(pta) Physical Therapist Assistant Courses

Except as noted, enrollment in PTA courses is limited to students who have completed all basic skill requirements and who have received full acceptance into the program. PTA majors are required to earn a minimum grade of C+ in PTA courses.

Note: PTA 206 and 217 COURSES ARE INTERRUPTED for five weeks for a Clinical Education course as indicated within the semester. Class times have been adjusted accordingly.


(3 credits)  PTA 105 - Kinesiology
Prerequisite: BIO 103 with a minimum C grade completed within the past five years
Open to all students interested in physical therapy as a career or in the study of human movement; required for Physical Therapist Assistant majors. Introduces the concepts of locomotion, forces, levers, and biomechanics. Topics include origins, insertions, innervations, and actions of the prime movers of the musculoskeletal system. 3 lecture hours

course outline   current classes


(2 credits)  PTA 107 - Therapeutic Measurement
Prerequisites: BIO 104 with a minimum C+ grade completed within the past five years; PTA 105
Corequisite: PTA 222
Addresses bony landmarks, muscle length, measurement of joint range of motion and muscle strength. Medical documentation is introduced. Students develop their skills through practice with each other. Competencies evaluated throughout the course. 1 lecture / 2 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(3 credits)  PTA 112 - Pathology for PTAs
Prerequisites: BIO 104 with a minimum C+ grade completed within the past five years; PTA 105
Covers the essential nature of diseases, abnormalities of structure, and function characteristic of diseases. 3 lecture hours

course outline   current classes


(2 credits)  PTA 114 - Applied Kinesiology
Prerequisites: PTA 105, PTA 222
Learners apply kinesiology concepts to clinical scenarios and exercise design, analyze internal and external forces acting during various movement patterns, understand the biomechanics of common functional movements, and develop palpation skills. 1 lecture / 2 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(2 credits)  PTA 206 - Motor Development
Prerequisites: PTA 210, PTA 214
Corequisite: PTA 213
Introduces developmental milestones, lifespan motor development, motor control, motor learning, recovery of function, neuroplasticity, reflexes and reactions, adaptive equipment, and various treatment approaches for neurological impairments. 2 lecture hours

course outline   current classes


(4 credits)  PTA 210 - PTA Techniques
Prerequisites: PTA 105, PTA 107
Corequisite: PTA 211
Addresses patient care and handling, including patient positioning and bed mobility, vital signs, transfers and gait, aseptic techniques, wound care, pharmacology, edema management, wheelchair use, body mechanics, and cardiac and pulmonary interventions. Students develop their skills through practice with each other. Competencies evaluated throughout the course. 3 lecture / 2 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(3 credits)  PTA 214 - Physical Agents
Prerequisites: PTA 107; MAT 115 or MAT 140 or PTA program approved MAT equivalent with a minimum C+ grade
Study of biophysical agents and therapeutic modalities in physical therapy practice. Lab and lecture activities develop problem-solving and critical thinking in the use of electrical stimulation, therapeutic heat, cold, traction, and hydrotherapy for therapeutic interventions. Competencies evaluated throughout the course. 2 lecture / 2 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(4 credits)  PTA 217 - PTA Therapy Clinic
Prerequisites: PTA 210, PTA 214
Corequisite: PTA 205
Therapeutic interventions for conditions arising from cerebral vascular accidents, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputations, joint replacement, cardiac disease, and neurologic dysfunction. Emphasizes activities to promote optimal functional outcomes. Lab develops decision-making skills involving assistive devices, orthotics and prosthetics. Competencies evaluated throughout the course. 3 lecture / 3 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(4 credits)  PTA 222 - Clinical Orthopedics
Prerequisite: PTA 105
Corequisite: PTA 107
A study of orthopedic conditions and their underlying pathology. Emphasis on physical therapy interventions in the rehabilitation of specified conditions. Topics include special tests, stretching, strengthening, joint mobilization, massage, exercise parameters, and progression. Students develop skills through practice with each other using clinical scenarios to promote clinical decision-making. 3 lecture / 3 laboratory hours

course outline   current classes


(3 credits)  PTA 224 - PTA Clinical Education I
Prerequisites: PTA 210, PTA 211
Supervised full-time clinical instruction to observe the clinic environment and PT/PTA interactions; develop professional deportment and communication; refine measurement and time management skills; and learn about patient chart information. 40 hours per week for 4 weeks = 160 clinical hours

course outline   current classes


(3 credits)  PTA 227 - PTA Seminar
Prerequisite: PTA 105
Corequisite: PTA 107
Overview of the healthcare system and the specific roles of professionals in healthcare fields. Topics include medical terminology, psychosocial aspects of disability, medical documentation, professional growth and development, evidence-based practice, and communication skills. 3 lecture hours

course outline   current classes


(2 credits)  PTA 232 - PTA Professional Development
Prerequisite: PTA 227
Explores the professional association, ethics, fraud and abuse of physical therapy services and payment, research, quality assurance, career development, lifelong learning, how to present an in-service to colleagues, and preparation of a cover letter and resume. 2 lecture hours

course outline   current classes


(4 credits)  PTA 235 - PTA Clinical Education II
Prerequisites: PTA 213, PTA 224
Supervised full-time clinical experience allows students to apply and practice skills learned in other classes and learn to become an integral part of a physical therapy department. 40 hours per week for 5 weeks = 200 clinical hours

course outline   current classes


(5 credits)  PTA 240 - PTA Clinical Education III
Prerequisite: PTA 235
Supervised full-time clinical experience allows students to practice all of the techniques and procedures taught in the program, performing all that is normally expected of a physical therapist assistant. 40 hours per week for 6 weeks = 240 clinical hours

course outline   current classes