Office of Off-Campus Academic Programs
College of Applied Sciences and Arts
Interest Surveys

Associate in Applied Science of Science Degree
in Physical Therapist Assistant

Interst Survey Explanation

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) has identified an opportunity to deliver the Associate in Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant at Memorial Medical Center
in Springfield, Illinois. The degree program would serve place bound students in the Springfield area. The purpose of this interest survey is to measure the level of student interest in order
to determine the viability of pursuing such a venture.

The Degree

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTH) degree is specifically designed to prepare the graduate
to work under the supervision of a physical therapist to treat disabilities resulting from birth defects, disease, or injury. Successful completion of the program provides graduates with the educational requirements necessary to take state licensing examinations for physical therapist assistants.

SIUC proposes to deliver 55 of the required 72 semester-hour in Springfield. The remaining 17 semester hours can be taken at any of the local community colleges or universities. The first
year students will take 9 semester hours of PTH courses with SIU in the fall and 9 PTH semester hours in the spring. There is no summer session for first year students. Second year students
will take 8 PTH semester hours in fall, 10 semester hours in spring and 8 semester hours of
Clinical Internship and 2 semester hours of Clinical Seminar in the summer. Other course requirements include Introduction to Psychology, Medical Terminology, Introduction to Physiology/Anatomy, General Biology, English Composition, Interpersonal Communications, First Aid and CPR, and Child Psychology.

Program Cost

Though the cost of the program may seem expensive at $400 a semester hour, when put in perspective one quickly realizes the saving of staying at home and going to school verses attending classes at the SIUC campus in Carbondale. This program will be delivered on a cost recovery basis, meaning that the only means to support the program is through student tuition and that no state money is provided to support the program. Attending classes at the main campus for four semesters will cost a student a total of $15,650 under the current tuition and fee structure. Staying at home and attending classes in Springfield will cost the student
$18,000 for the four semesters, a difference of $2,350 or $470 per semester. Renting a decent apartment in the Carbondale area will cost anywhere from $350 on up per month, plus living expenses such as food, etc. One can quickly see the advantage of staying local and taking classes in Springfield.

How to let us know you are interested

Click here to complete the online interest survey. Thank you for your time.