Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assistant

Program Mission

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to educate and form Franciscan servant leaders who are highly skilled and compassionate physical therapist assistants who are prepared to think critically and deliver holistic patient-centered care.

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Practice within safe, ethical and legal boundaries in compliance with national, state and local standards of practice and within the scope of practice of the physical therapist assistant, as defined by the Louisiana State Practice Act, the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant and the Code of Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association;
2. Implement a comprehensive treatment plan within the plan of care developed by a physical therapist, utilizing data collection skills, critical thinking skills and knowledge of science and humanities, grounded in evidence-based theory and practice;
3. Pursue personal and professional development based on inquiry, self-assessment and utilization of valid and credible resources;
4. Communicate appropriately and interact effectively with a variety of audiences, with sensitivity and awareness of individual differences; and
5. Approach patient care from a holistic perspective, incorporating aspects of spiritual, physical and emotional well-being.

1. Meet all University minimum admission criteria at the time of application
2. Minimum grade of C in all pre-requisite course work in the degree plan
3. Minimum gpa of: 
   • 2.0 in all college level courses pursued
   • Recommended 2.75 in Arts and Science prerequisite courses listed in the PTA Curriculum Plan (applicants who fail to meet minimum gpa requirements may be enrolled in the PTA Program after consideration by the program director, but may be required to take additional course work.)
4. Completion of, or enrollment in, the following prerequisite coursework or an approved equivalent at the time of application:
   
   • ACSM 1110
   • WRIT 1310
   • MATH 1315
   • BIOL 2310
   • BIOL 2310L
   • Science Elective
   • PSYC 1310
   • BIOL 1110
   • WRIT 1311
   • BIOL 2311
   • THEO 1310
   • Philosophy Elective
   • PTAP 2310
   • PTAP 2310L

5. Completion of 100 hours (recommended) volunteer or work experience in a physical therapy clinic or department. (It is recommended that the student have both inpatient and outpatient experience)

 

Admission priority is given to applicants who demonstrate:

• Higher cumulative and program prerequisites GPA scores (a sliding scale)
• Higher numbers of volunteer or work hours completed (100 hours = full credits)
• At least two physical therapy settings in which they have worked or volunteered (two or more = full credit)
• Higher clinical supervisor ratings on clinical recommendation form(s)
• Successful completion of all Arts and Science prerequisites courses at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Note: Applicants with a positive criminal background or record may or may not be accepted to the PTA program, based on the individual nature of the offense. All applicants with a criminal background should plan to meet with the admissions committee to discuss their individual case and also acknowledge that accepting a place within the PTA program comes with some inherent risk of the Louisiana PT Board not granting an applicant with a positive criminal background licensure to practice within the state of Louisiana.

Guaranteed Admissions

There are two ways in which a student can qualify for guaranteed admission into the Physical Therapy Assistant program:

1. A student who enters the University as a freshman is guaranteed admission to the desired program when:
   1. All prerequisite courses toward the desired degree are taken at FranU with at least a grade point average of 3.0 on all prerequisite coursework.
   2. All other minimum admission requirements are met.
2. A transfer student is guaranteed admission to the desired program when:
   1. More than 30 hours of required coursework in the desired program (including courses that are in progress at the time of application to the University) are transferred in with at least a grade point average of 3.2 in these courses.
   2. A grade point average of at least 3.0 is maintained while completing remaining prerequisite courses at the University.
   3. All other minimum admission requirements are met.

Students transferring in less than 30 hours of coursework may be considered for guaranteed admission. Students falling into this category should call the Admissions office.

Semester 1

ACSM 1110	Academic Seminar	1
BIOL 1110	Introduction to Medical Terminology	1
BIOL 2310	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	3
BIOL 2310L	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab	1
MATH 1315	College Algebra	3
WRIT 1310	College Writing I	3
PSYC 1310	Introductory to Psychology	3
XXXX	Science Elective	3
Total Credit Hours:		18

Semester 2

BIOL 2311	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	3
BIOL 2311L	Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory	1
PTAP 2310	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology	3
PTAP 2310L	Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology Lab	1
THEO 1310	Intro to Theology	3
WRIT 1311	College Writing II	3
Total Credit Hours:		14

Semester 3

PTAP 2710	Intro to Physical Therapy	3
PTAP 2715	Neurophysiology of Rehabilitation	2
PTAP 2718	Human Development	1
PTAP 2720	Clinical Science I	2
Total Credit Hours:		8

Semester 4

PTAP 2725	Clinical Science II	3
PTAP 2730	Clinical Science III	4
PTAP 2740	Pathophysiology	3
PTAP 2745	Clinical Education I	6
Total Credit Hours:		16

Semester 5

PTAP 2735	Clinical Science IV	2
PTAP 2750	Clinical Education II	10
Total Credit Hours:		12

Total Credit Hours for Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assistant = 70

1. An overall GPA of 2.0 including all transfer courses
2. All students must meet residency requirements by completing a minimum of 24 credit hours at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, including one service-learning project
3. Completion of 70 credit hours of courses within the degree, with a grade of C or better within 24 months of enrollment in the program
4. Clearance of all indebtedness to the University including the return of all materials borrowed from the University library

Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure and certification can vary by state and can change without notice. All students should consult the state licensing body in the state in which they reside or seek to be licensed to ensure that the degree they earn will meet requirements for licensure in that state.

https://franu.edu/offices-services/distance-education/licensure-disclosures

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100, Alexandria VA 22305-3085; telephone: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. Tasha Womack at [phone] or email [e-mail].