General Program Description

BCC’s PTA Program is committed to academic excellence. The faculty acknowledge that learning is a lifelong process that can be facilitated through academic theory, clinical application and life experiences. The faculty recognize that each student brings a unique set of strengths and weaknesses to the program. To facilitate learning for all students, the curriculum design has both theoretical and clinical components and uses multiple teaching methods, which include lectures, case studies, computer enhanced classes and self-assessment to assist in the learning process. The program follows an integrated 2-year curricular format. Students are expected to spend approximately 3-5 hours per week in PTA lectures and 3-6 hours per week in PTA labs. Open labs are offered an additional 5-10 hours per week for extra practice and instructor assistance.

Clinical Experiences
Three clinical experiences are interspersed throughout the curriculum. The first clinical is completed in the summer between the first and second year of the program during 4 weeks. The second clinical occurs during the first semester of the second year in which students spend the first 10 weeks of the semester in the academic environment and the following 6 weeks at a clinical site. The third clinical occurs during the last 6 weeks of the final semester of study.

Faculty
There are two full time faculty members who teach PTA requirements at the College. The average faculty to student ratio is never greater than 1:13 in lab and 1:26 in lecture.

Enrollment
BCC enrolls nearly 3,000 students for day or evening credit courses at the main campus and/or South County Center. Additionally, more than 5,200 people enroll in various noncredit and workforce development offerings. The PTA program accepts 26 students every two years. It operates on a unique cyclical basis in order to meet the needs of the academic and clinical community of the Berkshires. The next cycle will begin Fall of 2015.

Admission
100% of the students who meet all admission requirements are accepted into the PTA program on a space available basis. Admission is ongoing. Applicants who do not initially meet the admission requirements may take courses to become eligible through BCC’s Liberal Arts program in Pre-PTA. Admission requirements include: -evidence of readiness for college-level reading and writing -evidence of competency at the elementary algebra level -completion within 5 years of current application, college level Biology or Anatomy and Physiology with a “C” or better, or completion of a high school biology course, with a “C” or better, that qualifies the student to take BIO 201 -graduation from high school with an average of B (80%) or rank in the upper third of the graduating class or completion of a minimum of 10 credits of college-level PTA support courses -completion of 20 hours of documented clinical observation in a PT setting.

Outcomes
Three year average (2011-2013) 75.6% of students enrolled as of October of their freshman year, graduated from the program; 96.9% pass rate for graduates attempting the licensure exam; and 100% employment rate for eligible graduates. *2011-2013 data reflects two graduating classes

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the 2013-2014 academic year: $26 per credit for Massachusetts’s residents $39 per credit for residents of New England and New York $260 per credit for all other residents. In addition, all students are required to pay: a College Service fee of $153 per credit a Technology fee of $13 per credit There is a Student Health Insurance fee of $1640 (for students taking 9 or more credits) for the fall semester running from September 1 to August 31. (Students with comparable insurance may waive the Student Health Insurance fee.) Half of all students attending BCC receive some form of financial aid to help pay for their education. Financial aid is available in the following forms; grants, waivers, scholarships, Federal work study jobs and Federal student loans. The Financial Aid office provides counseling about educational expenses and assistance in obtaining aid from a variety of funding sources.

Student life
The Office of Student Life is the center of student activity at BCC. It helps plan and administer a wealth of opportunities for social, cultural, recreational, and personal enjoyment and enrichment. Activities are planned with all members of the BCC community in mind. BCC sponsors several competitive sports programs including club teams and intramural programs.