In order to provide the learning experiences necessary and desired to prepare graduates for practice, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program faculty aim to:
1. Hold state practice licensure, as well as membership in the professional organization(s).
2. Hold a master's-level degree or higher.
3. Maintain contemporary knowledge/practice expertise in assigned teaching areas.
4. Practice effective instructional methods relevant to course content, course design, and learning assessment methods.
5. Develop, implement, and evaluate the technical and clinical education components of the PTA curriculum.
6. Accept applicants into the PTA program who have adequately completed all eligibility requirements and who provide sufficient evidence on which to predict successful completion of the PTA program.
7. Use an approach to education in the PTA classroom that reflects an appreciation of the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ. 8. Engage in service for the school, the University, the profession, and/
or the community.
9. Model professional and personal behavior that is in harmony with Christ-like values in interactions with students, staff, colleagues, alumni, family, and the public.
Student learning outcomes
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to graduate physical therapist assistants with balanced intellectual development, social skills, competent practice, and spiritual connection.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic level of knowledge and skills appropriate for safe and effective practice as a physical therapist assistant and as a member of the health-care team.
2. Provide physical therapy interventions and services under the direction and supervision of licensed physical therapists in a variety of settings.
3. Exhibit ethical behavior consistent with legal and professional standards when interacting with instructors, classmates, patients/ clients and family members, and clinical personnel.
4. Demonstrate compassionate respect for differences encountered in interactions with individuals from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
5. Demonstrate consideration of the close interrelationship of physical, mental, and spiritual concerns when addressing the needs of patients/clients and others.
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 703/706-3245.
Admissions
Admission is based on a selective process. In addition to Loma Linda University (p. 24) and School of Allied Health Professions admissions requirements (p. 47), the applicant must also complete the following requirements:
• a minimum G.P.A. of 2.50 in the three basic science prerequisite courses and a minimum G.P.A. of 2.50 in the remaining non-science prerequisite courses
• must have completed the prerequisite courses at a regionally- accredited college or university. Note: Grades below C are not transferable for credit.
• a personal interview
• completion of a writing assessment and documentation of observation hours (below).
• Work/observation experience—Documentation is required for at least 20 hours of work or volunteer observation in an inpatient physical therapy setting and at least 20 hours in an outpatient physical therapy setting, plus additional work/observation hours in either an inpatient or an outpatient physical therapy setting for a minimum total of eighty hours.
Prerequisites
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to entering the program. An application for admission may be submitted while some course work is in progress if the student expects to complete the required course work before the program begins. Individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university need to complete only the courses denoted with an asterisk (*):
Four units of religion are required only if the applicant has attended a Seventh-day Adventist college or university
Humanities: Four units from one of the topics listed: history, literature, philosophy, foreign language, art/music appreciation/ history *Human anatomy and physiology, complete sequence with laboratory components (preferred); or general biology, complete sequence with laboratory components (accepted)
*Introductory physics with laboratory component, one quarter/semester *Two years high school math with grades C or above, or intermediate algebra in college
*General psychology
*Human growth and development or developmental psychology or abnormal psychology
English composition, complete sequence *Speech
Personal health/nutrition, or two physical education/activity courses If needed, elective courses may be taken to meet the minimum total requirements of 48 quarter units or 32 semester units
Program requirements
Sophomore
Summer Quarter 1 Units
PTAS 201 Anatomy 4
PTAS 205 Introduction to Physical Therapy 1
PTAS 206 Documentation Skills 1
PTAS 212 Physical Therapy Procedures 3
PTAS 231 Physical Therapy Modalities 3
PTAS 275 Psychosocial Aspects of Health 2
PTAS 265 Professional Seminar 0
RELE 456 Personal and Professional Ethics 2 Autumn Quarter
AHCJ 305 Infectious Disease and the Health-Care Provider 1
PTAS 203 Applied Kinesiology 3
PTAS 204 Applied Gait 1
PTAS 224 General Medicine 3
PTAS 225 Neurology 3
PTAS 227 Therapeutic Exercise 2
PTAS 236 Applied Electrotherapy 3
PTAS 265 Professional Seminar 0
Winter Quarter
PTAS 226 Orthopaedics I 3
PTAS 234 General Medicine II 1
PTAS 238 Wound Care 1
PTAS 243 Applied Geriatrics 3
PTAS 252 Applied Neurology 3
PTAS 264 Applied Orthotics and Prosthetics 2
PTAS 265 Professional Seminar 0
RELR 475 Art of Integrative Care 2
Spring Quarter
PTAS 241 Applied Pediatrics 2
PTAS 251 Orthopaedics II 3
PTAS 261 Physical Therapy Practice 1
PTAS 265 Professional Seminar 1
PTAS 293 Physical Therapist Assistant Affiliation I 6 Summer Quarter 2
PTAS 294 Physical Therapist Assistant Affiliation II 6 PTAS 295 Physical Therapist Assistant Affiliation III 6
Total Units: 72
A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required for all courses in the program.
Time to complete the program
1.33 years (academic quarters) at LLU. Full-time enrollment is typical; half-time enrollment (3.25 years) by permission only.
Physical Therapy — M.S.R.,
D.P.T. (Entry Level), D.P.T.
(Postprofessional), D.Sc.
Physical therapists are highly educated, licensed health-care professionals who provide services to patients/clients who have impairments, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status as a result of injury, disease, and other causes.
Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. They examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, physical therapists work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness- oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home-health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. State licensure is required in each state in which a physical therapist practices
Within the Department of Physical Therapy, in addition to the Associate in Science degree (PTA) found in the previous section of the Catalog, the program options include:
• postprofessional Master of Science in Rehabilitation • entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy
• postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy • postprofessional Doctor of Science
Professional association
Students and graduates are eligible for membership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The objective of the association is to foster development and improvement of service and education. This organization grants student membership at a nominal cost to students of approved schools. The student is required to become a member of this association while in the program and is encouraged to read the journal and attend the APTA-sponsored meetings.
Professional registration
Satisfactory completion of the entry-level D.P.T. degree requirements qualifies the student to sit for all state licensure examinations. Information about the state registries of physical therapists can be obtained at the office of the department chair. All states require that a physical therapist pass the national qualifying examination for licensure to practice. California application form and fee are submitted to the Physical Therapy Board of California, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1350, Sacramento, CA 95815; Web site: <http://www.ptbc.ca.gov/>.
Programs
• Physical Therapy - M.S.R. (Postprofessional (p. 127)), D.P.T. (Entry Level) (p. 122), D.P.T. (Postprofessional) (p. 125), D.Sc. (Postprofessional) (p. 126), Postprofessional Comparison (p. 128)