all occupations.

“We are happy to continue the collaborations between UT and BGSU, including our longstanding nursing program and our Master of Public Health,” said Dr. Marie T. Huff, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

A BGSU committee will screen applicants of the physical therapy program who have completed their junior year through an early-decision process. Qualified candidates then will be recommended to an admissions committee at UT which will accept the students provisionally into its physical therapy program.

The early-admission decision program for the occupational therapy program also helps BGSU students stay focused on earning their undergraduate degrees as they plan for a smooth transition to UT’s graduate program.

Students enrolled at BGSU may apply to UT’s OT program after completing 60 credit hours with the intention of matriculating into UT’s program in two years.

To take advantage of the transfer programs, students need to complete all admission requirements, including receiving a BGSU bachelor’s degree and maintaining GPA standards.

BGSU students are already participating in the early admissions occupational therapy program and the PT early decision begins for the 2016-17 admission cycle.

According to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service website, last year 40 BGSU students applied to DPT programs across the country and 60 percent matriculated into professional physical therapy programs. In comparison, BGSU had a higher percentage of students accepted into these programs than did peer schools Miami University (55 percent), Ohio University (55 percent), and the University of Cincinnati (45 percent). While the University of Toledo (60 percent) and University of Dayton (82 percent) had higher percentage of students accepted into DPT programs, these schools have a DPT program and also recruit/accept their own students.

For more information on either of these programs, please contact the College of Health and Human Services’ Advising Office at 419-372-8242.