Physical Therapist Assistant

4½ Semester Program

Coordinator: Shaw

Instructors: Nelson, Jernigan

An Associate of Applied Science degree, a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree are available.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). 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:

PTA 104        Introduction to Kinesiology            2 cr
PTA 105        Introduction to Physical Therapy       1 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 213        Clinical Affiliation I                 7 cr 
PTA 214        Clinical Affiliation II                7 cr 
HO 106         Medical Terminology                    2 cr 
HO 107         Medical Law and Ethics                 3 cr 
HO 111         Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology 4 cr
           OR
BIOS 301/302   Anatomy and Physiology                 8 cr

General Education Requirements:

Goal 1                                                6 cr
Goal 3                                                3 cr 
BIOL 100        Concepts Biology:  Human Concerns     4 cr  
          OR
BIOL 101/101L   Biology I and Lab                     4 cr
PSYC 101        Introduction to General Psychology    3 cr
                                           TOTAL: 71-75 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.

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.

HO 111 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology 4 credits. An introductory study of the normal structure and function of body cells, tissues, organs, and systems. F, S

PTA 104 Introduction to Kinesiology 2 credits. Fundamental principles of anatomical terminology, osteology, anthropology. Basic observation and palpation skills required. PREREQ; Admission to the PTA program. F

PTA 105 Introduction to Physical Therapy 1 credit. 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 104 or permission of instructor. F

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 104, 105, BIOL 202, 301. S

PTA 107 Procedures I 5 credits. Procedures related to physical therapy treatment, including, universal precautions, principles of physics, anatomy, kinesiology, thermal agents, ultrasound, vital signs 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 104 & 105. S

PTA 199 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.

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 104, 105, 106, 107 & 214. F

PTA 201 Procedures II 5 credits. A continuation of PTA 107, Procedures I, including electrical stimulation theory and techniques for applying variations of electrical current, biofeedback, and other modalities. Students will also learn therapeutic management of prosthetics and orthotics. PREREQ: *Must be a second-year student in good standing. PTA 104, 105, 106, 107, & 214. F

PTA 202 Physical Therapy Assessment 4 credits. Observation skills, tests and measurements in physical therapy including manual muscle testing, goniometry, vital signs, gait, pain, posture and functional assessment as related to patient progress. PREREQ: *Must be a second-year student in good standing. PTA 104, 105, 106, 107, and 214. F

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 104, 105, 106, 107, 200, 201, 202, & 214. S

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 104, 105 106, 107, 200, 201, 202, & 214. S

PTA 213 Clinical Affiliation I 7 credits.Clinical instructor supervised, eight-week clinical experience starting in the summer (May) after the first year. Experience will focus on initiating and developing beginning Physical Therapist Assistant skills in the treatment setting. PREREQ: SECOND YEAR STUDENT IN GOOD STANDING; PTA 104, 105, 106, 107. Su

PTA 214 Clinical Affiliation II 7 credits.Clinical instructor supervised, eight-week clinical experience starting in March of the second year. Experience will focus on performing Physical Therapist Assistant skills at a professional level in preparation for entering the workforce. PREREQ: SECOND YEAR STUDENT IN GOOD STANDING; PTA 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 213. S

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: May 2002