January 2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
January 2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Associate of Science/Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (ASPTA/AASPTA)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Programs of Study

(Please see the Undergraduate Program Offerings by Campus  chart in the catalog or on the Herzing Website at www.herzing.edu/career-programs/downloads for a list of Herzing campuses offering this program.)

Program Description

This associate of science in physical therapist assistant program prepares students to take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE) and be eligible for licensure/certification as a physical therapist assistant under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist. Students are provided a foundation of general education, including courses in English, Science, Mathematics and Humanities, as well as the technical education for the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to work in a healthcare environment as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Theoretical instruction is complemented with clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings in order to provide a broad, holistic, and reality-based understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a professional physical therapist assistant. Students will participate in planned clinical and laboratory experiences that will complement classroom learning and will stress health promotion as well as rehabilitation of the disease process across the lifespan.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate safe and effective technical skills during the provision of physical therapy within the scope of an entry-level physical therapist assistant.
  2. Assess a patient’s response to treatment and contribute to the clinical decision making process following a plan of care developed by a physical therapist.
  3. Articulate effective and culturally inclusive communication to establish relationships with diverse patients and team members.
  4. Apply evidence-based physical therapy practice utilizing appropriate resources.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to, physical therapist assistant.

Program Content

A minimum of 73.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Courses


All courses, 45.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Support Course


8.00 semester credit hour is required.

General Education Prerequisites


The following general education prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C (70%) or better for a student to be continued in the PTA program:

  • Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
  • Anatomy and Physiology II and Anatomy and Physiology II Lab

All other general education courses must be passed with a grade of D (60%) or better to be continued in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

A student who is dropped from the PTA program for failing to achieve the minimum grade specified in the general education courses, but who otherwise meets the academic standards of the University, may transfer to another Herzing degree program and/or may reapply to this program in a future cycle.

Required Courses in General Education


Students enrolled in this associate degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education (◊includes 6.0 credit hours from Anatomy and Physiology listed in above required) distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of this catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements.*

9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity)
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics

◊Science Semester Credit Hours are satisfied through Anatomy and Physiology requirement listed above.

* Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 24.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines.

Personal and Professional Development Courses


2.00 semester credit hours are required.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Programs of Study