Coordinator: West

Instructor: Spradlin

An Associate of Applied Science degree requiring 78 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 201	Critical Reading & Writing	3 cr
HO 106	Medical Terminology	3 cr
HO 107	Medical Law & Ethics	3 cr
MATH 107	Algebra	3 cr
PSYCH 101	Introduction to Psychology	3 cr
PTA 100	Technical General Ed	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

 

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 3 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 106, PTA 107.

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, PTA 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 108, PTA 200, PTA 202, PTA 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, cariopulmonary rehab, and exercise equipment. PREREQ: *Must be second year student in good standing. PTA 106, PTA 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, PTA 201, PTA 202, and PTA 210.

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, PTA 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 108, 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, PTA 204, PTA 210, PTA 211.

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.

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY