General Program Description

The PTA program consists of 27 credit hours in general education and basic science and 41 credit hours of physical therapist assist courses. Upon acceptance to the PTA program, students enroll simultaneously in basic science, general education and courses directly associated with the practice and procedures of the physical therapy profession. Courses include lecture, laboratory, and clinical components. Upon completion of the didactic and clinical components of the program, students are eligible for state licensure or certification in the state in which they plan to be employed.

Clinical Experiences
Two full-time clinical experiences are required. Students complete two 8-week experiences in varied settings including hospitals, private practices, sub-acute facilities, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty clinics.

Faculty
There are two full-time and two part-time faculty members. All faculty members are engaged in clinical practice. Additionally, there is one full time laboratory technician. The laboratory technician is a New York State certified physical therapist assistant. The in-laboratory faculty-to-student ratio is 1:12.

Enrollment
The college has an approximate enrollment of 18,000 students. The physical therapist assistant program admits up to 24 students each March.

Admission
Admission to the PTA program is based upon completion of a minimum of one semester or pre-requisite course work including college English, anatomy and physiology, general psychology, and statistics . Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.8 to be considered for admission. Additionally, students must complete at least 25 hours of volunteer/exposure hours in a physical therapy setting and obtain a letter of recommendation from a physical therapist. Students also submit a minimum 500-word essay on an assigned topic. Additionally admissions finalists are interviewed by a faculty panel and must also complete the Health Occupations Aptitude Examination (HOAE). The admission committee interviews those students identified as a finalists. A maximum of 24 students are admitted annually. 60%f qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).

Outcomes
Graduate employment rates are 100% after 3 months. Graduation rates are approximately 60%. Overall licensure rates are currently about 86%.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year are $2250 per semester for full-time students who are New York State residents. Non-residents and foreign students: $300.00/credit. Financial aid is available for qualifying students through various state and federal programs. The college maintains a financial aid office to assist students.

Student life
Often referred to as the university’s College by the Sea, Kingsborough is located on a beautiful 67-acre site in the Manhattan Beach community of Brooklyn, and is bounded on three sides by water – the Atlantic Ocean, Jamaica Bay, and Sheepshead Bay. All students receive support through individual, personal and academic counseling, workshops to improve academic skills, and career planning and placement. Students participate in a wide array of clubs and athletic activities. The PTA program is housed in the Arts and Sciences building. The physical therapy learning suite has over 2000 square feet of floor space. It is equipped with treatment plinths, therapeutic exercise apparatus, and physical agent modalities. The learning suite also includes 8 personal computer workstations, and three laptop computers. There are dedicated locker and changing facilities adjacent to the main laboratory