Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

PTA 101 -  Introduction to Physical Therapist Assistant  (2 Credits)  
2 lecture, 0 lab, 2 total contact hours  
Introduces students to Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) as a career. Defines the role of a PTA in the health care system. Provides students with opportunities to observe physical therapy evaluations and treatments for patients with various diagnoses. Introduces techniques for documentation and review of medical records. Discusses billing procedures and third-party payers. Reviews HIPAA, Patient Bill of Rights, APTA Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics. Prerequisite: PTA 111 with a grade of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 105 -  Orthopedics for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (4 Credits)  
2 lecture, 6 lab, 8 total contact hours  
Prepares students to address the needs of patients with orthopedic conditions and injuries in a clinical laboratory course. Introduces students to manual muscle testing, strengthening interventions, gait training and wheelchair mobility. Addresses interventions for compression wrapping and therapeutic taping. Examines the use of prosthetics and orthotics for rehabilitation intervention. Applies clinical problem-solving skills and develops ability to modify treatment techniques for optimal outcomes. Prerequisite: PTA 111 with a grade of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 111 -  Kinesiology for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (3 Credits)  
2 lecture, 2 lab, 4 total contact hours  
Applies biomechanical principles and analysis to human movement. Focuses on appendicular skeleton, upper extremity and lower extremity osteokinematics and arthrokinematics. Instructs in assessment of gait and gait deviations. Prerequisite: Admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
Typically offered: Summer  
PTA 115 -  Manual Techniques for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (2 Credits)  
0 lecture, 4 lab, 4 total contact hours  
Instructs in application and documentation of manual techniques for palpation, joint mobilization and stretching. Demonstrates techniques for correctly documenting manual techniques. Prerequisite: PTA 101, PTA 105, PTA 120 and PTA 140 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Spring  
PTA 120 -  Therapeutic Exercise for Physical Therapist Assistant I  (1 Credit)  
0 lecture, 3 lab, 3 total contact hours  
Examines the use of common therapeutic exercise and fitness techniques in the context of physical therapy practice and services. Instructs in therapeutic exercise to improve range of motion, flexibility, strength, and endurance. Focuses on exercise progression and regression for musculoskeletal conditions. Examines the effect of surgical intervention on exercise tolerance and progression. Prerequisite: PTA 111 with a grade of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 130 -  Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Experience I  (2 Credits)  
0 lecture, 6 lab, 6 total contact hours  
Provides students with a clinical experience, supervised directly by a licensed PT or PTA with focus on gaining hands-on treatment experience in a clinical environment in a pass/fail course. Addresses communication skills such as documentation and patient interview. Provides students with opportunity to develop clinical problem solving skills. This course is graded using a pass/fail grade mode. Prerequisite: PTA 115, PTA 160, PTA 201, PTA 205, and PTA 210 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Summer  
PTA 140 -  Intervention Fundamentals  (2 Credits)  
1 lecture, 2 lab, 3 total contact hours  
Introduces the student to the foundations and principles of interventions as they apply to physical therapy. Also addresses entry-level healthcare skills. Focuses on patient positioning and draping, transfers, standard precautions, levels of assistance, safety and body mechanics. Prerequisite: PTA 111 with a grade of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 160 -  Pathophysiology for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (2 Credits)  
2 lecture, 0 lab, 2 total contact hours  
Utilizes Clinical manifestations to study common disease processes and identify their implications when performing physical therapy intervention. Prerequisite: BIO 261, PTA 101, PTA 105, PTA 120 and PTA 140 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Spring  
PTA 201 -  Cardiopulmonary and Integumentary for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (4 Credits)  
2 lecture, 6 lab, 8 total contact hours  
Describes common cardiopulmonary diagnoses in a clinical laboratory class. Introduces students to principles of skilled intervention and progression of intervention. Focuses on advanced treatment techniques for aerobic capacity training, and airway clearance techniques. Provides instruction on safe functional training for activities of daily living and plyometric activities. Explains recognition of wounds of various etiologies. Present strategies for repositioning, pressure relief and edema management. Prerequisite: BIO 261, PTA 101, PTA 105, PTA 120 and PTA 140 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Spring  
PTA 205 -  Therapeutic Modalities  (2 Credits)  
1 lecture, 2 lab, 3 total contact hours  
Introduces therapeutic modalities as they are applied to patients in a clinical setting to alter physiologic processes and decrease pain. Focuses on indications, precautions, and contraindications for use of each modality. instructs students on safe techniques for application. Prerequisite: BIO 261, PTA 101, PTA 105, PTA 120 and PTA 140 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Spring  
PTA 208 -  Special Populations for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (1 Credit)  
1 lecture, 0 lab, 1 total contact hours  
Presents considerations for treating pediatric, bariatric and geriatric patients and those with multiple co-morbidities. Focuses on treatment strategies for each classification of patient. Introduces interventions for common congenital diseases, diabetes, amputations, and the aging process. Prerequisite: PTA 115, PTA 160, PTA 201, PTA 205, and PTA 210 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Summer  
PTA 210 -  Neurology for the Physical Therapist Assistant  (4 Credits)  
2 lecture, 6 lab, 8 total contact hours  
Introduces students to neurologic dysfunction and to provision of interventions including therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular re-education, developmental training, and postural awareness in a clinical laboratory course. Focuses on maintaining static and dynamic balance, correct body mechanics for therapist and patient during exercises and transitional movements. Applies clinical problem solving skills and develops ability to modify treatment techniques for optimal outcomes. Prerequisite: BIO 261, PTA 101, PTA 105, PTA 120, and PTA 140 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Spring  
PTA 215 -  Advanced Interventions  (2 Credits)  
1 lecture, 2 lab, 3 total contact hours  
Develops students' critical thinking skills to determine appropriate interventions for patients of all ages and complexities. Prerequisite: PTA 130 with a grade of P and PTA 208 and 220 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 220 -  Therapeutic Exercise for Physical Therapist Assistant II  (1 Credit)  
0 lecture, 2 lab, 2 total contact hours  
Examines the use of common advanced therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education interventions, and aerobic conditioning techniques in the context of physical therapy care and services. Instructs in therapeutic exercise for the cardiopulmonary and neurological patient as well as various special populations. Prerequisites: PTA 115, PTA 160, PTA 201, PTA 205 and PTA 210 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Summer  
PTA 225 -  Professional Seminar for Physical Therapist Assistants  (1 Credit)  
1 lecture, 0 lab, 1 total contact hours  
Continues to develop a student's understanding of Physical Therapist Assistant scope of practice and professional code of ethics. Prepares students to sit for the professional licensing exam upon graduation. Instructs students in preparation for job search. Prerequisite: PTA 130 with a grade of P and PTA 208 and PTA 220 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 230 -  Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Experience II  (4 Credits)  
0 lecture, 12 lab, 12 total contact hours  
Provides students with a clinical experience, supervised directly by a licensed PT or PTA with focus on implementing treatments and modifying interventions in a clinical environment in a pass/fail course. Addresses communication skills such as documentation and interacting with other disciplines in the health care team. Presents students with opportunity to develop clinical problem solving skills. Provides students with experiences to begin to transition from the PTA student to entry-level clinician. This course is graded using a pass/fail grade mode. Prerequisite: PTA 130 with a grade of P, and PTA 208 and PTA 220 with grades of C or better.
Typically offered: Fall  
PTA 235 -  Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Experience III  (7 Credits)  
0 lecture, 21 lab, 21 total contact hours  
Provides students with experiences to transition from PTA student to entry-level clinician at the culmination of the course, while being supervised directly by a licensed PT or PTA with focus on independently implementing treatments and modifying interventions in a clinical environment in a pass/fail course. Continues to address communication skills such as documentation and interacting with other disciplines in the health care team. Provides opportunity for students to demonstrate entry-level clinical problem solving skills. This course is graded using a pass/fail grade mode. Prerequisite: PTA 215 and PTA 225 with grades of C or better and PTA 230 with a grade of P.
Typically offered: Fall