School of Health & Human Sciences
Courses
Physician Assistant Studies
- ANAT-D 528 Gross Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals (5 cr.) This is an introductory course in human gross anatomy designed to introduce the principal concepts, basic structure and function of the human body. Students will have the opportunity to learn, through dissection and demonstration of human cadaveric specimens, clinical and functional correlates of human anatomy.
- MPAS-M 500 Introduction to the PAProfession (3 cr.) This course is primarily lecture style with some guest speakers and group project work. It provides students with an understanding of the history and development of the Physician Assistant (PA) profession and the PA’s role in the health care system. Also explored are issues confronting practicing professionals such as regulations governing practice, credentialing, licensure, malpractice insurance, physician supervision, delegation and prescribing, providing culturally sensitive care and ethics.
- MPAS-M 501 Clinical Medicine for PA I (8 cr.) The first in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems, while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
- MPAS-M 502 Clinical Medicine for PA II (15 cr.) The second in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems, while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
- MPAS-M 503 Clinical Medicine for PA III (11 cr.) The third in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems, while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
- MPAS-M 504 Clinical Therapeutics (3 cr.) This course builds on the general principles of pharmacology and teaches how they are used to make rational clinical prescribing decisions. Students will develop the pharmacologic and therapeutic skills that a physician assistant will need to provide comprehensive patient care in clinical practice.
- MPAS-M 505 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for PA (2 cr.) This course prepares the Physician Assistant student to apply the principles of health promotion and disease prevention across the patient lifecycle in clinical and/or community setting.
- MPAS-M 506 Behavioral Medicine (2 cr.) This course will focus on knowledge and clinical skills to assess and treat psychiatric and psychosocial conditions encountered during clinical rotations and clinical practice. The skills to examine patients' symptoms and behaviors related to emotional disorders, difficult patient and family interactions will be addressed. The knowledge, skills, and approaches required to effectively provide care for patients with behavioral change needs which are encountered in everyday practice will also be addressed. Additionally, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism competencies, and cultural and patient context topics will be components of the course.
- MPAS-M 507 Patient Evaluation I (3 cr.) This course prepares the Physician Assistant student to perform basic interviewing and history-taking skills. Students will explore the components of the complete physical examination, special testing, and documentation.
- MPAS-M 508 Patient Evaluation II (3 cr.) This course is a continuation of Patient Evaluation I in which students continue to explore the components of the complete physical examination, special testing, and documentation. They will be challenged to refine history taking and written documentation skills, further cultivate critical thinking, and begin to develop oral presentation skills.
- MPAS-M 509 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies and Public Health for PA (2 cr.) This course will explore U.S. health care systems and policies. Discussion will focus on policy formation; influencers on policy making (stakeholders and data); health care system operations; the impact policies have on U.S. health care outcomes; and the interaction of national, state, and local policies.
- MPAS-M 510 Introduction to Evidence Based Medicine for PA (1 cr.) Introduction to the use of evidence based literature to inform clinical decision making.
- SHRS-K 531 Clinical Physiology & Pathophysiology I (4 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide physician assistant students with a knowledge base of human physiology and pathology as a foundation for their clinical practice. This is the first course in a two-semester sequence of courses.
- MPAS-M 531 Clinical Physiology & Pathophysiology I (4 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide physician assistant students with a knowledge base of human physiology and pathology as a foundation for their clinical practice. This is the first course in a two-semester sequence of courses.
- MPAS-M 532 Clinical Physiology & Pathophysiology II (4 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide physician assistant students with a fundamental knowledge of human physiology and pathology as a foundation for clinical practice. This is the second course in a two course sequence.
- MPAS-M 681 Clinical Rotation: Family Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Family Medicine Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in Family Medicine under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on patients across the life span.
- MPAS-M 682 Clinical Rotation: Outpatient Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Outpatient Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in a variety of outpatient medicine opportunities under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications, multiple co-morbidities and impact on patients across the life span.
- SHRS-K 683 Clinical Rotation: Women’s Health (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Women's Health Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in Women's Health under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on patients across the life span.
- MPAS-M 684 Clinical Rotation: Pediatrics (3 cr.)
M684 is the 4-week Pediatric Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in Pediatric Medicine under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on patients in the pediatric population.
- MPAS-M 685 Clinical Rotation: Surgery (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Surgical Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in general surgery under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative conditions, their complications and impact on patients across the life span.
- MPAS-M 686 Clinical Rotation: Behavioral Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Psychiatric Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in psychiatry under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to acute and chronic mental health conditions, their complications and impact on patients across the life span.
- MPAS-M 687 Clinical Rotation: Public Health and Community Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Community Medicine Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation was created and designed to provide students with a unique opportunity within a Community Medicine Health Center, to maximize the physician/physician assistant collaboration model, to further develop awareness of and coordination with all health team members, and to experience and participate the concept of a patient centered medical home. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on patients across the life span, within the underserved population.
- MPAS-M 688 Clinical Rotation: Internal Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in inpatient medicine, under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on primarily adult and geriatric patients.
- MPAS-M 689 Clinical Rotation: Emergency Medicine (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in Emergency Medicine under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on patients across the life span.
- MPAS-M 690 Clinical Rotation: Specialty Selective (3 cr.) This is the 4-week Selective Clinical Rotation requirement of the experiential year. This clinical rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity in any area of specialty medicine or surgery of their choosing, under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to diverse emergent, acute, and chronic patient encounters, their complications and impact on primarily adult and geriatric patients.
- MPAS-M 691 Clinical Rotation: Elective (2 cr.) This is the 3-week Elective Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue an area of medicine beyond that of the core rotations. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest that is available within the United States or abroad. This rotation serves to deepen the student's commitment and understanding of preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic treatment of patients, and their complications.
- MPAS-M 692 Clinical Rotation: Elective (2 cr.) This is the 2 or 4-week Elective Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue an area of medical beyond that of the 9 core required rotations. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest that is available within the United States or abroad. This rotation serves to deepen their commitment and understanding of preventive, emergent, acute, and chronic treatment of patients, and their complications. The rotation offers students an opportunity to create a clinical rotation unique to their interests and which fosters a deepening appreciation for the environment of global health, and the diverse ethnic, cultural and economic environments in which medicine is practiced. Students self-select in order to participate in an international rotation overseas, as long as they practice under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor.
- MPAS-M 693 Scholarly Inquiry and Research Project For PA I (1 cr.) This course allows Physician Assistant students to complete a clinically relevant research project under his or her faculty advisor's supervision. Students will identify a clinically oriented question and use the principles of evidence-based critical inquiry to address the question.
- MPAS-M 694 Clinical Skills for PA II (1 cr.) This is the second course in a series of two courses. This course is an introduction to clinical skills pertinent to physician assistant practice, including shave and punch biopsy, digital block, chest tube placement, central line placement, musculoskeletal exam, phlebotomy, intravenous access, injections, and sterile technique.
- MPAS-M 695 Seminar in Physician Assistant Clinical Practice (1 cr.) This course is a continuation of some theory introduced in M500, with emphasis placed on preparing the clinical PA for the PANCE and employment. Students will integrate concepts and knowledge gained from didactic instruction and clinical rotations with emphasis placed on preparation for entering clinical practice. Students will be introduced to past, current and emerging health care delivery systems and methods of health care reimbursement. Also explored are issues confronting practicing professionals such as risk management/malpractice, quality improvement, billing and coding, certification, preparation for the PANCE exam, employment search, CV preparation and professional liability. A Packrat II formative exam and Summative final exam are also a component of this course.
- MPAS-M 698 Concepts in Leadership and Management for PA (4 cr.) This online course provides students with the opportunity to perform a needs assessment within a clinical rotation(s) and assume the leadership role necessary for its proposed implementation. Upon graduation, each PA is required to earn PI-CME (performance improvement continuing medical education credits), in order to maintain PANCE certification. This Quality Improvement Project is designed to introduce each of you to the concept of this additionally mandated competency measure, and is designed to be initiated during one of your clinical rotations. This Quality Improvement Project has been modified utilizing the principals of a PI-CME format, to allow you create a proposed project outline, without requiring you to collect/ generate data. Additionally, each student will complete online readings and reflective self-assessments, designed to identify their leadership qualities. Students will be required to write a 3 stage proposal, identifying a need, demonstrating problem solving techniques, and defining steps for success.
- MPAS-M 818 Principles of Medical Pharmacology (3 cr.) This survey of pharmacology will teach the student general principles of drug action. Students will develop an understanding of the basic pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles underlying drug therapy; prototypic drugs and their adverse effects; the development of drug dependence and addiction; and an awareness of environmental toxins.
