General Program Description
The PTA program consists of 74 credit hours, of which 26 are general education credit hours and 48 are professional courses.
Clinical Experiences
Clinical sites are available in the Blue Ridge and southwest Virginia areas as well as several out-of-state sites all of which provide all types of rehab experiences. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the clinical sites, housing and meal arrangements and other expenses incurred during clinical experiences. Clinical experiences include a full-time, 3-week, 4-week and 8-week session during the senior year. The college provides adequate malpractice insurance.
Enrollment
The student body is composed of approximately 1,000 students (20% male, 80% female) representing diverse backgrounds ranging from immediate postsecondary to adult career-transition students. The physical therapist assistant program accepts 38 full-time students.
Admission
Admission is a competitive process based upon an objective point system. The program requires a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for previously attempted secondary and postsecondary course work. Prerequisite course work includes 1 year each of biology and chemistry, and 2 years of algebra at the secondary level. Admission is taken on a rolling basis.
Outcomes
80%(3-year average: 2004-2006) of admitted students graduate from the program. 96.7%(3-year average: 2005-2007) of program graduates responding to surveys are employed. 96.7%(3-year average: 2005-2007) of graduates passed the Virginia licensure examination.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition is charged at the rate of $16,275, excluding the summer semester. The PTA program consists of 74 credit hours. Dormitories are available at a rate of $2,350 per semester. A meal plan is required for dormitory residents at a rate of $1,155 per semester. Approximately 90% of the students receive some financial assistance. The college participates in federal and state financial aid programs, and private sources of financial aid are available in the form of scholarships, grants, and awards. Full-time students are eligible for the Tuition Assistance Grant offered through the State of Virginia for Virginia residents attending private postsecondary institutions.
Student life
Approximately 12% of the students reside in on-campus dormitories that are efficiency apartments, with students having in-room cooking privileges. Meals are available for purchase from the cafeteria of Carilion Community Hospital of the Roanoke Valley, adjacent to the college. Parking for residents and day students is available in parking lots adjacent to the college for a fee. Ample parking is available within a two to three-block area of the college at no charge. The Jefferson College of Health Sciences is a private institution offering associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees exclusively in nursing and allied health. The college is located in downtown Roanoke, a metropolitan area with approximately 100,000 people and is within three blocks of Interstate Highway 581/81 and within 10 minutes of the Roanoke Regional Airport. Recreation in the metropolitan area includes 104 parks and playgrounds, a baseball team, two civic centers, a municipal auditorium, movie theaters, and ample golf, tennis, and swimming facilities