College of the Great Smoky Mountains - Southwestern Community College, serving Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties and Cherokee/ Qually Boundary

 

 




Meet the Faculty:

Deb Klavohn
Debra M. Klavohn, Dean

B.S., Louisiana State Univ
M.A.Ed., Western Carolina Univ
828.586.4091, ext. 331
800.447.4091, ext. 331
2nd floor, Balsam Center
debm@southwesterncc.edu



Diane Page
Diane Page
B.G.S., University of Michigan; BS, University of Florida
828.586.4091, ext. 306
800.447.4091, ext. 306
2nd floor, Balsam Center
dpage@southwesterncc.edu

 

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»Physical Therapist Assistant Home

Physical Therapist Assistant

 

Transfer agreements between Southwestern Community College and other colleges or universities allow graduates of certain SCC programs to transfer credits towards a Bachelor of Science degree to the participating university or college. The amount of transferable credit varies among programs and colleges. Please refer to the specific agreements for details on transferable credits.The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum prepares graduates to work in direct patient care settings under the supervision of physical therapists. Assistants work to improve or restore function by alleviation or prevention of physical impairment and perform other essential activities in a physical therapy department.

Course work includes normal human anatomy and physiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment of a variety of patient conditions affecting humans throughout the life span.

Graduates may be eligible to take the licensure examination administered by the NC Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Employment is available in general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, specialty hospitals, home health agencies, private clinics, and public school systems.

Associate in Applied Science Degree - (AAS) A45620

Prefix Number Title
Class
Lab
Clin
Credit
Fall Semester 1        
click on title for course description
BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 3 0 4
CIS 111 Basic PC Literacy 1 2 0 2
ENG 111 Expository Writing 3 0 0 3
PHY 110 Conceptual Physics 3 0 0 3
PHY 110A Conceptual Physics Lab 0 2 0 1
PTA 110 Introduction to Physical Therapy 2 3 0 3
PTA 130 Physical Therapy Procedure I 1 6 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 13 16 0 19
             
Spring Semester 1        
BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II 3 3 0 4
ENG 114 Professional Research and Reporting 3 0 0 3
PTA 120 Functional Anatomy 1 6 0 3
PTA 150 Physical Therapy Procedure II 1 6 0 3
PTA 170 Pathophysiology 3 0 0 3
PTA 212 Health Care/Resources 2 0 0 2
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 13 15 0 18
             
Summer Semester 1        
PTA 140 Therapeutic Exercise 2 6 0 4
PTA 160 Physical Therapy Procedures III 2 3 0 3
PTA 180 PTA Clinical Education Introduction 0 0 9 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 4 9 9 10
             
Fall Semester 2        
BIO 271 Pathophysiology 3 0 0 3
PSY 150 General Psychology 3 0 0 3
PTA 222 Professional Interactions 2 0 0 2
PTA 240 Physical Therapy Procedure IV 3 6 0 5
PTA 254 Pediatrics for the PTA 0 3 0 1
*** *** Humanities Elective 3 0 0 3
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 14 9 0 17
             
Spring Semester 2        
PTA 260 Advanced PTA Clinical Education 0 0 30 10
PTA 270 PTA Topics 1 0 0 1
*** *** Technical Elective 1 0 0 1
      ___ ___ ___ ___
    Totals 2 0 30 12
Total Semester Hour Credits: 76  
               
Technical Electives:        
PTA 250 Advanced Massage for PTA 0 3 0 1
PTA 252 Geriatrics for the PTA 2 0 0 2
PTA 280 PTA Issues I 1 0 0 1
PTA 282 PTA Issues II 0 3 0 1
         

Admission Criteria

Suggested preparatory courses for individuals desiring a career as a physical therapist assistant would include biology, medical terminology, algebra and chemistry.

The program has a limited enrollment and only admits a class in the fall of each year. Applications and supporting documents must be completed and submitted by May 15 of the year in which the student wishes to enroll in the program. If all slots have not been filled after the above deadline, there may be extensions to the deadline. Please check with the Admissions Office about the status of the program.

PHASE I - To be completed by May 15
The applicant must:
1. Complete an application for admission to the College.
2. Be a high school graduate or have earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED).
3. Submit official copies of all transcripts (high school and college). Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that all necessary records are sent to the College’s Admissions Office.
4. Have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale of the most recent academic transcript (high school or postsecondary).
5.
Meet the Southwestern Community College Placement Test requirement.
This may be met by one of the following methods:
a) Take and pass the basic components of the Computerized Placement Test. These consist of algebra, arithmetic, reading comprehension and grammar. The test is administered several times each week on the Jackson Campus and is free of charge. To schedule a test session, contact Testing Services at extension 332. If you do not pass the basic components of the placement test, it is recommended that you enroll in and successfully complete the appropriate developmental coursework. If you are unsuccessful in achieving the appropriate cut-off scores in any component of the test, please see the academic retest policy.
b) Appropriate SAT or ACT scores. See Admissions section for additional details
c) Successful completion of a college-level algebra and English course.
6. Complete a minimum of 16 hours (40 for maximum points) of observation time in Physical Therapy at a health care facility. A form for documenting attendance is available from the Admissions Office. It is the prospective student’s responsibility to obtain necessary documentation of attendance and return the form to the Admissions Office. It is your responsibility to schedule your visits, if you have questions about possible sites see your advisor. (Clinical Observation Form)
7. Take the Health Occupations Aptitude Examination. The cost of this test is $15.00. The applicant will be required to pay this fee when registering for the test. Details for testing dates and times can be secured from the Admissions Office. This is not a pass or fail test. It is used to measure your potential to be successful in the program. You may take the test one time per annual application period.

PHASE II
Those individuals who have completed all parts of Phase I by the appropriate deadlines will be scheduled for a personal interview. Applicants will be notified of date and time.

PHASE III
Those individuals who are notified of acceptance status, will be provided with SCC health forms to be completed by the appropriate medical personnel. The completed medical forms must indicate that you are capable of meeting the physical requirements for the program. The deadline for submitting the completed forms to the program director is August 1.

Notes:
1. Applicants are responsible for submitting all the necessary records to the Admissions Office.
2. Applications must be updated annually by applicants who were not accepted the previous year.
3. Applicants may take non-Physical Therapist Assistant, general education and related coursework prior to being accepted into the program.
4. Contact your advisor for detailed information about the objective selection process.
5. All students admitted into a health science program may be required, by clinical or Co-op site, to submit to a criminal background check and/ or drug testing, prior to, or during clinical education coursework. The results of these tests could affect the student’s ability to progress in the program.
6. All students completing a health science program may be required, by an external testing agency, to submit to a criminal background check and/ or drug test prior to a state or national licensing/certification board approving the graduate to sit for licensure/certification exams.

CLINICAL EDUCATION
Clinical education will be provided at cooperating health care facilities and other related settings. Many of these sites may require the student to relocate or travel extensively for this part of the program. All expenses are the student’s responsibility.

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 Last updated 8/13/08


   
   
 
 
 
Southwestern Community College • 447 College Drive • Sylva, NC 28779
828·586·4091 or 800·447·4091
fax 828·586·3129