Master of Health Science with Physician Assistant (PA) Certificate
About the Program
Master of Health Sciences (MHS): 117.0 quarter credits
The Drexel University Physician Assistant Program provides graduates with a Master of Health Science degree with Physician Assistant Certificate, and eligibility to sit for the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination).
The physician assistant (PA) is a primary health care provider who, when graduated from an accredited program and national certified and state-licensed, is eligible to practice medicine with the legal supervision of a physician.
PAs perform many duties including, but not limited to, physical examinations, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, ordering and interpretation of lab tests, assist in surgery, perform procedures, perform hospital rounds, prescribe medicines and provide patient education.
The goals of this program are to:
- Educate qualified primary care physician assistants
- Improve health care delivery in rural and urban medically under served areas
- Promote the physician assistant profession
Additional Information
For more information about this program, contact:
Janet Stern
Director of Admissions
Master of Health Science with Physician Assistant Certification
js64@drexel.edu
For more details about the program, visit the College of Nursing and Health Professions Physician Assistant page.
Degree Requirements
The intensive curriculum consists of professionally related coursework taken during a continuous period (the part-time option requires an additional calendar year) and gives students an understanding of both the health care system within which they will work and the functions appropriate to the role of the physician assistant. The curriculum is divided into a full year of didactic courses followed by an additional 15 months of supervised clinical practice.
Training begins with four quarters of didactic education which integrates patient interaction throughout. The clinical training phase consists of six (6) five-credit, five week clinical rotations in medicine, surgery, women's health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.The clinical phase of the curriculum is completed on a full-time basis for both full and part-time students.
The final portion of the curriculum consists of two, 10-credit quarter-long, primary care practica (preceptorships). During the preceptorship phase, each student is assigned to two primary care sites for individualized clinical training with physician preceptors. Training sites during the clinical year are located throughout Pennsylvania and in other states. Students are expected to relocate during the clinical phase and are responsible for all associated financial costs, including transportation and living expenses.
The program is intensely challenging, both intellectually and physically, and requires stamina as well as personal and financial sacrifice on the part of the students. The program demands a high degree of integrity, self-sufficiency, motivation, and self-discipline, and highly developed study skills.
The Physician Assistant program utilizes electronic documentation and communications. Therefore, all students are required to have laptop computers with Web access capability.
Contact the Physician Assistant Program for more information on the sequencing for the part-time option.
Required Courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PA 540 | Clinical Anatomy | 5.0 |
| PA 545 | Physician Assistant Practice | 1.0 |
| PA 543 | Ethical Issues in Physician Assistant Practice | 2.0 |
| PA 542 | Patient Communication | 2.0 |
| PA 544 | Clinical Assessment | 5.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Winter | ||
| In this quarter, part-time students may take PA 546 Health Policy for Physician Assistance Practice and/or an elective in addition to the required courses. This will enable them to take the first summer quarter off. addition to the required courses. | ||
| PA 548 | Principles of Medical Science I | 2.0 |
| PA 556 | Clinical Medicine I | 5.0 |
| PA 551 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics I | 3.0 |
| PA 559 | Clinical Skills I | 2.0 |
| PA 547 | Evidence Based Medicine for Physician Assistants | 3.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| PA 549 | Principles of Medical Science II | 2.0 |
| PA 557 | Clinical Medicine II | 5.0 |
| PA 552 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics II | 2.0 |
| PA 560 | Clinical Skills II | 2.0 |
| PA 554 | Biopsychosocial Issues in Patient Care | 5.0 |
| Term Credits | 16.0 | |
| Summer | ||
| In this quarter, part-time students may take PA 546 Health Policy for Physician Assistant Practice plus an elective if they wish to attend during the summer quarter. | ||
| PA 550 | Principles of Medical Science II/I | 2.0 |
| PA 558 | Topics in Clinical Practice | 5.0 |
| PA 553 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics III | 2.0 |
| PA 561 | Clinical Skills III | 4.0 |
| PA 546 | Health Policy for Physician Assistant Practice | 2.0 |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| The Clinical Phase (Full-time for all students, 5 quarters) | ||
| Rotation I | 5.0 | |
| Rotation II | 5.0 | |
| Term Credits | 10.0 | |
| Winter | ||
| Rotation III | 6.0 | |
| Rotation IV | 5.0 | |
| Graduate Project I | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 14.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| Rotation V | 6.0 | |
| Rotation VI | 5.0 | |
| Term Credits | 11.0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| PA 635 | Primary Care Practicum I | 10.0 |
| PA 638 | Graduate Project II | 3.0-6.0 |
| Term Credits | 13.0-16.0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PA 637 | Primary Care Practicum II | 10.0 |
| Term Credits | 10.0 | |
| Total Credit: 119.0-122.0 | ||
| *Clinical Year Rotation Courses | ||
| The sequencing of the six clinical rotations will vary for individual students, but all students must take all six rotations. | ||
| PA 629 | Medicine Rotation | 5.0 |
| PA 630 | Pediatrics Rotation | 5.0 |
| PA 631 | Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation | 5.0 |
| PA 632 | Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Rotation | 5.0 |
| PA 633 | Surgery Rotation | 5.0 |
| PA 634 | Emergency Medicine Rotation | 5.0 |
Admission Requirements
The Drexel University Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program utilizes the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). All applicants must complete the CASPA application process no later than October 1st of the year prior to expected date of matriculation, including the receipt by CASPA of all transcripts, reference forms, and other supporting documentation such as foreign transcript evaluations and TOEFL scores. Applicants may not apply directly to the Drexel University Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program. Applications made directly to the Office of Enrollment Management (Admissions) of Drexel University will not be processed.
Applications remaining incomplete with CASPA for any reason by the October 1st deadline will not be processed.
Application Prerequisites
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale from all colleges and universities attended is required for the following three (3) categories: non-science courses, natural science courses, and combined overall courses. Applications will not be reviewed unless the applicant has attained these minimum requirements at time of application.
- Meet the technical standards for admission, progression, and graduation from the Physician Assistant Program. Each applicant is expected to review completely the “Technical Standards for PA Program” PDF at the end of this page. Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, are counseled to pursue alternate careers.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended sent directly to CASPA.
- Non-United States-based educational institutional transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency (see the listing of acceptable agencies on the CASPA website at https://portal.caspaonline.org/faq/foreign_transcripts.htm). Evaluation fees are the responsibility of the applicant. Evaluations must be sent directly to CASPA.
- Three completed reference forms with accompanying letters of recommendation attached and submitted as part of the official CASPA application. Preferred references are from individuals who have interacied with the applicant in a supervisory capacity or academic instructors who have personal knowledge of the applicant. Submission of references from friends, relatives, personal physicians, or instructors who do not possess a personal, supervisory knowledge of the applicants is discouraged.
- A personal statement recorded as part of the CASPA application.
- An applicant whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL iBT examination unless the applicant has graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university. The minimum required score for the iBT (Internet Based Testing) is 79 and a minimum score of 26 is required for the speaking component. Find more detailed information at http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/. Scores must be submitted directly to CASPA.
- Meet the minimum prerequisite coursework as detailed in the “Admission Requirements and Process” PDF below.
A minimum of 500 hours of clearly documented volunteer/paid direct hands-on patient contact accrued by the time of application and recorded as part of the official CASPA application is strongly recommended. Ensure that all hours are accurately reported. Applicants may list the same position in multiple sections in order to account for multiple experiences (patient contact, related health care, research, shadowing, etc.) accrued in the same position as long as each hour is not reported in more than one experience category. Please review the "Patient Contact" PDF below for more information regarding acceptable forms of patient contact.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required.
- The Physician Assistant Program does not grant advanced standing.
Additional Information
Applicants should review the information on Drexel's Physician Assistant Program Admission website for additional details.
Courses
PA 540 Clinical Anatomy 5.0 Credits
This five (5) credit lecture and laboratory course is tailored to the specific needs of physician assistant students. It reviews the fundamentals of gross anatomy, and discusses the relationships between structure and function in a regional anatomy approach and major clinical applications of anatomic relationships. Material is coordinated with the PA 544 Clinical Assessment course.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 10 credits
PA 542 Patient Communication 2.0 Credits
This lecture and seminar course provides instruction in communication skills for the effective exchange of information with patients. Addressed in the course are patient-provider collaboration, health literacy, and communication techniques for patients across cultural and generational groups, and counseling techniques for patient education, treatment adherence, and health promotion.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 543 Ethical Issues in Physician Assistant Practice 2.0 Credits
This is a lecture and seminar course addressing ethical and professional issues in Physician Assistant practice. Topics include medical ethics, ethical decision-making, professional responsibility, and commitment to patients' welfare. The link between health as a human right and medical ethics is explored.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 544 Clinical Assessment 5.0 Credits
This course provides the PA student with the knowledge, demeanor, and motor skills required to professional and proficiently elicit thorough medical histories and perform precise physical examination techniques for each boy system. Accurate, organized recordings of clinical findings from patient encounters in the hospital setting are required.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 542 [Min Grade: C], PA 543 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)
PA 545 Physician Assistant Practice 1.0 Credit
Physician Assistant Practice is a one (1) credit lecture course that introduces the concept, history, and future directions of the PA profession, and discusses professional practice issues and theories of leadership applicable to PA practice. Stewardship and strategies for effecting change as a leader are discussed in the context of cases applicable to PA professional settings.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 2 credits
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 546 Health Policy for Physician Assistant Practice 2.0 Credits
This course explores the UD health care system and health policy issues related to the coasts of health care, inequities in quality and access to care, and current US policies. The role of Physician Assistants in the health care system in examined along with issues related to malpractice, reimbursement, and quality assurance.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 547 Evidence Based Medicine for Physician Assistants 3.0 Credits
This is a three (3) quarter credit course designed to introduce PA students to epidemiologic principles, methodologies, and applications to primary care clinical practice. The course content includes an overview of epidemiologic and research concepts; ethics and the roles of politics and culture in research; quantitative and qualitative research methods and designs; and level of scientific evidence for clinical practice. Through evaluation of published research and national practice guidelines, the skills of evidence-based practice are introduced. The course is lecture-based and utilizes cooperative learning strategies to engage students in individual and group inquiry learning outside the classroom.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 6 credits
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 548 Principles of Medical Science I 2.0 Credits
This course is the first of three courses which provide the physiologic foundation for clinical courses. Emphasizing the complex nature of bodily functions, the course reviews normal physiology and provides a bridge to the concepts of pathophysiology that underlie dysfunction and disease. Clinical applications enhance understanding and introduce the skill of clinical reasoning.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 541 [Min Grade: C]
PA 549 Principles of Medical Science II 2.0 Credits
This course is the second of three courses which provide the physiologic foundation for clinical courses. Emphasizing the complex nature of bodily functions, the course reviews normal physiology and provides a bridge to the concepts of pathophysiology that underlie dysfunction and disease. Clinical applications enhance understanding and introduce the skill of clinical reasoning.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 541 [Min Grade: C]
PA 550 Principles of Medical Science II/I 2.0 Credits
This course is the last of three courses which provide the physiologic foundation for clinical courses. Emphasizing the complex nature of bodily functions, the course reviews normal physiology and provides a bridge to the concepts of pathophysiology that underlie dysfunction and disease in geriatrics, women's health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and surgery while refining clinical reasoning skills.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 541 [Min Grade: C]
PA 551 Pharmacology and Therapeutics I 3.0 Credits
This is the first in a series of three courses to provide Physician Assistant students with basic knowledge in pharmacology and therapeutics. Principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and clinical therapeutics are discussed for applications to primary care practice.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 548 [Min Grade: C]
PA 552 Pharmacology and Therapeutics II 2.0 Credits
This is the second in a series of three courses to provide Physician Assistant students with basic knowledge in pharmacology and therapeutics. Principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and clinical therapeutics are discussed for applications to primary care practice.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 549 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 551 [Min Grade: C]
PA 553 Pharmacology and Therapeutics III 2.0 Credits
The third in a series of three courses, this course provides Physician Assistant students with basic knowledge in pharmacology and therapeutics for specific patient populations. Principles of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and clinical therapeutics across the lifespan are discussed for applications to primary care practice.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 550 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 551 [Min Grade: C]
PA 554 Biopsychosocial Issues in Patient Care 5.0 Credits
This course introduces the PA student to the biopsychosocial model of patient care. Covering topics ranging from normal psychological development and human sexuality across the lifespan to responses to stress, injury, illness, and death, the course also introduces psychiatric disorders common to primary care practice.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 542 [Min Grade: C]
PA 556 Clinical Medicine I 5.0 Credits
This is the first of two courses designed to prepare the PA student with a body-system, problem-oriented approach to diseases encountered in primary care. Discussion of the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic studies for common disorders allows the PA student to problem solve through clinical reasoning.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 548 [Min Grade: C], PA 551 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C]
PA 557 Clinical Medicine II 5.0 Credits
This is the second of two courses designed to prepare the PA student with a body-system, problem-oriented approach to diseases encountered in primary care. Discussion of the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic studies for common disorders allows the PA student to problem solve through clinical reasoning.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 549 [Min Grade: C], PA 552 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C]
PA 558 Topics in Clinical Practice 5.0 Credits
The course prepares the PA student for clinical rotations though lecture and a problem-oriented approach to disorders in geriatrics, women's health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and surgery.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 10 credits
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 550 [Min Grade: C], PA 553 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C] and PA 556 [Min Grade: C] and PA 557 [Min Grade: C] and PA 551 [Min Grade: C] and PA 559 [Min Grade: C] and PA 560 [Min Grade: C]
PA 559 Clinical Skills I 2.0 Credits
This is the first of three courses designed to prepare the PA student with a problem-oriented, clinical approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of common primary care disorders. The course uses clinical reasoning and clinical skills application laboratories based on clinical scenarios to facilitate skill development.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 548 [Min Grade: C], PA 551 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C]
PA 560 Clinical Skills II 2.0 Credits
This is the second in a series of three courses designed to prepare the PA student with a problem-oriented, clinical approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of common primary care disorders. The course uses clinical reasoning and clinical skills application laboratories based on clinical scenarios to facilitate skill development.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 549 [Min Grade: C], PA 552 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C]
PA 561 Clinical Skills III 4.0 Credits
This is the third in series of three courses designed to prepare the PA student with a problem oriented, clinical approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of common primary care disorders. The course uses clinical reasoning and clinical skills laboratories based on clinical scenarios to facilitate skill development.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 550 [Min Grade: C], PA 553 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)PA 542 [Min Grade: C] and PA 544 [Min Grade: C] and PA 556 [Min Grade: C] and PA 557 [Min Grade: C]
PA 570 Clinical Assessment Competency 1.0 Credit
Clinical Assessment Competency is a required course for any PA student who experiences an interruption in the usual sequence of didactic and clinical training. The course provides the forum for the student to demonstrate competencies in knowledge and skills germane to clinical assessment requisite to patient evaluation and clinical practice.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 3 times for 3 credits
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 544 [Min Grade: C]
PA 571 Competency for Clinical Training 1.0 Credit
Competency for Clinical Training is a required course for any PA student who experiences an interruption in the usual sequence of didactic and clinical training after the second quarter in the program. The course provides the forum for the student to demonstrate competencies requisite for continued didactic and/or clinical training.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 3 times for 3 credits
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 544 [Min Grade: C] and PA 551 [Min Grade: C] and PA 556 [Min Grade: C] and PA 559 [Min Grade: C]
PA 581 Research Methods and Designs 5.0 Credits
The course introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate published research for clinical practice. Topics in this web-based course are research concepts, hypotheses and questions; literature searches and reviews; ethics in research; qualitative and quantitative research methods and designs including sampling, data collection and interpretation; and levels of scientific evidence.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 582 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice 5.0 Credits
With an emphasis on developing skills for clinicians to critically appraise the validity of medial literature, this online course offers a critical analysis of several types of research studies for use in clinical practice. The course requires knowledge and application of basic research and statistical concepts, and online searching skills.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 581 [Min Grade: C]
PA 583 Clinical Application of Epidemiology 5.0 Credits
This online course introduces basic terminology and concepts in epidemiology and develops knowledge for application of evidence-based health promotion strategies to clinical practice. The leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States are discussed in conjunction with recommendations for health promotion across the lifespan and population groups.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 584 Health Policy 5.0 Credits
This web-based course explores health policy issues relating to the cost of health care and disparities in access and quality of care, and strategies to address the deficiencies in the US health care system. Each student critiques a health policy imperative and proposes solutions to remedy the issues identified in the critique.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 585 Leadership and Stewardship 5.0 Credits
Key concepts of leadership with a focus on servant and visionary leadership are discussed in this online course. Stewardship and strategies for effecting change as a leader are explored through cases applicable to professional settings. Synthesis of course content is evidenced in the compilation of a professional leadership portfolio.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 629 Medicine Rotation 5.0 Credits
The Medicine Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with adult patient care experience under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients in an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 630 Pediatrics Rotation 5.0 Credits
The Pediatrics Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with pediatric patient care experience under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients in an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 631 Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation 5.0 Credits
The OB/Gyn Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with prenatal and gynecologic patient care experience under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients n an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 632 Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Rotation 5.0 Credits
The Psychiatry/Behavioral Health Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with psychiatric/behavioral health patient care experience under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients in an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 633 Surgery Rotation 5.0 Credits
The Surgery Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with surgical patient care experience under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients in an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 634 Emergency Medicine Rotation 5.0 Credits
The Emergency Medicine Rotation is a clinical course that provides the PA student with patient care experience in an emergency department setting under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students apply knowledge and skills learned in the didactic year to patient evaluation, and begin to apply patient management strategies to patients in an assigned clinical setting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 545 [Min Grade: C] and PA 546 [Min Grade: C] and PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 550 [Min Grade: C] and PA 553 [Min Grade: C] and PA 554 [Min Grade: C] and PA 558 [Min Grade: C] and PA 561 [Min Grade: C]
PA 635 Primary Care Practicum I 10.0 Credits
The Primary Care Practicum I is a clinical course that provides the PA student with patient care experience in an ambulatory medicine setting under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner. Students refine clinical skills learned in preparation for practice and increase knowledge of disease mechanisms and patient management for common primary care disorders.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 629 [Min Grade: C] and PA 630 [Min Grade: C] and PA 631 [Min Grade: C] and PA 632 [Min Grade: C] and PA 633 [Min Grade: C] and PA 634 [Min Grade: C]
PA 636 Graduate Project I 3.0-6.0 Credits
Graduate Project I is a variable credit course, 3-6 quarter credits, intended to prepare the PA student for the development of a project related to the candidate's research interests. The Graduate Project I course provides the PA student an opportunity to creatively address a proven deficiency in the realms of clinical medicine such as patient or medical provider educational material.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 547 [Min Grade: C] (Can be taken Concurrently)
PA 637 Primary Care Practicum II 10.0 Credits
The Primary Care Practicum II is a clinical course in which PA students continue to progress to higher levels of clinical responsibility for patient evaluation and management as clinical skills, medical knowledge, and professional confidence coalesce under the supervision of licensed medical providers. This course is the final clinical experience in the PA professional training program.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 635 [Min Grade: C] and PA 629 [Min Grade: C] and PA 630 [Min Grade: C] and PA 631 [Min Grade: C] and PA 632 [Min Grade: C] and PA 633 [Min Grade: C] and PA 634 [Min Grade: C]
PA 638 Graduate Project II 3.0-6.0 Credits
Graduate Project II is a supervised independent study course of variable credit, 3-6 quarter credits, in which the PA student further develops, implements, and evaluates the project proposed in the Graduate Project I course. Continued review and critique of the literature related to the project are required. The PA student works with an assigned faculty advisor for guidance and feedback.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 547 [Min Grade: C] and PA 636 [Min Grade: C]
PA 640 Clinical Practicum 5.0-10.0 Credits
Clinical Practicum is an elective clinical course that provides a forum for a PA student to acquire knowledge and clinical experience in a clinical specialty after completion of the required entry-level Physician Assistant Program curriculum. Through supervised clinical practice and review of current related literature, the PA student will develop foundational clinical skills and knowledge in the subspecialty studied.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 2 times for 20 credits
Prerequisites: PA 637 [Min Grade: C] and PA 638 [Min Grade: C]
PA 641 Clinical Update 5.0 Credits
This web-based course explores recent advances in clinical knowledge and recommendations for clinical practice, and develops the student's lifelong learning skills. The student undertakes a broad review of clinical medicine and identifies areas for enhancement of clinical knowledge and skills through the use of reputable electronic information sources.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 582 [Min Grade: C]
PA 642 Clinical Colloquium 5.0 Credits
In this online didactic course the student explores a clinical specialty through use of current, reputable information sources. The student identifies a clinical topics for in-depth study, and with faculty guidance uses critical appraisal of current literature for enhancement of knowledge in the topic, and application to the capstone project.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 641 [Min Grade: C]
PA 643 Clinical Practice Project Research 5.0 Credits
Working with an assigned advisor, the student reviews and catalogues the published literature related to the clinical practice project topic. The student composes a literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the foundation for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal within this course.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 642 [Min Grade: C]
PA 661 Tenets of Health Promotion 5.0 Credits
College/Department: College of Nursing & Health Professions
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 583 [Min Grade: C]
PA 662 Health Promotion Materials 5.0 Credits
In this online course, knowledge from the Health Promotion course is applied to the review of national health promotion campaigns, and the design of a theory-driven, audience-centered health promotion proposal. Topics essential to the design of effective health promotion campaigns such as health literacy, cultural competency, and the challenges presented by special population groups are explored.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 661 [Min Grade: C]
PA 663 Health Promotion Project Research 5.0 Credits
Working with an assigned advisor, the student reviews and catalogues the published literature related to the health promotion project topic. The student composes a literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the foundation for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal within this course.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 582 [Min Grade: C] and PA 662 [Min Grade: C]
PA 680 Summative Remediation 1.0 Credit
Summative Remediation is one credit course which provides an intensive review of major topics covered in the didactic and clinical phases of the PA program for any PA student who has not achieved minimum passing grades on two administrations of the Summative Examination /OSCE.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 637 [Min Grade: C]
PA 695 Portfolio Preparation 1.0 Credit
Working with an assigned advisor, this course assists the student document significant professional experience as a clinician, researcher, leader, and/or advocate in the preparation of a professional portfolio. Approval of the Program Director is required for course registration.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 581 [Min Grade: C] and PA 582 [Min Grade: C] and PA 583 [Min Grade: C] and PA 584 [Min Grade: C] and PA 585 [Min Grade: C]
PA 696 Portfolio Review 5.0-10.0 Credits
The Portfolio Review is conducted by a multi-disciplinary Portfolio Review Committee to award 5-10 academic credits for learning substantiated in the professional portfolio and matched to the educational competencies and outcomes of the Program. The portfolio must demonstrate analysis, synthesis, and interpretation of the professional experiential learning and be substantiated by documentation.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
PA 697 Independent Study 3.0-6.0 Credits
Independent Study is a variable (3-6) credit course in which the student works with in assigned advisor to review and catalogue the published literature related to the cognate topic of interest. The student composes a literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the basis for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal within this course.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 582 [Min Grade: C]
PA 698 Capstone Project 5.0 Credits
Working with an assigned advisor, the student develops, implements, and evaluates the literature-based capstone project designed within the cognate courses. Continued critical analysis of the literature related to the project is required to fulfill the goals of the project to advance dissemination of medical knowledge and quality of care.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Restrictions: Can enroll if major is PA.
Prerequisites: PA 643 [Min Grade: C] or PA 663 [Min Grade: C] or PA 697 [Min Grade: C]
