Course Descriptions

Physical Therapist Assistant Department

  • PTA 110 - Introduction to Physical Therapy - 4 units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 120 - Kinesiology - 4 Units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 125 - Pathology - 3 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 126 - Clinical Practicum I - 4 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 128 - Physical Therapy Aspects of Growth, Development - 3 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 129 - Aging and Integumentary Management - 1.5 Units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 130 Soft Tissue Interventoins - 1 unit (Spring Only)
  • PTA 230 - Therapeutic Exercise - 4 Units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 233 - Prosthetics and Orthotics for Allied Health Professional - 2 Units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 235 - Neurology - 3 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 236 - Clinical Practicum II - 4 units (Fall Only)
  • PTA 240 - Activities of Daily Living - 2 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 245 - Advanced Modalities - 3 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA 246 - Clinical Affiliation III- 4 Units (Spring Only)
  • PTA250 - Licensure Examination Preparation - 1 unit (Spring Only)

Physical Therapist Assistant Course Descriptions: 

 

PTA 110- Introduction to Physical Therapy – 4 Units
Class hours: 3 lecture / 3 lab (Fall Only)
Prerequisite: Admissions into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

This course will introduce the student to the history and ethics of physical therapy as they relate to the health care system; the development of the team approach and the philosophy of rehabilitation; the use of treatment modalities; terminology and measurement of joint motion; body mechanics and proper handling of patients; vital sign and their relationship to treatment programs.

Transfer Credit: CSU 

PTA 120– Kinesiology – 4 Units
Class hours: 3 lecture / 3 lab
A&P 150 and A&P 151 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher
Corequisite: None

This course is the study of biomechanical principles of human movement and locomotion including specific kinesiological functions of muscles and muscle groups, characteristics of normal posture and ambulation, and an introduction to the clinical manifestations of muscle dysfunction. Laboratory hours will be used for goniometry, gait observation, muscle action application and practice.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 125– Pathology – 3 units
Class hours: 3 lecture / 3 lab (Spring Only)
Prerequisite: PTA 110 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.
Corequisite: None

This course will include introduction to and instruction in observation of common instruction in observation of common pathological conditions.  Emphasis will be placed on the following systems: musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 126– Clinical Practicum I – 4 Units
Class hours: 221 variable semester lab hours
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

This course is designed to give the student an initial exposure to physical therapy treatment.  Students will practice application of heat and cold modalities, gait and transfer training and chart review under the direction of the physical therapist clinical instructor.  The laboratory experience involves training in one or more physical therapy settings as designated by the instructor.  Uniforms are required.  This course is offered on a credit/no credit basis only.

Transfer Credit: CSU

 

PTA 128– Physical Therapy Aspects of Growth, Development and Aging – 3 Units
Class hours: 3 lecture
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. 

This course will introduce the student to concepts and physical therapy treatment principles applied to the developmental process from gestation through aging.  Emphasis will be placed on neurodevelopment techniques used for abnormal development and for patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 129 - Aging and Integumentary Management - 1.5 Units
Class hours: 1.5 lecture (Summer Only)
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assisstant Program.

This course will introduce the student to concepts and physical therapy principles applied to the aging process, including management of integumentary problems.  Emphasis will be placed on pathologies and physical therapy interventions for disabilities in aging, burns, and wounds.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 130- Soft Tissue Interventions 1.0 UNIT
Class hours: 3.0 Laboratory
Prerequisite: PTA 120 or equivalent with a grade of "C" or higher or "Pass."

This course introduces students to interventions for the neuromusculoskeletal and myofascial system. Content includes the philosophy of care, facilitation of mechanical, neurological and physiological changes and documentation of interventions. Specific topics covered are soft tissue assessment and treatment techniques, release, and scar tissue intervention. This course is not open to students who have received credit for PTA 127.

PTA 230– Therapeutic Exercise – 4 Units
Class hours: 3 lecture / 3 lab (Fall Only)
Prerequisite: PTA 120 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.

This course is for second year physical therapist assistant majors.  Therapeutic exercise introduces the student to the use of exercise as a preventive and treatment mechanism for pathological conditions which influence strength, endurance and flexibility of the human body.  Emphasis is placed upon design and application of exercise, developmental sequence of exercise, types of exercise, and the use of exercise equipment.  Instruction includes the body’s physiological response to exercise.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 233– Prosthetics and Orthotics for Allied Health Professionals – 2 Units
Class hours: 2 lecture (Fall Only)
Prerequisite: None

This course is an introduction to the application of Prosthetics and Orthotic devices in the rehabilitation process of disabled persons. Included in the course is a survey of commonly used devices, principles of fitting and alignment, criteria for selection of various components, instruction in donning, removing, and maintenance of prostheses and orthoses, patient education in use of devices, and development of skill in fabrication of plaster positioning splints for upper and lower extremities.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 235– Neurology – 3 Units
Class hours: 3 lecture (Spring Only)
Prerequisite: PTA 120 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.

This course is designed to increase the student’s knowledge in the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. Information regarding the central, peripheral and autonomic system is provided. Emphasis will be placed on the clinical manifestations of disease or injury to the nervous system as it relates to clinical problems encountered in physical therapy.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 236– Clinical Practicum II – 4 Units
Class hours: 221 variable semester lab hours
Prerequisite: PTA 125 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.
Corequisite: None

This course is designed to teach the student the necessary treatment skills for physical therapy patient care. These skills will include active, passive and resistive exercise programs, as well as continued practice in heat and cold modalities application, gait and transfer training. Students will also learn fundamental procedures for clinical education from direct teaching through evaluation of learning.  Laboratory experience involves training in one of more physical therapy settings as designed by the instructor.  Student uniforms are required. This course is offered on a credit/no credit basis only.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 240– Activities of Daily Living – 2 Units
Class hours: 2 lecture
Prerequisite: PTA 230 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.
Corequisite: None

This course will present instruction in the functional rehabilitation of the disabled.  Emphasis will be on understanding and utilization of the physical therapy evaluation for implementation of treatment programs.  This course will present clinical instruction activities of daily living training techniques wheelchair fitting, Jobst measurement and professional presentations.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 245– Advanced Modalities – 3 Units
Class hours: 2 lecture / 3 lab (Spring Only)
Prerequisite: PTA 235 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.

This course is a study of specific advanced physical therapy procedures which are employed in the physical therapy clinic and which require greater expertise in their application.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 246– Clinical Affiliation – 4 Units
Class hours: 13 lab (17 wks / Spring Only)
Prerequisite: PTA 235 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or “C” or higher.
Corequisite: None
 

This course will provide supervised instruction in activities of daily living training techniques; wheelchair fitting; types of orthotic and prosthetic devices and their proper application; and splinting and bandaging procedures in selected clinical facilities.  Experiences will be in acute rehabilitation or out – patient physical therapy settings. Student uniforms are required. This course is offered on a credit/no credit basis only.

Transfer Credit: CSU

PTA 250 - Licensure Examination Preparation - 1.0 UNIT
Class hours: 1.0 Lecture
Prerequisite: PTA 246 or equivalent with a grade of Pass or "C" or higher.

This course is designed to assist the Physical Therapist Assistant student to prepare for the national and state law licensing examinations. Content will include the application process, the testing milieu, testing strategies, preparatory study techniques, and a review of material from the Content Outline published by the test editors.

Transfer Credit: CSU