General Program Description
The program is a 2-year, integrated associate degree. Twenty students are selected each year with the program beginning in the fall semester and graduation in May. Classes build sequentially upon each other throughout the curriculum with a total of five classroom semesters, as well as, a 4-week full-time clinical rotation during the summer of the first year and two seven week practicums at the conclusion of the program. Program faculty includes a full-time program director, professor/academic coordinator of clinical education and two part-time professors.
Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are an important educational component throughout the program. Integrating class instruction with simulated and real-life hands-on experience, the student progresses from basic clinical observation during the admissions process to a four-week clinical rotation at the end of the first year to Practicum I and II during the last semester of the program where he/she works under the supervision of a physical therapist in various clinical agencies. Clinical experiences are located in various community health care agencies/facilities in and around Oklahoma City and statewide. Various patient/client ages, diagnoses, and types of facilities will be accessed for student clinical experiences. Oklahoma City Community College is a participating member of the Central ACCE Consortium of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas.
Faculty
There are two full-time and two part-time faculty members as well as several part time lab assistants. Both of the full-time faculty members are engaged in clinical practice. The faculty-to-student ratio is approximately 1:10 for lab experiences and 1:20 for lecture experiences.
Enrollment
Total enrollment for Oklahoma City Community College is approximately 20,000. The physical therapist assistant program accepts 20 students from a pool of approximately 80 applicants.
Admission
Because of the number of applicants for limited space in the PTA program and the college’s commitment to student success, special application procedures must be followed. Completed applications meeting the minimum admissions requirements will be accepted according to dates posted in the Office of Admissions and Records. A class is then selected from the applicants according to the number of preference points assigned (see application). Twenty students are selected from approximately 50-80 qualified applicants. Approximately 51% of qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).
Outcomes
For the last three years, approximately 87% of admitted students graduate from the program. One hundred percent of the PTA graduates have jobs upon graduation. Overall pass rates for the board exam include 98% overall for past 3 years (2007, 2008, 2009).
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Oklahoma residents for 2010 require 69-70 credit hours with fees and supplies is approximately $9,300. The average book costs were $1,500. For information on financial aid, contact the Financial Aid Office at 405/682-7525.
Student life
Oklahoma City Community College is located in the southwest section of Oklahoma City and situated on a 143-acre site just south of Interstate 240. The Health Professions Center, which is adjacent to the College Union, contains classrooms, offices and laboratories for Emergency Medical Technology, Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Also included nearby is the college recreation and aquatic facility. Facilities and equipment include: basketball courts and volleyball courts, a weight room, aerobics/pilates/yoga/ZUMBA, an indoor Olympic-size pool and diving well, locker rooms and shower facilities. Various student activities and clubs are available through the Office of Student Life. Also available for student participation are: the honor fraternity, departmental clubs, and religious and service organizations. In addition to the excellent library facilities, the college has communication and math labs/tutoring as well as a language center for student use.