The Profession of Physical Therapy Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

PTHA-1201-001 The Profession of Physical Therapy

Prerequisites

Course Description

 Introduction to the profession of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 2 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introduction to Physical Therapy, 6th edition by Michael Pagliarulo, 2021, published by Elsevier

Supplies

Computer with internet access

Student Membership in the American Physical Therapy Association

Student Performance

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Introduction to the profession of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant.This course is designed to provide student with a knowledge of the history, purpose, and scope of physical therapy and to help students recognize the roles and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist Assistant in physical therapy and the health care system. In order to successfully complete the Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant program, the student must successfully achieve a score of 600/800 points on the Capstone Exam.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:  This course is designed to provide student with a knowledge of the history, purpose, and scope of physical therapy and to help students recognize the roles and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist Assistant in physical therapy and the health care system. Successful completion of the Amarillo College PTA Program and achievement of a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination allows the graduate eligibility for licensure as a physical therapy assistant in all 50 states of the United States.

OBJECTIVES:

 Given the course textbooks, personal notes, handouts, and other material, the student should be able to do each of the following on a written and/or practical examination with an accuracy of 75.0% or higher as evaluated by the faculty of the department:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant.
2. Describe the history and development of the physical therapy profession.
3. Describe the American Physical Therapy Association, its function and structure.
4. Define the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and physical therapy aide.
5. Interpret the components of the APTA's Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant and laws governing physical therapy.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the APTA's Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values.
7. Recognize the components of Values- Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant.
8. Demonstrate the performance of duties consistent with the APTA Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
9. Identify the benefits available from participation in professional and service associations.
10. Demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility and the non-clinical roles of the PTA.
11. Identify opportunities available for the licensed physical therapist assistant including specializations, continuing education, and research opportunities.
12. Recognize the role of the PTA in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist.
13. Demonstrate an understanding of the health care delivery system and the physical therapist assistant's role within the system.
14. Identify various physical therapy settings within the delivery system.
15. Recognize legal, fiscal, and ethical issues that affect physical therapy and the health care delivery system as a whole.
16. Identify the members of the interdisciplinary team and the roles of each member.
17. Describe factors having legal/ethical implications on patient interactions in physical therapy.
18. Identify the importance of patient and family education.
19. List commonly held stereotype beliefs about the following groups (cultural/ethnic groups, injured workers, and physically challenged).
20. Compose a paper on cultural competence issues.
21. Demonstrate understanding of patient confidentiality requirements and regulations.
22. Identify components of the Texas Practice Act and Rules and Regulations regarding the role of the physical therapist assistant.
23. Recognize societal expectations of members of a profession.
24. Describe how cultural and age diversity can impact communication with patients and family members/caregivers.
25. Demonstrate the ability to effectively perform an interview with a patient and caregiver.
26. Recognize various models of disability, including the ICF model.
27. Identify the psychosocial aspects of patient care including disability and death/dying issues.
28. Recognize the signs of abuse of vulnerable populations. 
29. Identify and utilize abbreviations and medical terminology common to the medical profession, with emphasis on those used in physical therapy.
30. Recognize the role of both verbal and non-verbal communication in physical therapy.
31. Discuss professional behaviors appropriate in both the classroom and clinical settings.
32. Compose a research paper on a physical therapy related organization.
33. Review a peer reviewed journal article for basic concepts of validity, reliability, and statistical significance.
34. Outline the organization/structure of typical physical therapy departments and healthcare organizations.
35. Compare common reimbursers for physical therapy and other health services
36. Integrate appropriate resources on healthcare reimbursement for mock patient case scenarios.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Grading Criteria

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the
student to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the
instructor. (Amarillo College Student's Rights and Responsibilities Publication). Absences and tardiness will be monitored and evaluated in the Student Engagement Portal to determine a student's final course grade.

Students are expected to be present for the entire class/lab time. Students must report any anticipated class/lab absence to the instructor. Habitual late arrivals after the scheduled start time of class, extended breaks during class, or early departures are disruptive to the class. The student must directly report the reason for any tardiness to the instructor.

To minimize absences and lecture/lab disruptions, the student will earn points that will affect the final course grade. Upon earning 4 points, the final course grade will be dropped one letter grade. Points are earned as follows:

• Missing an entire lecture/lab class = 1 point
• Arriving late** to lecture/lab = 1/2 point
• Leaving lecture/lab early = 1/2 point
• Leaving class for any reason and returning = 1/2 point
• Working on non-class/lab materials in class/lab =  1/2 point

** The student is "late" to class if the student is not in the seat when class begins.

A student who plans to succeed in this course should also plan to regularly attend all lecture and laboratory sessions. Cases of excessive tardiness and absence will be handled on an individual basis and will require a formal counseling session.  Following this session, a departmental counseling form will be placed in your file.  The purpose of this form is to document that the student has been made aware that excessive absences are jeopardizing successful completion of this course. 

If a student is asked to leave a class due to disruption or lack of participation, the student will be
counted absent for that entire class and will have an additional assignment.

Following an absence, the student is responsible for obtaining missed notes, assignments, copies of handouts, etc. from classmates. The student is also responsible for obtaining any needed clarification of missed information from the course instructor.

If there is a period where remote access to classes is required because of public health situations, the attendance policies will be revised.

Calendar

Additional Information

LAST DATE TO DROP/WITHDRAW:  November 25, 2025. Any student not withdrawn by November 25, 2025 will receive the grade earned.

THE LEAD INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE SYLLABUS AS NEEDED DURING THE SEMESTER.  ANY MODIFICATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS.