General Program Description

The St. Catherine PTA program is designed to be completed in five semesters. The first semester at the University you are considered a pre-PTA student and will be enrolled in required Liberal Arts & Sciences courses prior to beginning the two-year professional sequence of PTA courses. There is the option the complete two semesters as a pre-PTA student. Prior to beginning the professional sequence, BIOL 2400 General Anatomy and Physiology and a minimum of two credits of Liberal Arts & Sciences coursework are required. During your professional coursework in the PTA program, which needs to be completed in four consecutive semesters, you will be taking PTA and Liberal Arts & Sciences courses concurrently. St. Kate’s PTA program prepares you to lead the profession with a combination of case-based physical therapy education and liberal arts course work that builds self-awareness, human understanding and confidence. You will leave St. Kate’s as a skilled and caring professional ready for a rewarding career. One unique feature of St. Kate’s PTA program is its collaboration with the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. PTA students have opportunities to learn alongside DPT students in classrooms, in labs and at clinical sites. With a strong foundation in the liberal arts, St. Kate’s PTAs become critical thinkers who are prepared to master complex intervention and assessment skills. They are dedicated to the holistic development of each patient’s body, mind and spirit. Leadership is threaded throughout the PTA Program’s curriculum, exposing students to leadership concepts and attributes. Students are provided multiple leadership opportunities and are asked to develop leadership goals.

Clinical Experiences
The first-year students have an introductory 3-day experience in their first semester and a 6-week clinical experience in the spring term. The second-year students have two consecutive 6-week clinical experiences in the spring semester. Students have a variety of clinical setting opportunities, which may include acute care, skilled nursing facility/rehabilitative, or outpatient settings. The program has an extensive clinical network in the immediate Twin Cities area, the state and nationally. In addition to the required clinical experiences, the program offers a specialized clinical experience as one of the required PTA Program electives. This clinical experience provides students an opportunity to become more familiar with an additional clinical setting.

Faculty
The two full-time and three part-time faculty members are all physical therapists. Of the five faculty members, two hold advanced masters degrees, one in physical therapy, one in business and public health and the third in a Masters in Organizational Leadership as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. The fifth faculty memberholds an entry level masters degree in physical therapy. One faculty member holds certification as Geriatric Clinical Specialist. The program faculty also includes three faculty assistants who are PTAs, two with AAS degrees and the third a bachelor degree in health care management. Seven faculty members are engaged in clinical practice.

Enrollment
The total university enrollment is approximately 5,200 (900 students on the Minneapolis campus), with students of diverse culture, gender, and age. The PTA program’s target enrollment is 32 new students per year.

Admission
A high school diploma or equivalent is required for admission. The St. Catherine University PTA Program is an equal opportunity educator. The university admits students regardless of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, status to regard to public assistance, membership or activity in state or local commission and sex. Prior to beginning the professional sequence, BIOL 2400 General Anatomy and Physiology (or transfer an equivalant course)and a minimum of two credits of Liberal Arts & Sciences coursework are required. During your professional coursework in the PTA program, which needs to be completed in four consecutive semesters, you will be taking PTA and Liberal Arts & Sciences courses concurrently. To better prepare you to succeed in the PTA program you will be required to spend a minimum of eight hours observing in a physical therapy setting in order to have an understadning of the work and demands of being a physical therapist assistant. The PTA program has identified the essential functions that PTA students must meet in order to successfully progress through the program. You will be provided with a document entitled Description of Essential Elements of the Curriculum for PTA Students that defines these elements. At the time of application the candidate is asked to sign indicating they have reviewed this document.

Outcomes
St. Catherine University Physical Therapist Assistant Program is a competent generalist and a continuing learner, capable of being a contributing member and leader in the physical therapy profession and their community. The PTA program’s 3-year graduation rate is 76.7%, an average of years 2010 (82.6), 2011 (68.6 %), and 2012 (78.8 %). The graduation rate for 2013 is 90.6%. The three year average of PTA program graduates employed within six months after passing the licensure exam is 91.80%. The average is based on the graduating classes of 2010 (82.6%), 2011 (92.8%), and 2012 (100%). The pas rate for students taking the national licensure exam is 88.89% for class of 2010, 77.27% for class of 2011, 82.61% for class of 2012, and 82.14% for class of 2013.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition for the 2013-14 academic year is $630.00 per credit. Most associate degree students finance their education through the financial aid program, which includes grants, loans and campus employment. The Financial Aid Office can be contacted at 651-690-7805.

Student life
The PTA Program is located on the university’s Minneapolis campus next to University of Minnesota Medical Center – Fairview Riverside Campus, near downtown Minneapolis. Co-ed housing is available on the Minneapolis campus. Off campus housing is also available. Students have access to services on either campus, including use of a state-of-the-art fitness center. A shuttle bus is available for the 5 miles between campuses. The St Paul campus is an undergraduate women’s college; however, all associate degree and graduate degree programs are coeducational.