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Pre-Physical Therapy & Pre-Occupational Therapy

Program Type: Undergraduate

Degree Awarded: Students typically obtain a B.S. in Biological Sciences (general biology track), but any track will work as long as entry requirements are met.


Are you passionate about science and how the human body works? Are you interested in a career that can make a difference by helping people get healthy and live better? Get a head start with an education at NKU’s College of Arts and Sciences. With low student-to-faculty ratios, highly-rated faculty, commitment to undergraduate research, and personalized faculty guidance, you will gain the education and experiences you need to succeed and make a difference in the health professional field.

Program Contacts

Lynn Crane
Academic Advising Specialist, Pre-PT/OT Advisor
Department of Biological Sciences
859-572-5306
cranel1@nku.edu

Hannah Leford
Academic Advisor, Pre-PT/OT Advisor
School of Kinesiology, Counseling & Rehabilitative Sciences
859-572-5572
ledfordh1@nku.edu

Students in the Spotlight

Erin Rowan

Erin Rowan

Graduating Year: 2012

Education: B.S. Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences minor

Career: Occupational Therapist

“The benefits of studying at NKU are the small class sizes, which allows the
opportunity to make personal connections with professors and other
students.  With small classes, you aren't just a number, you play an
intricate role in contributing to the collective.  NKU provides mentoring
opportunities, as well as educational programs, to help guide future
professional endeavors. I am now teaching at NKU in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program and I love returning to my alma mater.”


Erin obtained her Occupational Therapy Doctorate from Spalding University in Louisville. She is now a licensed provider in Ohio and Kentucky, where she has been practicing for the last 4 years. Her clinical experiences include outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation settings, skilled nursing, and acute care.

Find Your Passions & Build Your Future

  • Unique Partnerships with Shadowing Experience: Our unique partnership with NKU’s College of Health and Human Services allows NKU students to get a head start in their education. And students get access to shadowing opportunities with St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
  • Unparalleled Learning Opportunities: Students have the profoundly impactful opportunity to learn about the complexity of the human body in our cadaver lab, applying anatomy and physiology concepts they have previously learned in class in a lasting way.
  • Numerous Financial Aid Opportunities:NKU students are eligible for numerous merit- and needs-based scholarships. Scholarships are also available for students pursuing STEM majors, like the Greaves Scholarship, which covers full in-state tuition and books.
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Experience NKU

Our campus is more than classrooms. It’s a hive of activity and connections that instantly feel familiar. Come walk it, take it in, check it out.

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Financial Aid

A variety of financial assistance is available, from grants to scholarships, loans to veteran benefits.