General Program Description

There are 2 full time and 6 part time faculty members in the PTA program. Classes begin in June for full-time students and January for part-time students. Full-time students spend an average of 20 hours per week in class and part-time students spend an average of 10-15 hours a week in class.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical experience begins in the first quarter of the program with general observation and mock clinics relating theoretical material to practical clinical situations. The second quarter includes half-day clinical experiences in small groups as well as a variety of clinical topics held off campus in specialty settings. The third quarter includes two 6-week, full-time clinical experiences in a variety of settings, including acute care, long-term care, private practice, school settings, nursing homes, and specialty clinical areas.

Faculty
The Program is supported by two full time, 6 part time and several adjunct faculty. We maintain a 10:1 student to faculty in all lab classes.

Enrollment
Total enrollment is approximately 5,200 students annually. Application for the technical portion of the program takes place twice per year, 20 students are admitted per class.

Admission
Enrollment in the prerequisite portion of the program is by “open door policy.” Application to the second year or professional portion of the program is separate. Enrollment is limited to 20 day students and 20 part-time night students, and acceptance to the program is competitive. Admission is based on a 100 point scoring system that includes prerequisite academic achievement, completion of 32 hours of documented clinical observation and three letters of recommendation. Academic requirements include a minimum GPA of 2.5 overall, with no less than a 2.7 GPA in science and health-related prerequisite course work. Prerequisites include college-level math, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and humanities. All application materials must be received by May 15 for the full-time day program and November 1 for the winter part-time program. Total credit requirement for graduation is 110 quarter credits. Students will be eligible to be examined in other states for licensure. Physical examination is not required as a part of the admission process. Early notification of any physical limitation or special learning needs is encouraged to assist faculty in individualizing learning experiences to accommodate each student.

Outcomes
NPTAE pass rate for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 is 100% Graduate employment is 100%

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013-2014 school year tuition is $225 per credit hour and no additional fees. A comprehensive program of work-study employment, state and federal aid, loans and grants, as well as assistance in locating and applying for scholarships specific to the PTA student is available through the financial aid and student services center.

Student life
Muskegon is located in the beautiful lakeshore area of Lake Michigan, complete with summer tourist attractions and spectacular winter sports and outdoor activities. The campus has recently been relocated to a beautiful 40-acre location. In addition, new programs and student services have been added to make student life at Baker College a great experience. The campus is located in suburban Muskegon within walking distance from shopping and restaurants. On-campus housing is available and off-campus housing is also available within a short driving distance. Lakeshore activities and festivals, along with the small-town environment, give Baker College’s challenging PTA program a relaxing and personal touch.