General Program Description

The PTA program prepares students to enter the field as physical therapist assistants. With general education classes offered during the day, evening, or intensive formats and the PTA classes offered in the evening, the program can be taken on a part-time basis by working adults or on a full-time basis by students wishing a more traditional college experience. The Associate in Science in PTA requires that students complete at least 62 credit hours: at least 29 credits of general education courses and 33 credits of PTA courses. The PTA classes meet two nights per week from August to May, with full-time clinical experiences required both summers. The anticipated graduation date is in August following the second academic year. Graduates must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for the PTA that is developed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and apply for licensure through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IN-PLA) or the similar agency in their home state to become a licensed PTA.

Clinical Experiences
Students complete 3 full-time clinical experiences designed to provide a variety of experiences in a variety of settings such as hospital, rehabilitation unit, nursing home, school setting, private practice, etc. The first clinical experience (5 weeks) is during the summer after the first year of classes. The second and final clinical experiences (6 weeks and 7 weeks) are during the summer after the second year of classes.

Faculty
There are two full-time, one half-time, and three adjunct faculty members. The faculty members are actively engaged in clinical practice. There are also five teaching assistants who assist with hands-on learning. The faculty to student ratio is 1:10 or 1:15 for lab (depending on complexity of skills being learned).

Enrollment
Total university enrollment is 5,000. The physical therapist assistant program admits 30 students annually and has utilized a waiting list for the last 3 years due to full enrollment.

Admission
To enroll in PTA classes, students must be admitted to both the University of Indianapolis and to the PTA program. Eligibility to apply for the PTA program requires:
(1) application and admission to the University of Indianapolis;
(2) English and Math proficiency, at or above ENGL 101/MATH 150 (or completion of ENGL 100 and MATH 105);
(3) overall grade point average (GPA) at least 3.0/4.0, (applicants with prior college coursework may request academic bankruptcy if eligible; see http://uindy.edu/health-sciences/pt/pta-admission)
(4) submission of a completed PTA application;
(5) completion of a total of at least 30 hours volunteer or work experience in two or more physical therapy settings;
(6) two completed recommendations;
(7) personal interview with PTA faculty, if invited.
The Admissions Counselor for the PTA program is Amber Clarke ([email protected]).

Outcomes
Class of 2013:
Graduation Rate: 88.9%
Employment Rate: 100%
License Exam Pass Rate: 72.7% first time, 86.4% ultimate pass rate (after re-take)

Class of 2012:
Graduation Rate: 88.5%
Employment Rate: 100%
License Exam Pass Rate: 95.2% first time, 100% ultimate pass rate (after re-take)

Class of 2011:
Graduation Rate: 100%
Employment Rate: 100%
License Exam Pass Rate: 88.9% first time, 100% ultimate pass rate (after re-take)

Three Year Data (2011-2013)
Graduation Rate: 92.5%
Employment Rate: 100%
Ultimate License Exam Pass Rate: 95.7%

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Full-time students enrolled in the integrated curriculum pay the full-time undergraduate tuition rate of $25,154 per academic year. Part-time students enrolled in the PTA program pay a discounted rate of $810 per credit hour for PTA classes per semester and $1,048 per credit hour for other courses. Tuition rates are listed for the 2014-2015 academic year and are subsequent to change each academic year. Students enrolled in the PTA program also incur fees and/or expenses for professional liability insurance, books, clinical rotations, and graduation.

The Office of Financial Aid is available to assist students planning to enroll at the University of Indianapolis. Information about financial aid is available through the Financial Aid Office, University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227; 317-788-3217 or 1-800-232-8634 ext. 3217; http://www.uindy.edu/financial-aid

Student life
The PTA program is a component of the Krannert School of Physical Therapy, which also offers entry-level and post-professional physical therapy education programs. Students enrolled in the PTA program utilize the same classroom and laboratory facilities as students in the entry-level and postprofessional programs. The University of Indianapolis is a private, coeducational university affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located on the south side of Indianapolis at Hanna and Otterbein Avenues, in the section of the city known as University Heights. The university is only a few miles from Indianapolis International Airport and just blocks from I-465, the interstate highway loop that circles the city, and I-65, the north-south interstate. By car or the Indianapolis Metro bus system, the campus is 10-15 minutes from downtown. On-site campus housing, counseling, and health services are available. The university maintains clinical experience for its athletic programs with the NCAA Division II. Conference membership is with the 10-member Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for all intercollegiate sports except football. The university’s football program has membership in the 11-member Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference.

The University of Indianapolis offers its students a number of exceptional cultural experiences both on campus and in the metropolitan area. Students can enjoy campus activities featuring renowned speakers and entertainers, dramatic and artistic productions, and musical shows and concerts. The Office of Student Life provides support and services of orientation, residence life, student activities, student government, clubs and organizations, counseling, and special interest programming. Students can also avail themselves of the sights and sounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Children’s Museum (the largest in the world), the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum of Indian art, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Indianapolis Opera, Dance Kaleidoscope, the Indiana Repertory Theater, Civic Theater, and many other special concerts, programs, and lectures. Professional basketball, football, hockey, the world-famous Indianapolis 500 race, and the Brickyard 400 complement the amateur sports scene of the city.