Subject: Admission Policy
Policy Number : 1
Effective Date: June 24, 2011
Required Elements: 2B1, 5A
Purpose:
Describe the process for admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program for transparency for prospective and current students.
Policy:
PTA student recruitment and admission procedures and practices adheres to applicable law, are nondiscriminatory, and assure equal opportunity to all applicants. Admission to the PTA program is based upon achievement of minimum academic criteria and quality of the applicant’s academic credentials in relation to those other applicants.
Procedure:
The policy regarding admission into the PTA program will be available on the Program website as well as in the PTA Program Handbook.
- Decisions for program admission are made by the program coordinator in conjunction with the admission staff.
- All transfer credits are evaluated by the program coordinator and advise students prior to or upon admission.
- The program planned class size is 54 students.
- The number of offers are made by reviewing previous years yield rates.
- Several rounds of offers are made based on declined offers or late admissions and availability.
First-Year Student Admission Criteria
A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) and satisfactory Scholastic Aptitude Test) or ACT scores (for those who have been out of high school five years or less) are also required.
Subject | Minimum Units Required for: Physical Therapy Assistant |
---|---|
English | 4 units, including one unit each in composition and literature |
Social Studies/Art/Humanities/World Language | 5 units in any combination of social studies, arts, humanities, or world language |
Science | 2 units Physical Therapy: 1 unit in biology and 1 other unit is recommended |
Math | 2 units, including 1 unit of algebra and 1 unit in advanced algebra, plane geometry, solid geometry, or trigonometry |
Admission decisions for first-year students are made on the basis of several combined factors including:
- Final grades in all subject areas for grades nine, ten, and eleven of high school
- Weighted average or class rank for students who have taken AP/Honors courses
- Required Carnegie (high school) units
- Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
Approximately two-thirds of the decision for each student is based upon the high school grade-point average (GPA). The remaining one-third of the decision is based on other factors, including standardized test scores, class rank, personal statement, and activities list.
Although the minimum high school GPA required for admission is a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) into Penn State, this GPA is computed in the manner used for Penn State students this does not guarantee admission into the program. The PTA program requires first-year students to have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applicants who submit their application to Penn State by November 30th will be given priority consideration. Applications received after November 30th will be reviewed on a space available basis.
Currently, the PTA program only admits new students during the fall semester. Spring/summer semester admission is possible for transfer students if they have taken anatomy; decisions will be made on an individual basis and limited by space availability.
Transfer Student, Re-enrollment, or Change of Location/Assignment Admission Criteria
Transfer students are those students who have taken at least 18 credits of college coursework (beyond high school) at another college or university. Re-enrolled or Change of Major students can request admission into the PTA program and are evaluated the same as transfer students. Consideration for transfer admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program is based on the following criteria:
List of Criteria Considered in the decision process for Admission into the PTA Program
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum 2.5 for consideration: (Penn State will recalculate cumulative GPA of all transcripts to include attempts and grades of all courses)
- Documented completion of ten hours of observation
- Good standing at previously attended institutions
- Total number of credits attempted and earned
- Academic performance continuity and progress
- When was the student last matriculated
- Performance in general education course and core course if applicable evaluated
- Performance in Anatomy and Physiology, although not required
- # of attempts
- Grade
- Semester of matriculation
- Credit load when courses were taken
- Length of time since course was taken
- Personal Statement on application
- Related work experience
- Life experience that may indicate reason for difficult semester, etc.
- Reason for pursuing degree
- Individual statement of qualifications
Procedure:
First Year Application Process
-
Penn State encourages all applicants to submit their applications on line at Apply to Penn State Hazleton, https://hazleton.psu.edu/admission. However, paper applications are available from the admissions office.
- Once you have completed your application online, you should submit official high school transcripts or proof of equivalency and standardized test scores to the undergraduate admissions office.
Transfer Application Process
-
Penn State requires that all transfer applicants submit their application online at https://hazleton.psu.edu/admission.
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To expedite the review of your transfer application, submit your official transcripts from high school graduation (or GED) and all post-secondary institutions to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. These official transcripts should be forwarded by you, to Penn State in the original, sealed envelopes provided by those schools.
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Standardized test scores are not required of transfer applicants.
Re-enrollment Process
-
- Former students wishing to re-enroll must complete a re-enrollment request form available at any campus Registrar’s office or on the Web at https://www.registrar.psu.edu/enrollment/returning/reenrollment/index.cfm. The completed form and the non-refundable re-enrollment application fee are to be returned to the Registrar’s office at the campus where the student wishes to enroll.
- If the student is requesting re-enrollment:
- Then the re-enrollment request requires review of the program coordinator.
- After final determination by the Program Coordinator, the Registrar is notified of the re-enrollment decision and the Registrar notifies the student.
- Acceptance in contingent on availability in the program and evaluated based on the criteria as outlined for transfer students.
3. If a student is not approved to re-enroll into the requested program, the student may apply for re-enrollment into a different program.
*All conditions outlined in policy 58-50 Conditions for Re-enrollment as a Degree Candidate will be followed.
Change of Major and Campus
- Students in other major wishing to enroll into the PTA program must complete a Change of Major Form available at any Registrar’s office or on the Web at https://www.registrar.psu.edu/enrollment/returning/reenrollment/index.cfm.
- If the student is requesting re-enrollment:
- Then the re-enrollment request requires review of the program coordinator. After final determination by the program coordinator, the Registrar is notified of the re-enrollment decision and the Registrar notifies the student.
- Acceptance is contingent on availability in the program and evaluated based on the criteria as outlined for transfer students.
Revised 5/2014, 6/2015, 8/22/2016, 5/2020
Reviewed: 8/2021