General Program Description

The PTA program is an intensive 2-year Associate in Science degree program that requires a strong commitment to full-time study for the entire 2 years. The program is designed to be completed on a full-time basis as courses must be taken sequentially and build upon the previous course. The majority of classes are offered during the daytime. The program consists of 20 hours of general education courses and 54 hours of physical therapy courses with both lecture and laboratory components. Graduates will be prepared to make application for the PTA licensing examination.

Clinical Experiences
Three full-time clinical experiences, 4, 7, and 7 weeks respectively will be completed in the sophomore year. Students are required to complete a variety of clinical experiences from among many options such as: hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, school systems and others.

Faculty
There are two full-time and two part-time faculty members. Of the full-time faculty, one has a Masters in Physical Therapy and one is completing a Masters degree in human movement, has a Bachelors degree in exercise physiology, and has an AS in physical therapy. Of the part time faculty, one has a Doctorate in Education and an Advanced Masters in physical therapy and one has completed a DPT. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12.

Enrollment
The college has a total enrollment of 23,582 students both full- and part-time. The physical therapist assistant program admits 20 students each August.

Admission
An information brochure and an application packet are available upon request. Minimum requirements for consideration include a high school diploma and transcript, CPT scores at designated levels or equivalent college courses, and official transcripts for all college courses. Preference is given to those students with a math/science background and a grade point average of 2.8 or better. A completed PTA program application must be submitted, including technical standards and prerequisites as outlined in the information packet. Application deadline is May 5th but may remain open until the class is full. Satisfaction of minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee admission. Admission is competitive among eligible applicants. Final selections will be made by the Admissions Committee based on an objective point system computed from the admissions criteria. 48% of qualified applicants are admitted to the program (3-year average).

Outcomes
84% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); 88% of the graduates passed the licensure exam (3-year average); and 92% of those program graduates responding to surveys are employed (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2010-2011 academic year are estimated at $67.52 per credit hour for in-state students and $205.02 per credit for out-of-state students; liability insurance and accident insurance, $25 per year, lab fees $0-20 per lab. Financial assistance is available to students who, without such aid, would be unable to attend college. A comprehensive program of employment, grants, and scholarships is available through federal, state, and institutional funds. This information is available upon request from the Office of Financial Aid.

Student life
The PTA program is housed in the George G Tapper Health Sciences Building at Gulf Coast State College, which is located on 80 acres in Panama City overlooking North Bay and St Andrews Bay just off the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle. Panama City and Bay County are home to a population of 180,000. Many cultural and social opportunities are offered and encouraged on campus through the Student Activities Board and ‘in town’ through the Bay Arts Alliance. On-campus wellness and fitness programs, counseling and tutoring services, and disabled student services are available. The intercollegiate athletic program offers men’s baseball and basketball, and women’s softball and basketball and volleyball. Recreational opportunities abound. There are many area golf courses, fresh and saltwater fishing, scuba diving, and a wide variety of water sports associated with the beautiful beaches near the college.