Physical Therapist Assistant

4½ Semesters

Coordinator and Instructor: Jernigan
Instructor:  Lippiello

Faculty Information   
Curriculum for this Program   
Courses   

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

This program will provide students with the skills and knowledge to:

1. Be a part of the health care team that plans and implements a patient care program.

2. Under the supervision of a physical therapist, they will carry out a treatment program that might include exercises for increasing strength, endurance, coordination and range of motion; the use of heat, cold, electricity, sound or water to relieve pain and stimulate muscle activity; instruction in safe physical activities and the use of devices such as walkers, crutches and wheelchairs.

The graduate might also assist the therapist in performing tests and assessments, as well as observing and reporting patient responses to treatment.

For a Program Information Packet, use this link, which leads to descriptions of each program in general, course descriptions, lists of course sequences, and the cost of books, tools, uniforms, fees, and other expenses.  The URL is  http://www.isu.edu/ctech/programs.shtml  

This program requires students to achieve certain grades in order to advance each semester. Specific information is available in the program's student handbook.

 

Associate of Applied Science Degree -- Physical Therapist Assistant

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.

See A.A.S. Degree General Education Requirements linked here (minimum 15 credits)

Required Courses:

HO 0106 	Medical Terminology 			2 cr 
HO 0107 	Medical Law and Ethics 			3 cr 
HO 0111 	Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology	4 cr
           OR
BIOL 3301, 3302	Anatomy and Physiology 			8 cr
HO 0208		Introduction to Pathology 		3 cr
 OR
BIOL 3305 	Introduction to Pathobiology 		3 cr
PTA 0104 	Introduction to Kinesiology 		2 cr
PTA 0105 	Introduction to Physical Therapy 	1 cr
PTA 0106 	Applied Kinesiology 			4 cr
PTA 0107 	Procedures I 				5 cr
PTA 0201 	Procedures II 				5 cr
PTA 0202 	Physical Therapy Assessment 		4 cr
PTA 0203 	Therapeutic Exercise 			5 cr
PTA 0204 	Seminar 				3 cr
PTA 0213 	Clinical Affiliation I 			7 cr 
PTA 0214 	Clinical Affiliation II 		7 cr 
BIOL 1101,1101L	Biology I, and Lab			4 cr
(satisfies a General Education Requirement)
ENGL 1101	English Composition			3 cr
(contributes to AAS English/Communication Requirement)
ENGL 1102	Critical Reading and Writing		3 cr
(satisfies a General Education Requirement)
PSYC 1101	Introduction to General	Psychology	3 cr
(satisfies a General Education Requirement)

					  TOTAL: 71 or 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.

PTA 0104 Introduction to Kinesiology 2 credits. Fundamental principles of anatomical terminology, osteology, arthrology. Basic observation and palpation skills required. Equivalent to MSTH 0104.  PREREQ: Admission to the MSTH or PTA program. F

PTA 0105 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 0104 or permission of instructor. F

PTA 0106 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 0104, PTA 0105, BIOL 1101, BIOL 1101L, BIOL 3301, and BIOL 3301L. S

PTA 0107 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, transfer training, ROM, ultrasound, wheelchair, and wound management. PREREQ: Second year student in good standing, and PTA 0104 and PTA 0105. S

PTA 0201 Procedures II 5 credits. A continuation of PTA 0107, 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: Second-year student in good standing, and PTA 0104, PTA 0105, PTA 0106, PTA 0107, and PTA 0213. F

PTA 0202 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: Second-year student in good standing, and PTA 0104, PTA 0105, PTA 0106, PTA 0107, and PTA 0213. F

PTA 0203 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: Second year student in good standing, and PTA 0104, PTA 0105, PTA 0106, PTA 0107, PTA 0201, and PTA 0202. S

PTA 0204 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: Second year student in good standing, and PTA 0104, PTA 0105, PTA 0106, PTA 0107, PTA 0201, and PTA 0202. S

PTA 0213 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, and PTA 0104, PTA 0105, PTA 0106, and PTA 0107. Su

PTA 0214 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 0201, PTA 0202, PTA 0203, PTA 0204, and PTA 0213. S

PTA 0296 Independent Study 1-8 credits. Addresses specific learning needs of individuals for the enhancement of knowledge and skills within the program area under the guidance of an instructor.  May be repeated.  Graded S/U, or may be letter-graded.  PREREQ: Permission of the instructor.  D

PTA 0298 Special Topics 1-8 credits. Addresses the specific needs of industry, enabling students to upgrade technical skills that are not included in the current program curriculum.  May be repeated.  Graded S/U, or may be letter-graded.  PREREQ: Permission of instructor. D

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: March 2011