The Profession of Physical Therapy Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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.

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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 .

Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

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

Hours

(2 sem hrs 2 lec 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introduction to Physical Therapy, Pagliarulo, 6th ed., ISBN 0323673481

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.

COURSE 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. 1	Describe the history, development, organization, and contemporary role of the physical therapy profession, including the purpose and influence of APTA and opportunities for professional involvement.	7B2; professional responsibilities/service & leadership
   2	Differentiate the roles, responsibilities, scope, and supervisory relationships of the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and physical therapy aide/technician.	7D1
   3	Recognize situations requiring clarification, consultation, supervision, or action by the supervising physical therapist, including the PTA's role in modification, discontinuation, discharge, and follow-up.	7D1
   4	Apply the APTA Standards of Ethical Conduct and Core Values for the PT and PTA to professional and patient-care situations.	7B1
   5	Demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with the expectations of the physical therapy profession in academic, clinical, and community environments.	7B1, 7B2
   6	Apply the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act and Rules, relevant federal regulations, confidentiality requirements, and other legal requirements to physical therapy practice scenarios.	7B3, 7D4
   7	Analyze common legal and ethical issues in physical therapy, including negligence, malpractice, assault, battery, defamation, informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical dilemmas.	7B1, 7B3
   8	Recognize and appropriately respond to issues involving patient safety, abuse or neglect of vulnerable populations, and other situations requiring reporting or referral.	7B3, 7D7
   9	Describe the organization of the U.S. health care delivery system, including primary, secondary, and tertiary care and common physical therapy practice settings.	Supports 7D8, 7D12–13
   10	Identify members of the interprofessional health care team, describe their roles, and explain the PTA's contribution to patient-centered interprofessional collaborative care.	7D8
   11	Communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, and health care professionals using appropriate verbal, nonverbal, written, and medical terminology.	7C2, 7D1
   12	Conduct a patient/caregiver interview using open-ended, culturally responsive questions and communication strategies appropriate to the individual's needs, values, preferences, age, and cultural context.	7C2, 7C3, 7D1
   13	Demonstrate cultural humility by recognizing personal assumptions and adapting professional behavior and communication to support inclusive and equitable patient care.	7C3, 7D6, 7D11
   14	Analyze the influence of psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, including social determinants of health and health care disparities, on health, disability, access to care, and rehabilitation outcomes.	7C3, 7D11
   15	Describe disability using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), including body functions and structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.	7D1
   16	Explain psychosocial considerations associated with illness, disability, aging, loss, death, and dying and their potential influence on physical therapy care.	7A2, 7D1
   17	Educate patients, caregivers, and others using methods appropriate to the learner's needs, incorporating cultural humility and social determinants of health.	7D6
   18	Explain the PTA's role in health promotion, wellness, and primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, and identify appropriate community resources that support patients and populations.	7D10, 7B2
   19	Analyze opportunities for service, leadership, community engagement, and legislative or political advocacy within the physical therapy profession.	7B2
   20	Describe opportunities for professional growth and lifelong learning, including professional organizations, continuing education, career development, specialty practice, and participation in research/evidence-informed practice.	7B2, 7C1
   21	Locate, interpret, and apply evidence-informed physical therapy information, including basic concepts of validity, reliability, statistical evidence, and clinical reasoning.	7C1
   22	Describe common physical therapy patient populations, conditions, tests and measures, interventions, and relevant foundational sciences across major body systems and the lifespan.	7A2, 7D2, 7D3
   23	Explain quality assurance, quality improvement, and patient safety and describe ways the PTA contributes to improvement of physical therapy services.	7D7, 7D9
   24	Explain the organization and operation of physical therapy services, including organizational structure, reimbursement, payer systems, billing, financial management, and non-clinical roles of the PTA.	7D12, 7D13

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

TECHNOLOGICAL USE

Students will be required to bring a Wi-Fi compatible laptop for all PTHA coursework for testing and academic purposes. Students shall come prepared for lab and lecture with the laptop.

REQUIRED TUTORIAL SUPPORT

If the student scores below 75% on any course exam or practical, they are required to schedule a planning meeting with the course instructor.  At this meeting, the student will be expected to develop an action plan for successful completion of the course. This action plan should identify any areas of weakness in understanding course content and must include methods/strategies that will be used to correct the learning deficit. Failure to meet with the instructor or to complete the action plan may result in a 10-point deduction from the final course grade.  IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO SCHEDULE THE MEETING WITH THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR AND TO COMPLETE THE ACTION PLAN.

As part of the action plan, the instructor may assign the student a task of attending general instructional tutoring from the Amarillo College Tutoring Center or program-specific tutoring from the designated peer/professional tutor. The student may be required to complete both types of tutoring. In addition to the Verification of Tutoring in the Student Engagement Portal, official verification of tutoring must be uploaded by the student into the appropriate course drop box.

LATE WORK/MAKEUP POLICY

Late work will not be accepted without written permission specifying a new due date from the course instructor following a written request by the student. Extensions of the due date are at the discretion of the course instructor. There will be no rescheduling of quizzes. Missed lecture or practical exams may be rescheduled under all the following conditions:  the student must request a makeup exam in writing; the student must provide verification of the reason the exam was missed; and written permission is received from the instructor. Granting permission or imposing any point penalty is at the instructor's discretion.  Makeup exams will be scheduled based on the availability of the instructor. If permission for a makeup exam is not granted, the student will receive a grade of “0”.

Exam grades or practical grades may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor. In the event a student fails to pass a practical exam, the student will be given the opportunity to retake the practical exam one time; however, the maximum earned grade will be 75.0%. Failure of a practical exam retake will result in an “F” in the course.

Grading Criteria

Grade Breakdown

• Article Reviews (3) - 10%
• Journal Reflection - 2.5%
• Professional Behaviors Self Assessment - 2.5%
• Advocacy Project - 7.5%
• ICF Project 7.5%
• Tests (3) - 30%
• Final Exam - 40%

Grading Scale

• A = 100-92.0%

• B = less than 92-84.0%

• C = less than 84-75.0%

• F = less than 75%

• Important Note: You need a grade of C or better to successfully complete the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) major.

Attendance

PTA PROGRAM ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the student's responsibility to attend class in accordance with the course requirements 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.

The instructor will take attendance for each class and note absences for each student.  Students are expected to be present for the entire class/lab time. Students must report any anticipated class/lab absence to the instructor.

An excused absence is granted at the discretion of the instructor. Verification documentation may be required. A period of extended absences may be considered for approval upon submission of a written request by the student. This will be determined by an ad hoc committee of the 3 faculty members.  

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.  After 2 absences in a course, the course instructor will implement an educational contract with the student.

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 Day to Withdrawal is November 24, 2026 by 11:59 pm