PHTA 1172 Pathology I for the PTA Syllabus H01 Fall 2026

Credit Hours 2.00 Lecture Hours 2 Clinical/Lab Hours 0
Type of Credit
CIP Code
51.0806
Course Meeting Time

Assessment Criteria/Course Calendar

This class will be taught as a hybrid, with both class time and online instruction. Lectures are available online and should be viewed prior to class.

The class meets in person Thursday,1:00-1:50 pm for the 1st 10 weeks and 2-2:50 last 6 weeks [W108].

Course Description

This course presents students with a body systems approach to the etiology, pathology, signs/symptoms, risk factors, and prognosis and medical treatment of specific diseases and conditions across the lifespan often seen in physical therapy. Students will be introduced to behavioral, social, and environmental factors contributing to disease and dysfunction as well as the psychosocial-spiritual impact on health care. Primary systems of study include musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary, and endocrine and diseases affecting multiple systems. Students will study the fundamental basis of these diseases and conditions related to these systems and discuss related physical therapy implications. This course may be taught in an on-line or hybrid format.

Prerequisites

Admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program

Explanation of Course Alignment
Beginner Performance
  • At this level, performance in required concepts and skills is performed given simple and prescriptive patient scenarios in a controlled laboratory setting. The student demonstrates consistency (80%), requires 50% supervision and efficiency (within allotted time) in completing simple concepts and skills, clinical problem solving, interventions, and related data.
  • Safety is not compromised.
  • Documentation: the student will be able to identify and record basic components of a physical therapy intervention with significant verbal cues (up to 75% assistance). The student will document interventions without interpretation, requiring frequent reminders for accuracy, organization, and completion, and will utilize provided templates and guided instruction to complete tasks within an extended time frame.
  • Billing: The student will be able to identify basic billing terminology and concepts (e.g., CPT codes, units, timed vs. untimed codes) with significant instructor guidance. The student will require frequent cues to calculate units, distinguish billing rules, and complete billing entries, and will demonstrate limited accuracy and organization, with minimal linkage between billing and supporting documentation.

Faculty Contact Information

Faculty Name
Kim Libby PT, DPT
Faculty Email
Faculty Phone
815-802-8816
Faculty Office Number
M132
Faculty Student Support Hours

Monday 1-2:00, Wednesday 10-12:00, Thursday 1-2:00 (pending calendar week)

Faculty Information

Faculty

Kim Libby PT, DPT

T: 815-802-8816/ F: 815-839-5200

E: klibby@kcc.edu

Course Information

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Course Outcome Goal 1C: Educate others using established techniques and methods commensurate with the learning characteristics of the audience. (7D12)
  2. Course Outcome Goal 2A: Use established classification models within the profession to describe patient/client’s pathology, impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. (7D16)
  3. Course Outcome Goal 3E: Acquire, appraise, and integrate evidence-based resources to support problem solving and clinical decision making in the provision of best practices in physical therapy. (7D11,7D10)
  4. Course Outcome Goal 4C: Identify, respect, and act with consideration for patients’/clients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all work-related activities. (7D8)
  5. Course Outcome Goal 6B: Promote health and wellness by modeling a healthy lifestyle and participating in activities that encourage the public to adopt healthy behaviors, optimize mobility, and improve fitness.
Topical Outline
  1. Diagnosis of Disease – Diagnostic Resources, Laboratory Tests and Values and Intro to Pharmacology
  2. Behavioral, Social, and Environmental Factors Contributing to Disease and Dysfunction and The Psychosocial-Spiritual Impact on Health Care
  3. Injury, Inflammation, and Healing; Integumentary System
  4. Immune System; Infectious Disease
  5. Pathology of the Nervous System
  6. Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System
  7. Endocrine System
Textbook/s and Course Materials

Author

Title

Edition

Year

ISBN

Publisher

  1. Goodman CC, Fuller KS, O’Shea R.

Pathology for the Physical Therapist Assistant

This book is used for following semester

3rd

2024

9780323792776

Elsevier

  1. Gylys
Medical Terminology Express: A short course approach by body systems. You only need the access code, but the bookstore won’t sell it like that. You can purchase the access code separately from FA Davis

3rd

2021

978171964227

F.A. Davis

Methods of Evaluation
Attendance/ Class ParticipationXIndividual Projects and Presentations 
Case Study/ScenariosXPractical Demonstration 
Exams/TestsXWritten AssignmentsX
Group Projects and PresentationsXQuizzesX
PapersXOtherX
Academic Division

Health Careers

Dean, Brad Wood; 815-802-8815; M107; bwood@kcc.edu; Division Office – W102; 815-802-8800

Course Policies

Grading Standard

Please refer to the PTA Student Guidebook for PTA program grading standards.

A final grade of 75% or higher is mandatory for continuation in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

  • The following standardized grading scale will apply to all PTA core (suffix PHTA) courses:

93 – 100% A

84 – 92% B

75 – 83% C

66 - 74% D

Below 66% F

As pertains to grades, the following are expectations of all PTA students to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress:

  • Students who earn less than 80% on written exams are required to complete the remediation process. See exam remediation policy in your student guidebook
  • Earn at least 80% of the total points on each practical exam (in courses with a patient skills component) with demonstrated proficiency on all required skills for each core course.
  • Earn a minimum grade of “C” for each PTA core course after exams/tests, practical exams and all other graded activities are averaged together.

Points Distribution:

  • 10% of the final grade is from Medical Terminology – see syllabus for further information
  • 15% of the final grade is from Assignments
  • 75% of the final grade is from Exams

The policies and procedures of this course will follow policies and standards outlined in the College Catalog as well as the PTA Student Guidebook. All work should reflect the student’s efforts. Group collaboration is encouraged; however, each student must demonstrate personal competence and individual expression in all work submitted to be graded.

At the discretion of the instructor, a student may be required to take quizzes and/or exams on campus or under the supervision of an approved proctor to ensure and maintain integrity of such work.

Expectations for Classroom and Online Behavior

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and responsible manner in all classroom, laboratory, clinical, and online learning environments. Expectations regarding attendance, participation, communication, technology use, professionalism, and student conduct are outlined in the PTA Student Guidebook. Students are responsible for reviewing and adhering to these policies throughout the program.

Course Calendar
DateIn ClassOn-line/ Before ClassReading/ Assignments

Week 1

8/20

-Intro to concepts of pathology

- Introduce Path Presentation – choose topic

  •  
  • -Intro Med Term.
  • -Med Term Video
  • -Med Term language lab due
  • -Med Term Quiz 1 due
  •  
  • -Goodman Ch1

    Week 2

    8/27

 
  • -Lab test/ Values
  • -Is this pt safe to tx?
  • Poster Presentations Topics DUE Friday
  •  
  •  
  • -Med Term Body Systems Ch2
  • -Med Term language lab due
  • - Review Behavior, Social, Envir Lecture
  • - Behavior, Social, Environmental Discussion Initial Post due:
  • - Response to 2 classmates: 8/30
  • -Goodman E12
  • -Goodman E1
  • -Goodman E2
  • -Review all lectures before class this week

    Week 3

    9/3

 
  • -Injury, inflammation, & healing
  • -Integumentary system
  • -Integ Lab
  • -Med Term Integ Ch 3
  • -Med Term language lab due
  • -Goodman Ch3
  • -Goodman Ch7
  • -Review lectures before class

    Week 4

    9/10

 
  • -Immune & Infectious Disease
  • -Mode of Transmission
  • - Review for Exam 1
  • - Immune and Infectious Quiz
  • -Med Term Blood, Lymph, Immune
  • -Med Term language lab due
  • -Review Immune/ infectious disease lecture
  • -Goodman Ch4
  • -Goodman Ch5
  • -Review all lectures before class
  • Week 5

    9/17

*This material is not Exam 1
  • -Intro CNS Disorders
  • -Infectious Disease of CNS
  • -Epilepsy/ Headaches
  • -Intro to CNS Wksh due today
  • - Kahoot questions due 10/2
  • -Med Term Nervous System
  • - Med Term language lab due
  • - Zoom/ Online lecture before class
  • -Goodman Ch 18
  • -Goodman Ch 19
  • -Goodman E7
  • -Goodman E8

    Week 6

    9/24

 
  • EXAM 1 – Jill is proctoring this exam
  •  
  •  
  • Week 7

    10/1

 
  • - Review week 6
  • -Degenerative Diseases of CNS
  • -Stroke/ TBI/ CNS neoplasm
  • -Neurological Presentations
  •  
  • -Online Lecture before class
  • -Pathology of Nervous System 2 Review questions due 10/1 (before class)
  • -Goodman Ch 20
  • -Goodman Ch 21/22
  • - Goodman E6

    Week 8

    10/8

 
  • -Review week 7
  • -SCI/ CP Class Discussion
  • -Kahoot Questions due 10/16
  • -Watch SCI Video
  • -Review CNS: SC/ CP
  • - SCI/ CP gait patterns
  • -Goodman Ch 23
  • -Goodman Ch 24

    Week 9

    10/15

 
  • -Review week 8
  • -Peripheral Nervous System
  • -Review Exam 2
  • -Med Term: Review Nervous System: Ch11
  • -Goodman Ch 25
  • Week 10

    10/22

    -Pathology of MSK system

 -In class: “What is that?” due: 11/8
  • -Med Term: MSK Ch 12
  • - Med Term MSK language lab due: 11/8
  • -Goodman Ch 13
  • -Goodman Ch 14

    Week 11

    10/29

 
  • Exam 2 –
  •  
  •  
  • Week 12

    11/5

 
  • -Review week 10
  • -MSK Infectious Disease/ Neoplams
  •  
  • -Goodman Ch 15 & 16

    Week 13

    11/12

 
  • -Review week 12
  • -Present on Bone, Joint, Soft Tissue Lab
  • - Review for Exam 3
  • -Review Muskuloskeletal System 3
  • -Complete Bone, Joint, Soft Tissue lab before class
  • -Goodman Ch 17

    Week 14

    11/19

 
  • Exam 3
  •  
  • - Med Term Endocrine Ch 10
  • - Med Term Language lab: Endocrine due: 12/5
  •  
  • Week 15

    11/26

 
  • Happy Thanksgiving –
  • No Class
  •  
  •  
  •  

    Week 16

    12/3

    - Final Exam Review

 
  • -Group Presentations
  • -Review Endocrine Lecture
  • -Complete Endocrine Review Questions due: 12/5
  • -Quiz due: 12/5
  •  
  • -Goodman Ch 8

    Week 17

    12/9 (?)

 
  • FINAL EXAM – Cumulative
  • Room: W110 10 – 11:00
  •  
  •  

College Policies, Resources and Supports

College Policies

For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide. 

Resources

KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:

  • Clubs and organizations
  • Counseling and referral services
  • Office of disability services
  • Student complaint policy
  • Transfer services
  • Tutoring services, etc.