PTA101 Physical Therapy Interventions 1

Credits 5Fall

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Concurrent enrollment: PTA101L.

This course introduces theoretical principles and practical applications of basic physical therapy patient care skills, safety measures, data collection methods, and interventions. Information presented includes asepsis, hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment; measurement of vital signs, joint range of motion, and muscle strength; maintenance of safe personal body mechanics and posture; and interventions including positioning and draping, functional training, application of adaptive equipment; wheelchair fitting and management; and therapeutic exercise.

PTA101L Physical Therapy Interventions 1 Lab

Credits 2Fall

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Concurrent enrollment: PTA101.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA101.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA102 Physical Therapy Interventions 2

Credits 5Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA101 and PTA101L, each with a grade of "C" or better.

This course is designed to provide the foundational scientific principles and knowledge to support appropriate and effective physical therapy management of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions across the lifespan. Discussion includes musculoskeletal system data collection, pathophysiology, medical management, and physical therapy interventions according to current best evidence.

PTA102L Physical Therapy Interventions 2 Lab

Credits 2Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA101 and PTA101L, each with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent requisite: PTA102.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA102.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA103 Physical Therapy Interventions 3

Credits 5Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA102 and PTA102L, each with a grade of "C" or better; and concurrent enrollment in PTA103L.

This course covers the pathology and management of arthritis, collagen disorders, and postural dysfunction; introduces types of stress and related intervention strategies; and includes the theoretical principles and practical applications of physical agents commonly used as interventions in physical therapy practice, including heat, cold, ultrasound, diathermy, light, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, and mechanical traction. Current concepts in pain science and related intervention strategies will be introduced and discussed.

PTA103L Physical Therapy Interventions 3 Lab

Credits 2Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA102L, with a grade of "C" or better; and concurrent enrollment in PTA103.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA103.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA105 Introduction to Physical Therapy

Credits 2Fall

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

This course introduces the physical therapy profession and role of the physical therapist assistant within the US healthcare system. Topics include systems of healthcare delivery, the interdisciplinary healthcare team, role of professional associations and state licensing boards, professional core values and ethical standards, an overview of laws that impact the practice of physical therapy, and the physical therapy Patient-Client Management Model. Students will explore the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act and models of disability, principles of teaching and learning related to patient education, and key concepts of evidence-informed practice. Students will participate in a community-based service learning experience.

PTA106 Cross-Cultural Communication in Physical Therapy

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA105, with a grade of "C" or better.

The focus of this course is critical components of cross-cultural communication during the provision of physical therapy services. Topics include factors that contribute to health disparities in the United States, barriers to communication such as implicit bias and structural racism, and the impact of culture on health beliefs and communication practices. Students will learn strategies to improve patient-provider communication such as cultural awareness and humility, advising patients with limited health literacy, communicating across language differences, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing.

PTA107 Introduction to Clinical Practice

Credits 2Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA106, with a grade of "C" or better.

The focus of this course is compliance with laws, regulations, and safety guidelines in preparation for clinical education. Topics include defensible documentation, Medicare supervision and utilization regulations, Medicare fraud and abuse, warning signs of abuse in vulnerable populations and mandatory reporting, medical malpractice, HIPAA regulations, ethical decision-making, and OSHA recommended safety guidelines. Students will participate in a community-based service-learning experience that addresses the health needs of society.

PTA121 Clinical Kinesiology

Credits 4Fall

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

This course introduces the application of kinematic and kinetic principles to human movement, the clinical relevance of anatomical structures commonly seen in physical therapy practice, and the surface palpation of bony landmarks and skeletal muscles needed for the safe and effective provision of physical therapy interventions. Discussion includes basic analyses of human movement during various functional movements and activities of daily living.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA122 Manual Therapy Techniques

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA121, with a grade of "C" or better.

This course introduces students to manual therapy techniques commonly used in physical therapy practice including soft tissue mobilization and non-thrust peripheral joint mobilization.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA123 Balance and Gait

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA121, with a grade of "C" or better.

Students are introduced to the body control systems important in the maintenance of balance and gait, common age-related and pathological changes that impair balance and gait, phases and functional components of the human gait cycle, and physical therapy interventions commonly used in the management of balance and gait disorders.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA201 Physical Therapy Interventions 4

Credits 4Fall

Registration Requirement: PTA103 and PTA103L, each with a grade of "C" or better; and concurrent enrollment in PTA201L.

This course covers the pathology and management of diabetes, limb amputation, selected medical/surgical conditions, balance, coordination and stroke. Discussion includes epidemiology, prevention and risk factors, diagnostic procedures and medical/surgical management of these conditions as well as rehabilitation strategies to address typical impairments for these patients/clients. Principles of motor learning and motor control are discussed, as well as evidence-based practice and a process to evaluate the strength and quality of research relevant to physical therapy practice.

PTA201L Physical Therapy Interventions 4 Lab

Credit 1Fall

Registration Requirement: PTA103 and PTA103L, each with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent Requisite: PTA201.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA201.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA202 Physical Therapy Interventions 5

Credits 5Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA201 and PTA201L, each with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent requisite: PTA202L.

This course covers the pathology and management of selected cardiorespiratory, circulatory, endocrine, neurological, integumentary, and oncological conditions commonly seen in physical therapy practice. Discussion includes pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, medical/surgical management and rehabilitation strategies.

PTA202L Physical Therapy Interventions 5 Lab

Credits 2Winter

Registration Requirement: PTA201 and PTA201L, each with a grade of "C" or better; and concurrent enrollment in PTA202.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA202.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA203 Physical Therapy Interventions 6

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA202 and PTA202L, each with a grade of "C" or better; and concurrent enrollment in PTA203L.

This course covers the pathology, epidemiology, diagnostic procedures, medical/surgical management, physical therapy interventions and rehabilitation strategies for individuals with dementia, Parkinson's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.

PTA203L Physical Therapy Interventions 6 Lab

Credit 1Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA202 and PTA202L, each with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in PTA203.

This course will enable the student to apply and demonstrate competency in the interventions discussed in PTA203.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00

PTA251 Clinical Applications I

Credit 1Summer

Registration Requirement: All first-year PTA coursework through spring term. Concurrent enrollment in PTA261 is required.

This course emphasizes skills needed for successful performance in the clinical setting. Discussion includes effective communication, giving and receiving feedback, patient management strategies and ethical decision-making. Methods of evaluating student performance in clinic are discussed.

PTA257 Evidence Informed Physical Therapy Practice

Credit 1Winter

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

The focus of this course is applying the principles of evidence-based practice and information literacy to articulate a real-world clinical problem related to physical therapy practice, formulate a clinical research question, conduct a systematic review of the research literature, critique a research article, and determine its applicability to a physical therapy case study. Students will collaborate in a process improvement project and develop a professional resume suitable to secure entry-level employment as a physical therapist assistant.

PTA258 Licensure and Lifelong Learning

Credit 1Spring

Registration Requirement: Co-requisite: PTA263.

Skills needed to transition to the role of the graduate physical therapist assistant are covered, including the Oregon licensure process, licensing exam preparation and preparation for lifelong professional development.

Additional Course Fee: $100.00

PTA261 Clinical Affiliation I

Credits 8Summer

Registration Requirement: All first-year PTA coursework through spring term. Concurrent registration in PTA251 is required.

This course is the first of three clinical rotations. All cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills covered in the curriculum to date are practiced under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor.

Additional Course Fee: $150.00

PTA262 Clinical Affiliation II

Credits 8Fall

Registration Requirement: PTA251 with a grade of "C" or better and PTA261 with a grade of "S".

This course is the second of three clinical rotations. All cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills covered in the curriculum to date are practiced under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor.

Additional Course Fee: $150.00

PTA263 Clinical Affiliation III

Credits 8Spring

Registration Requirement: PTA257 with a grade of "C" or better and PTA262 with a grade of "S". Co-requisite: PTA258.

This course is the third of three clinical rotations. All cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills covered in the curriculum to date are practiced under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor.

Additional Course Fee: $50.00