Degree Requirements
All students must complete the 71 credits indicated in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program's curriculum plan with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for eligibility to graduate.
Curriculum
| Semester I | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 221) | 3 |
| College Algebra |
3 |
| iConnect* | 3 |
| Intro to Physical Therapy |
3 |
| Patient Care Skills I |
3 |
| Concepts of Patient Care |
2 |
| Service Learning | 2 |
| Semester II | |
| Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 222) |
3 |
| Physics | 3 |
| Intro to Psychology |
3 |
| English Composition |
3 |
| Patient Care Skills II |
3 |
| Functional and Applied Anatomy | 3 |
| Clinical Education I | 1 |
| Semester III | |
| Human Growth and Development |
3 |
| Religion | 3 |
| Patient Care Skills III |
5 |
| Medical Lectures |
3 |
| Clinical Education II |
2 |
| Semester IV | |
| Patient Care Skills IV (6 Weeks) |
5 |
| PTA Seminar (6 Weeks) |
2 |
| Clinical Education III (5 Weeks)** | 5 |
| Clinical Education IV (5 Weeks)** |
5 |
| Total | 71 |
* For students with less than 12 general education transfer credits
** 5 credits = 5 weeks of full-time clinical affiliation
* iConnect is a required PTA curriculum course with the following exceptions: Requirement will be waived for students: a) enrolled in the associate degree PTA Program who transfer 12 credit hours or more of PTA general education requirements and are not concurrently pursuing a USF bachelor's degree, or b) concurrently enrolled in the associate degree PTA Program and a bachelor's degree Program and transfer in 32 or more credits.
Placement tests are required in computer literacy, English, reading, and math. Additional courses may be necessary in order to demonstrate competency in these areas or to prepare for more advanced coursework.
Transfer credit time limit
When transferring in required science courses, PTA majors have a 5 year limit from the time the candidate is accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. The candidate is not penalized for a delay in matriculation due to program capacity issues. If the candidate defers admission, however, the 5 year limit applies.