07/21/2025
A new partnership between SUNY Cortland and SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse is creating an effective way to speed up the path to a career in physical therapy.
The 3+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will let applicants earn an undergraduate degree in exercise science from SUNY Cortland and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in under six years of study. A normal process would require seven.
“Our hope is that this program will continue to attract students to SUNY Cortland and Upstate and ease their transition from their B.S. in exercise science into their DPT program,” said Bry Bellovary, associate professor and chair of the Kinesiology Department. “This will help support SUNY Cortland’s status as top location for students seeking physical therapy careers.”
College Factual’s 2025 list ranked SUNY Cortland in the top 3% nationally — and the top SUNY school — for undergraduates majoring in health, physical education, fitness and recreation majors.
The exercise science program is already a big draw for students interested in physical therapy careers and the new pathway will add something to the Kinesiology Department that’s been in high demand, according to Bellovary.
A 3+2 program in Applied Kinesiology and Athletic Training is also offered through the department, but the 3+3 Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is its first to partner with another school.
Physical therapy is a field that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to grow 15% from 2022 to 2032.
“The most common question, especially at Open House events, from incoming students and their families is if SUNY Cortland has any partnership with DPT programs,” Bellovary said.
Inaugural students in the program begin this fall semester. Future participants will need to apply to both SUNY Cortland and Upstate by Feb. 1 each year. Only high school students can apply.
The idea for the partnership came out of the university’s Pre-Health Advisory Committee, according to Bellovary. SUNY Upstate Medical University had similar partnerships with other SUNY schools. With only a 30-mile distance between the two universities, the 3+3 program was seen as an effective way to better serve students.
“Students in a 3+3 program benefit in two key ways: affordability and having a guaranteed pathway to a DPT program,” said Derek Sexton, graduate admissions coordinator for the College of Health Professions at Upstate. “Students in the program attend their undergraduate institution for three years instead of four, saving them an entire year’s worth of tuition and other fees.”
Another advantage, according to Sexton, is that the process for acceptance into the 3+3 begins in high school, letting students who would normally apply for highly competitive DPT programs as rising college seniors get an early start.
To be enrolled in the program, candidates must be admitted by both SUNY Cortland and SUNY Upstate Medical University. High school seniors who meet the following criteria will be considered for an interview for the 3+3 DPT program at SUNY Upstate Medical University:
- Recommended minimum unweighted high school grade point average of 90% or higher.
- Four years of science and four years of math, with Regents, honors, AP or IB courses recommended.
- Eight hours of observational experience with a physical therapist through participation in a Health Explorers Post, New Visions Program, shadowing or volunteer work is required. Applicants need to be able to articulate what physical therapists do and show knowledge about the field of physical therapy.
Those interested can learn more about SUNY Cortland’s exercise science major and Upstate’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.