MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY STATEMENTS 

Shawnee State University Mission Statement

Shawnee State University—the regional state university for Southern Ohio—prepares students for the changing needs of business, industry, education, and society through its diversified degree programs. Recognizing the importance of knowledge, values, and cultural enrichment, Shawnee State University is committed to providing higher education that fosters competence in oral and written communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, and critical analysis/logical thinking. To enrich the lives of the community, the University provides opportunities for continuing personal and professional development, intellectual discovery, applied research, and appreciation for the creative and performing arts.

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Mission Statement 

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program of Shawnee State University is to provide regional training via coordinated broad based learning experiences through excellence in teaching and transforming therapeutic principles into clinical applications. The PTA program is committed to providing higher education that fosters competence in communication, scientific reasoning, and logical reasoning to enrich the lives of the community.  The PTA program at Shawnee State University is committed to the development of life-long learners that are both professional and sensitive to the ever changing environment of healthcare.  The PTA faculty will strive to prepare the entry-level PTA to collaborate with the PT in a variety of settings and patient populations.  This training enables students to prepare for the National criterion-based Physical Therapy Examination for the Physical Therapist Assistant
(NPTE-PTA).   

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Philosophy 

We, the faculty, value the physical therapist assistant (PTA), as an extension of the physical therapist, helping to carry out the physical therapist plan of care.  The faculty strives to train the PTA as a generalist in the field of physical therapy, in which the PTA will work under the supervision of the physical therapist.  The laws that mandate practice of physical therapy in the state in which the PTA is practicing, shall govern such supervision.   

We, the faculty, strive to prepare student physical therapist assistants to be well suited to treat clients from a continuum of care, to practice in an ethical and safe manner.   

We, the faculty, are committed to providing a coordinated curriculum based upon a broad spectrum of research, theory, function and life skills.  We will train and educate the PTA to communicate in ways that are congruent and appropriate within the program, clinical environment, and community.  It is our philosophy that a keystone to the educational process is the ability to critically think and use sound judgments.  The faculty strives to train the PTA to be patient caregivers, educators, patient advocates consistent with the governing state laws.  Clinical data collection will be taught using standardized tests appropriate for Physical Therapist Assistant education.  Students are assessed and evaluated on an ongoing basis to assure procedural knowledge, as well as completion of performance indicators (CPI) with regards to safety and technical competencies.