Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001

Physical Therapist Assistant

4½ Semester Program

Coordinator: Beck

Instructor: Nelson, Shaw

An Associate of Applied Science degree requiring 93 credits as listed below, and a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree, are available. The Physical Therapist Assistant program is awaiting accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Provided the program is awarded Accreditation, Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national examination for registration/licensure for Physical Therapist Assistants.

Every course must be completed with a "C" or better. If a student receives a grade lower than a "C" they will be dismissed from the program. They will be offered the opportunity to petition for re-entry into the program for the following year, however, re-entry is not guaranteed and is up to the discretion of the program coordinator.

Required Courses:

BIOL 202     General Zoology                    3 cr
BIOS 301     Anatomy & Physiology               4 cr
BIOS 302     Anatomy & Physiology               4 cr
ENGL 101     English Composition                3 cr
ENGL 102     Critical Reading & Writing         3 cr
HO 106       Medical Terminology                2 cr
HO 107       Medical Law & Ethics               3 cr
MATH 107     Intermediate Algebra               3 cr
PSYCH 101    Introduction to Psychology         3 cr
PTA 100      Technical General Education     1-16 cr
PTA 105      Introduction to Physical Therapy   3 cr
PTA 106      Applied Kinesiology                4 cr
PTA 107      Procedures I                       5 cr
PTA 200      Clinical Pathology                 3 cr
PTA 201      Procedures II                      5 cr
PTA 202      Physical Therapy Assessment        4 cr
PTA 203      Therapeutic Exercise               5 cr
PTA 204      Seminar                            3 cr
PTA 210      Clinical Affiliation I             3 cr
PTA 211      Clinical Affiliation II            7 cr
PTA 212      Clinical Affiliation III           7 cr

Elective Courses:

BIOS 206     Cell Biology                       3 cr
BIOS 207     Cell Biology Lab                   1 cr
BIOS 221     Introduction to Microbiology       3 cr
BIOS 230     Bioethics                          3 cr
BIOS g303    Principles of Animal Physiology    4 cr
BIOS 305     Introduction to Pathobiology       3 cr
BIOS 306     Lab Exercises in Pathobiology      1 cr
BIOS g310    Invertebrate Zoology               4 cr
BIOS g314    Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy     4 cr
BIOS g324    Comparative Embryology
             and Human Development              4 cr
BIOS g332    Biochemistry                       3 cr
BIOS 341     Medical Microbiology               2 cr
BIOS 342     Basic Immunology                   2 cr
BIOS g351    Immunology                         3 cr
BIOS 353     Immunology Lab                     1 cr
BIOS g355    Pathogenic Microbiology            3 cr
BIOS 357     Pathogenic Microbiology Lab        2 cr
BIOS 358     Genetics                           3 cr
BIOS g400    Oral Histology and Embryology      3 cr
BIOS g419    Mammalian Histology                4 cr
BIOS g420    Musculo-skeletal Anatomy           2 cr
BIOS 423     Parasitology                       3 cr     
BIOS g430    Human Performance Physiology       4 cr
BIOS g440    Human Gross Anatomy                4 cr
BIOS g441    Mammalogy                          3 cr
BIOS g443    Endocrinology                      3 cr
BIOS g444    General Pathology                  4 cr
BIOS g445    Biochemistry                       3 cr
BIOS g447    Biochemistry II                    3 cr
BIOS g449    Human Physiology                   4 cr
BIOS g450    Head and Neck Anatomy              3 cr
BIOS g 454   Advanced Immunology                3 cr
BIOS g456    Human Physiology                   4 cr
BIOS g460    Neuroanatomy                       2 cr
BIOS g463    Human Pathophysiology              4 cr
CHEM 101     Essentials of Chemistry I          5 cr
CHEM 102     Essentials of Chemistry II         5 cr
CHEM 111     General Chemistry I                5 cr
CHEM 112     General Chemistry II               4 cr
CIS 101      Introduction to Computer Systems   3 cr
HCA 350      Organized Behavior in Health Care  3 cr
HCA g383     Epidemiology                       3 cr
HCA 384      Human Resource Management
             in Health Care Organizations       3 cr
MATH 143     College Algebra                    3 cr
MATH 144     Trigonometry                       2 cr
MATH 147     Precalculus                        5 cr
MATH 170     Calculus I                         4 cr
PHYS 111     General Physics I                  3 cr 
PHYS 112     General Physics II                 3 cr
PHYS 113     General Physics Lab                1 cr
PHYS 114     General Physics Lab                1 cr
PSYC 211     Personality and Adjustment         3 cr
PSYC 225     Child Psychology                   3 cr
PSYC 301     Abnormal Psychology I              3 cr

Courses

For course descriptions of the academic courses required by the Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S. degree, see the College of Arts and Sciences.

Technical General Education Elective

TGE 140 First Year Seminar 1 credit. This course provides an introduction to the nature of postsecondary education and a general orientation to the functions and resources at Idaho State University. This course is designed to help first-year and transfer students adjust to the University, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential survival skills. The course utilizes presenters from various campus support systems, collaborative learning activities, and written assignments which involve student resources and activities on campus. The course also provides a support group of students in a critical transition year by examining problems common to first-year experience. It covers University resources, learning strategies, study techniques, test anxiety, time management, test preparation, and problem solving.

HO 106 Medical Terminology 2 credits. Body systems approach to theory and application of medical terms including anatomical, pathological, surgical and diagnostic as well as appropriate abbreviations.

HO 107 Medical Law & Ethics 3 credits. Principles and application of law to health care organizations and personnel, standards of care and liability; covers tort, contract and statutory law.

PTA 100 Technical General Education 1-16 credits. The basic mathematical skills of fractions, decimals, percents, proportions are reviewed. Also, for technical fields, beginning algebra through the application of the quadratic equation is studied. An experiment-based science class that emphasizes development and application of equations and problem-solving techniques is taught. Communication skills, critical thinking and basic technical writing are stressed.

PTA 105 Introduction to Physical Therapy 3 credits. Roles and responsibilities of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will be explored, as well as, the history of physical therapy. Includes patient care, legal issues, principles of physical therapy treatment, education requirements, and functions of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Local physical therapy facilities visited. PREREQ: Admission to the PTA program.

PTA 106 Applied Kinesiology 4 credits. Studies the human anatomy with an emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, identification of structures and relationship to function, normal and abnormal biomechanical principles of joint motion and gait patterns. PREREQ: PTA 105, BIOL 202, BIOS 301.

PTA 107 Procedures I 5 credits. Procedures related to physical therapy treatment, including, universal precautions, principles of physics, anatomy, kinesiology, heat, cold, sound and their use in therapeutics. Also, transfer training, ROM, ultrasound, wheelchair, and wound management. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 105, & 106.

PTA 200 Clinical Pathology 3 credits. An overview of basic disease processes and classification with special emphasis on musculoskeletal and nervous system pathologies which are treated with physical therapy. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 106, & 107, BIOL 202, BIOS 301.

PTA 201 Procedures II 5 credits. A continuation of Procedures I, including electrical stimulation theory and techniques for applying variations of electrical current, biofeedback, traction, intermittent venous compression prosthetics and orthotics. PREREQ: PTA 107, 200, 202, & 210.

PTA 202 Physical Therapy Assessment 4 credits. Observation skills, tests and measurements in physical therapy including manual muscle testing, goniometry, balance, gait and posture assessment as related to patient progress. PREREQ: PTA 105, BIOL 202, BIOS 301.

PTA 203 Therapeutic Exercise 5 credits. Therapeutic exercise principles and practices related to patient treatment. Includes stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, other rehab techniques like NDT, Rood, Brunnstrum, cardiopulmonary rehab, and exercise equipment. PREREQ: *Must be second year student in good standing. PTA 106, & 107.

PTA 204 Seminar 3 credits. Current practices and issues in physical therapy. Includes clinical problem solving, ethics, legal aspects, reimbursement, case management, research, and employment issues. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 200, 201, 202, & 210. There are three clinical education classes which may require relocation outside of Pocatello for the period of the class. All housing, transportation, food and extraneous costs are the responsibility of the student.

PTA 210 Clinical Affiliation I 3 credits. Clinical instructor supervised, four-week clinical experience in the Fall of the second year. Experience will focus on Physical Therapy Aide Skills. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 106, & 107.

PTA 211 Clinical Affiliation II 7 credits. Clinical instructor supervised, eight-week clinical experience starting in February of the second year. Experience will focus on enhancing Physical Therapist Assistant skills in the treatment setting. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 107, PTA 200, PTA 202, PTA 210.

PTA 212 Clinical Affiliation III 7 credits. Clinical instructor supervised, eight-week clinical experience starting in late May of the second year. Experience will focus on performing Physical Therapist Assistant skills at a professional level in preparation for entering the workforce. PREREQ: *Must be a second year student in good standing. PTA 203, 204, 210, & 211.

PTA 299 Special Topics (variable) 1-8 credits. This course is designed to address the specific needs of individuals. It will enable the students to upgrade their technical skills through part-time enrollment in units of instruction that are currently available through the program's full-time pre-employment curriculum. Permission of the instructor is required.



IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY 
Academic Information 
Contact: webmaster@isu.edu 
Revised: February 2000