Physician Assistant program students are expected to complete the program curriculum in the order specified below. Each semester's coursework is to be considered prerequisite to the next semester. Students may not enter the program with advanced standing, regardless of educational or work experience, and no accelerated curriculum or course waivers are offered.
Pre-Clinical
| Class Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA 5003 | Physiology & Pathophysiology | 4 Credits |
| MPA 5061 | Clinical Anatomy for Health Professions | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5082 | Introduction to the PA Profession | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5341 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Medicine | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5342 | Business of Medicine | 1 Credits |
| MPA 5800 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | |
| MPA 5002 | Introduction to Medical Diagnostics & Interventions | .5 credits |
| Semester Total: | 15.5 Credits |
Pre-Clinical
| Class Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA 5091 | Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5112 | Clinical Pharmacology I | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5005 | Medical Diagnostics I | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5314 | Patient Counseling and Education | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5162 | Introduction to Clinical Medicine I | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5800 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 0.5 Credits |
| Semester Total: |
16.5 Credits |
Pre-Clinical
| Class Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA 5193 | Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II | 4 Credits |
| MPA 5213 | Clinical Pharmacology II | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5165 | Medical Diagnostics II | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5253 | Introduction to Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5263 | Introduction to Clinical Medicine II | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5801 | Practicum for Interprofessional Practice | |
| Semester Total: | 17 Credits |
Pre-Clinical
| Class Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA 5235 | Medical Diagnostics III | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5295 | Clinical Assessment and Reasoning III | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5142 | Psychosocial Elements of Wellness | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5365 | Clinical Pharmacology III | 2 Credits |
| MPA 5364 | Introduction to Clinical Medicine III | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5801 | Practicum for Interprofessional Practice | 0.5 Credits |
| Total: | 16.5 Credits | |
| Pre-Clinical Total: | 65.5 Credits |
Each semester is approximately four months in duration. The sequence of clinical rotations is subject to change based on the number, specialty and location of preceptor sites, and will vary from student to student.
Supervised Clinical Practice (SCP)
| Class Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPA 5465 | introduction to Clinical Practice | 1 Credit |
| MPA 5705 | SCP: Family Medicine (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5715 | SCP: Pediatric Medicine (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5725 | SCP: General Internal Medicine (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5735 | SCP: Emergency Medicine (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5745 | SCP: General Surgery (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5755 | SCP: Women’s Health (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5785 | SCP: Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5790 | SCP: Elective I (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5795 | SCP: Elective II (5 weeks) | 3 Credits |
| MPA 5900 | Senior Seminar (throughout the clinical phase) | 5 Credits |
| MPA 5802 | Interprofessional Practice (semester 5,6 & 7) | 1 Credit |
| Clinical Total: | 34 Credits | |
| Degree Total: | 99.5 Credits |
MPA 5003: Physiology & Pathophysiology (4 Credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide advanced coverage of human pathophysiology through the analysis of diseased and other abnormal physiological conditions.
MPA 5061: Clinical Anatomy for Health Professions (5 Credits)
A study and exploration of the human cadaver through lecture, lab dissection and prosections.
MPA 5002: Introduction to Medical Diagnostics & Interventions (.5 credit)
This course will introduce the fundamentals and foundational skills of clinical ultrasonography.
MPA 5082: Introduction to the PA Profession (3 Credits)
This course explores the history, role, practice scope and professional policies of the physician assistant in healthcare. It also presents an interactive and strategic examination of the evolving American healthcare system, the issues and controversies relative to healthcare reforms and the growing impact of managed care.
MPA 5342: Business of Medicine (1 Credit)
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a future provider’s perspective of the US health care system.
MPA 5341: Legal and Medical Ethical Issues in Medicine (2 Credits)
This course examines the relationships and impact of health law and medical ethics in healthcare by analyzing case studies of contemporary health issues.
MPA 5800: Foundations of Interprofessional Practice
Foundations of Interprofessional Practice introduces interprofessional roles in healthcare in order to enable effective collaboration for a safe, effective and value-driven healthcare delivery system by emphasizing teams of professionals working together in order to benefit patients and improve health outcomes. The course extends through semesters 1 and 2.
MPA 5091: Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I (3 Credits)
Introduces the beginning practitioner to the skills of listening, communicating, data collecting and documenting patient encounters.
MPA 5112: Clinical Pharmacology I (3 Credits)
This course provides preparation for appropriate administration/prescription of medicines, which is accomplished through a study of drug classifications, pharmacodynamic actions and rationale for therapeutic use of prescription and nonprescription medications.
MPA 5005: Medical Diagnostics I (3 Credits)
This course introduces and assesses clinical competency of specified skills, diagnostic modalities, and interventions related to professional responsibilities and practices in patient care.
MPA 5314: Patient Counseling and Education (2 Credits)
This course builds on knowledge gained in clinical science courses by providing the student with the skills necessary to educate patients about their disease processes, help patients become a partner in their own healthcare and guide patients toward health-promoting behavior.
MPA 5162: Introduction to Clinical Medicine I (5 Credits)
This course is designed to lay the foundation for patient care through a comprehensive understanding of illness. This 3-course series in the medical sciences and related technologies addresses care of the adult, adolescent and pediatric patient beginning with common acute self-limited illnesses and progressing to more complex, well-defined chronic disorders.
MPA 5193: Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II (4 Credits)
This course introduces the use of examination techniques and equipment used during a patient-centered physical examination and emphasizes the relationship of the exam to the history to aid in developing competency and clinical judgment in clinical assessment. It also promotes a working knowledge base for integrating information into decision-making, diagnosis hypothesis, clinical reasoning, and data resolution skills through cooperative learning strategies and selected clinical topics.
MPA 5213: Clinical Pharmacology II (3 Credits)
Preparation for appropriate administration/prescription of medicines is accomplished through a study of drug classifications, pharmacodynamic actions and rationale for therapeutic use of prescription and nonprescription medications.
MPA 5165: Medical Diagnostics II (3 Credits)
This course introduces and assesses clinical competency of specified skills, diagnostic modalities, and interventions related to professional responsibilities and practices in patient care.
MPA 5253: Introduction to Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine (2 Credits)
This course introduces population epidemiology and decision-making theory, followed by an introduction to and application of the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care.
MPA 5263: Introduction to Clinical Medicine II (5 Credits)
Designed to lay the foundation for patient care through a comprehensive understanding of illness. This 3-course series in the medical sciences and related technologies addresses care of the adult, adolescent and pediatric patient beginning with common acute self-limited illnesses and progressing to more complex, well-defined chronic disorders.
MPA 5801: Practicum for Interprofessional Practice
Practicum for Interprofessional Practice introduces interprofessional roles in healthcare to enable effective collaboration for a safe, effective and value-driven healthcare delivery system by emphasizing teams of professionals working together in order to benefit patients and improve outcomes. This course is an interprofessional educational experience for both PA and MD students. The course extends through semesters 3 and 4.
MPA 5295: Clinical Assessment and Reasoning III (5 Credits)
This course integrates the patient-centered history-taking and physical examination skills presented in Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I and II and emphasizes differential formulation in the context of problem-focused encounters. A systematic approach is used in studying the comprehensive and problem-oriented clinical assessment of various patient populations within simulated cases.
MPA 5235: Medical Diagnostics III (2 Credits)
This course introduces and assesses clinical competency of specified skills, diagnostic modalities, and interventions related to professional responsibilities and practices in patient care.
MPA 5365: Clinical Pharmacology III (2 Credits)
Preparation for appropriate administration/prescription of medicines is accomplished through a study of drug classifications, pharmacodynamic actions, and rationale for therapeutic use of prescription and non-prescription medications.
MPA 5142: Psychosocial Elements of Wellness (2 Credits)
The societal determinants of health, illness and disease are explored as a continuum of community care, a promotion of cultural sensitivity and an enrichment of the clinician-patient relationship.
MPA 5364: Introduction to Clinical Medicine III (5 Credits)
Designed to lay the foundation for patient care through a comprehensive understanding of illness. This 3-course series in the medical sciences and related technologies addresses care of the adult, adolescent and pediatric patient beginning with common acute self-limited illnesses and progressing to more complex, well-defined chronic disorders.
MPA 5465: Introduction to Clinical Practice – Seminar (1 Credit)
This course will cover clinical year expectations and standards as well as reinforce the extensive medical knowledge base that was developed during the didactic portion of the MPA program. The primary focus is to prepare students for the clinical year by reinforcing clinical knowledge and emphasizing information needed to be successful in the clinical year.
MPA 5705: Supervised Clinical Practice: Family Medicine (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5715: Supervised Clinical Practice: Pediatric Medicine (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5725: Supervised Clinical Practice: General Internal Medicine I (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5735: Supervised Clinical Practice: Emergency Medicine (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5745: Supervised Clinical Practice: General Surgery (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5755: Supervised Clinical Practice: Women's Health (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5785: Supervised Clinical Practice: Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
MPA 5790: Supervised Clinical Practice: Elective I (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
This may consist of one 5-week elective in a chosen area of medicine.
MPA 5795: Supervised Clinical Practice: Elective II (3 Credits, 5 Weeks)
This may consist of one 5-week elective in a chosen area of medicine.
MPA 5900: Senior Seminar (5 Credits)
The purpose of this course is to prepare the student for transition to a practicing PA through lectures, small group activities and oral presentations. Students will be required to participate in comprehensive board review sessions designed for certification. At the conclusion of the course, students will be required to pass a summative evaluation designed to assess overall performance and preparation for clinical practice.
MPA 5802: Interprofessional Practice (1 Credit)
This course focuses on the observation and application of interprofessional concepts within healthcare teams in clinical practice to enable effective collaboration for a safe, effective and value-driven healthcare delivery system. This is accomplished by emphasizing teams of professionals working together in order to benefit patients and improve health outcomes.
This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.
