General Program Description
The PTA program is a 2-year curriculum. The first year is primarily basic science and general education courses with the exception of Introduction to Physical Therapy in the first semester and Applied Kinesiology in the second semester. The final year consists of primarily professional courses. Students attend one 3-week interim clinical internship at the end of the fall (third) semester and two 6-week clinical internships following the fourth semester. The faculty consists of two full-time core faculty members and two part-time faculty members who are responsible for all classroom instruction. The two full-time core faculty members are also practicing clinicians. One part-time faculty member is also a full-time clinician with a variety of backgrounds. The second part-time member is a full-time instructor on the campus and holds a doctorate in physical therapy. She splits her time between PTA and Anatomy/Physiology. Students graduate in August, at the end of the summer semester.
Clinical Experiences
Students attend three different clinical experiences, which are 40 hours per week. The interim clinical experience is held in the fall (third) semester of the second year. Two experiences are in the summer following completion of all academic work. The summer clinical experiences are 6 weeks in duration. The students are given an opportunity to identify their preferred locations; however, the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education is responsible for insuring that students attend a variety of settings with differing experiences. Clinical experiences include acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient facilities, private practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, and school settings. Mandatory observation hours are part of course requirements for the Introduction to Physical Therapy course.
Faculty
The faculty to student ratio is 1:16 in lecture and 1:12 in lab. The faculty consists of two full-time core faculty members and two part-time faculty members who are responsible for all classroom instruction. The two full-time core faculty members are also practicing clinicians. One part-time faculty member is also a full-time clinician with a variety of backgrounds. The second part-time member is a full-time instructor on the campus and holds a doctorate in physical therapy. She splits her time between PTA and Anatomy/Physiology.
Enrollment
Total enrollment at the Shenango Campus is 542. The Pennsylvania University Shenango Campus Physical Therapist Assistant Program admits 30 students each fall.
Admission
Students are admitted to the PTA program for the fall semester only. There are a limited number of spaces available each year. First year applicants are evaluated on the basis of a combination of factors including cumulative high school grade point average, SAT or ACT scores, and high school curriculum. Transfer students are defined as those students who have attempted 18 or more credits at a regionally accredited college or university. Transfer students will be evaluated on the cumulative grade point average for all college level courses attempted. Current or previous Penn State students can also enter the program through re-enrollment or as a change of major/change of campus and will be evaluated on their cumulative Penn State grade point average and performance in Biology 129 (Anatomy). For more information regarding admissions to the program, please contact the admissions office at 724-983-2802 or 724-983-2837.
Outcomes
Over 67% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average). Pass rate on the licensure exam for first time takers in 2013 was 96%. Overall, the average licensure pass rate for the past 3 years (2011-2013) was 97%.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for an in-state, full-time student for the academic year 2014-2015 are $13,685.00. Tuition and fees for an out-of-state, full-time student (same year) are $20,241.00. Financial aid is available in the form of federal and state grants, loans, scholarships, and student work-study programs. Students should contact the campus Financial Aid Office at 724-983-2804.
Student life
Penn State Shenango is considered an urban campus located within the city of Sharon, Pennsylvania. The community offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities with many nearby parks and athletic facilities. The campus is located approximately 1 mile from the Ohio border and 15 minutes from Youngstown, Ohio. Sharon is within a 1-hour drive of Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Proximity to these cities affords the students an opportunity to enjoy professional sporting events and the fine arts. The Shenango Campus is one of five physical therapist assistant programs within Penn State’s Commonwealth Education System. The campus does not offer on-campus housing, but rental housing is available within walking and driving distance. A wide variety of social, academic, and professional organizations are available to students. The PTA students are actively involved in the PTA Club which contributes monies towards campus, community and physical therapy projects.