Pierpont Community and Technical College partners with Harrisburg University for physical therapist assistant pathway program

Pierpont Community and Technical College and Harrisburg University have partnered up to make it easier for students who complete Pierpont’s Associate of Applied Science Physical Therapist Assistant program to continue their education with a pathway program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree from Harrisburg University. The two schools have come together to offer this option in an effort to increase the population of qualified healthcare professionals in the area.

According to an article on Pierpont Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Michael Waide, who serves as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Pierpont Community and Technical College, was quoted as saying of the benefits of this new agreement, “Collaborations such as this one with Harrisburg University create the potential for students to advance their academic degrees and build upon their clinical training in the pursuit of patient care. We are excited about this partnership with HU to meet the growing need for healthcare professionals in our region and beyond.”

The agreement is already in effect and guarantees enrollment into Harrisburg University’s Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program for graduates of Pierpont’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, provided that they meet certain qualifications. Students must complete a form stating their intent to attend Harrisburg University before they earn 45 credits from Pierpont. In addition, they must apply to Harrisburg University and complete all entry requirements. Students will also have to enroll at Harrisburg University within one year of completing their schooling at Pierpont Community and Technical College, without attending school anywhere else in between.

Dr. Cameron J. McCoy, who is the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Harrisburg University, was quoted as saying of the new agreement and the hopes for the students who attend Harrisburg University, “Harrisburg University is pleased to welcome the Pierpont community into our growing network of partner institutions. Together, we are positioning real impact toward addressing regional talent shortages and ‘healthcare deserts.’ Our Exercise Science and Physical Therapy programs empower learners with technologically advanced course designs, immersive research experiences, and fruitful relationships with community healthcare leaders. Thanks to this collaborative agreement, even more learners can study with us through an increasingly flexible higher education pathway.”

Students will have some flexibility in completing their degree at Harrisburg University thanks to online class options and minimal requirements that must be completed on campus. Once students complete the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program at Harrisburg University, they will also have the option to continue on into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Dr. Andrea Wamsley-Barr, an assistant professor and the program coordinator for Physical Therapist Assistant at Pierpont Community and Technical College, said of the opportunities this agreement presents, “The PTA pathways program offered through Harrisburg University will be a game changer for many of our PTA students. This partnership will allow select students from our program to have an achievable pathway of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in exercise science while still living and working in their home communities.”

For more information about Pierpont Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.