General Program Description

The PTA program began in November 1994. It is an integrated educational program compiled of three main components: general education courses, technical education courses, and clinical education. The program is 24 months in length with the students spending approximately 16-20 hours per week in class. The program currently consists of four full-time faculty members. The program graduates two classes annually. Curriculum and admissions criteria are subject to change, contact the Admissions Department for details.

Clinical Experiences
Students must complete the clinical as well as the didactic portion of the program. This portion is integrated gradually into the curriculum. Students have three different clinical experiences, and will spend a total of 600 hours in a clinical setting. The students may have experiences in any of the following settings: hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities, and schools. Clinical sites available to the program are both local and out-of-state.

Faculty
There are three full-time faculty members. All of the full-time faculty members are engaged in clinical practice. The faculty-to-student ratio of Brown Mackie College is 1:17.

Enrollment
The total enrollment of the college is approximately 450 students. The physical therapist assistant program admits up to 24 students twice a year.

Admission
Admission into the PTA program is determined by the Admissions Committee. The deadline for admission is the Friday prior to the scheduled class start date unless special arrangements are made. The student must have a complete file submitted to the admissions department by the deadline. A complete file includes: an application, and transcripts from both high school and college (if applicable). Prerequisites for admission are a 3.0 grade point average in high school and satisfactory completion of biology with a B grade or better. 95% of qualified applicants who pass the initial screening process are admitted to the program.

Outcomes
63% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
In 2013, the average cost for the academic year was $18,568.00. Financial assistance is provided to students who qualify. The college participates in Title IV funding and offers electronic filing of financial aid forms for all applicants. For further information, please contact the Admissions Office at 574-323-2601.

Student life
Brown Mackie College is located within the city limits of South Bend, Indiana, which has a population of approximately 105,000. Lake Michigan and its National Lakeshore provide ample recreation and are within 30 minutes of the city limits. The large metropolitan area of Chicago is only 90 miles from South Bend. The college has a Placement Office to assist graduating students with permanent positions in their field of study. The Placement Office also assists students who need to find part-time positions while they attend college.