In addition to completing the general education requirements that place our graduates among the best-educated in the world, Physical Therapist Assistant students commit their time to courses specific to the skills they need to develop to enter the job market as professionals.

Much of the learning done in the Penn State Mont Alto Physical Therapist Assistant program happens in hands-on experiences. 

Program Courses

For the Physical Therapist Assistant degree, a minimum of 70 credits is required.  Using the following semester recommendations will allow you to complete the entire Associate degree program in as compressed a timeframe as possible.

First Semester (Fall): 16 Credits

  • Physical Therapist Assistant- Introduction
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
  • Rhetoric and Composition
  • Introductory Psychology
  • Arts or Humanities (US/IL Recommended)

Second Semester (Spring): 15 Credits

  • Human Musculature and Functional Anatomy
  • Applied Kinesiology
  • Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture
  • Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory
  • Quantification
  • Arts or Humanities (US/IL Recommended)

Third Semester (Fall): 15 Credits

  • PTA Procedures I
  • Therapeutic Exercise I
  • Pathophysiology I
  • Rehabilitation I
  • Professional Issues in Clinical Practice
  • PTA Practicum 1

Fourth Semester (Spring): 16 Credits

  • PTA Procedures II
  • Therapeutic Exercise II
  • Pathophysiology II
  • Rehabilitation II
  • Clinical Reasoning for the PTA
  • General Elective

Fifth Semester (Summer): 8 Credits

  • PTA Practicum 2
  • PTA Practicum 3

Scheduling Your Classes

The process for scheduling courses looks different for different students.  Check the list below to see how you can plan your upcoming semester at Penn State Mont Alto.

New prospective students

Are you exploring Penn State Mont Alto for the first time?  Once you check out the campus website, our Admissions team would love to share information with you to help you decide how to move forward with the process of becoming a Penn Stater.

Accepted students ready to plan the first semester of college

If you have applied to and been accepted to Penn State Mont Alto as a new student, your scheduling experience will be highly personalized.  We schedule New Student Orientation (NSO) days with our first-time attendees to ensure that your introduction to the campus satisfies all your new student needs.

Transfer students

You already have some college completed and now want to know exactly how your courses from somewhere else will apply to a program you want to complete at Penn State Mont Alto.  We have created a page with information just for you.

Current students

Are you already enrolled at Penn State Mont Alto? Whether you are enrolled in a program or are still exploring your options, we are here to help you plan your successful next semester!