General Program Description
The MHCC PTA Program was one of the first five programs in the country, graduating its first class in 1970. The program is a 2-year, integrated associate degree, combining general education courses, PTA academic courses and clinical experiences throughout the eight quarters. Classes build sequentially upon each other throughout the curriculum. Twenty-four students are admitted annually and complete 8 terms, June -June, including the summer between the first and second years. Students spend an average of 30-40 hours over 5 days on campus for 6-10 weeks, depending on the term.
Clinical Experiences
There are Three different clinical experiences in a variety of clinical sites, for a total of 720 hours. The first clinical is 6 weeks full-time Summer Term between the first & second years. The remaining 2 clinicals (6 weeks in the Fall & 6 weeks in the Spring), are also full-time and occur at the end of each term, following a concentrated period of classroom and lab instruction.
Faculty
The MHCC PTA Program has two full-time and 3 part-time faculty members, and includes both PTs and PTAs. Faculty typically engage in clinical practice relevant to the content which they teach.
Enrollment
MHCC enrolls nearly 27,000 people annually. Classes are offered on the 200 acre main campus in Gresham, Oregon as well as satellite campuses throughout the district. The PTA program has an enrollment of 48 students (24 students per year).
Admission
1. Successful completion of pre-requisite courses 2. At least 20 hours of observation or work experience in a PT setting 3. Successful presentation in an interview
Outcomes
22 – 24 of the 24 student admitted each year graduate from the program; 100% of the graduates have passed the licensure exam; and 95 – 100% of those program graduates seeking employment as PTAs & responding to surveys are employed within 6 months of graduation
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Annual tuition for an in-state student is $4005. Including fees and other program expenses (books, immunizations, licensing exam costs, etc) the total cost of the program (excluding room and board) is $14, 135. Forty-five percent of the college students are receiving some type of financial aid. It is estimated that a similar percentage of PTA students receive financial aid. For specific information fill out a FAFSA and go to our website at www.mhcc.edu and follow prompts to Financial Aid.
Student life
There are no dormitories on campus, although there are numerous apartments in the area. The college is located in the shadow of majestic Mt. Hood, approximately 15 miles from downtown Portland, with light rail and bus connections. Intercollegiate athletics include baseball, basketball, volleyball, cross country, and track and field. Skiing, snow boarding, hiking, camping, mountain biking, kayaking, and world renown wind surfing are among the many outdoor recreation opportunities in the area.