Program Overview

M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies

Curriculum

The M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to become a physician assistant. The program consists of didactic and clinical components, with a focus on evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and interprofessional collaboration.

Course List

The following courses are required for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program:

• Didactic Requirements
  • SMD 500: Human Cadaver Anatomy (2 credits)
  • SMD 501: Human Cadaver Dissection (4 credits)
  • PAS 502: Legal and Ethical Practice (credits not specified)
  • PAS 503: Healthcare and the Evolving Role of the PA (credits not specified)
  • SMD 505: Evidence Based Practice in Sports Medicine (3 credits)
  • PAS 510: Patient Communication and Assessment (credits not specified)
  • PAS 511: Physical Diagnosis (credits not specified)
  • PAS 512: Physiology and Pharmacology (credits not specified)
  • PAS 513: Medical Pathophysiology and Clinical Microbiology (credits not specified)
  • PAS 514: Introduction to Diagnostics (credits not specified)
  • PAS 515: Professional Issues and Healthcare Policy (credits not specified)
  • PAS 520: Clinical Medicine for the Lifespan I (credits not specified)
  • PAS 521: Pharmacotherapeutics (credits not specified)
  • PAS 522: Emergent and Surgical Medicine (credits not specified)
  • PAS 523: Clinical Reasoning and Evidence-Based Practice (credits not specified)
  • PAS 524: Diagnostics Seminar (credits not specified)
  • PAS 525: Interprofessional Practice Seminar (credits not specified)
  • PAS 530: Clinical Medicine for the Lifespan II (credits not specified)
  • PAS 531: Health Promotion and Patient Safety (credits not specified)
  • PAS 532: Applied Behavioral Health (credits not specified)
  • PAS 533: Clinical Skills Lab (credits not specified)
  • PAS 540: Current and Emerging Issues in Healthcare (credits not specified)
  • PAS 541: Clinical Practice Seminar (credits not specified)
• Clinical and Master's Requirements
  • Master's Experience I: PAS 611 (credits not specified)
  • Master's Experience II: PAS 621 (credits not specified)
  • Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences:
    • PAS 610: Internal Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 620: Surgery Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 630: Pediatrics Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 640: Emergency Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 650: Women's Health and Prenatal Care Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 660: Behavioral Health Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 670: Family Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 680: Elective Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
  • Master's Experience III: PAS 631 (credits not specified)

Total Minimum Credits Required

The total minimum credits required for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program is 101 credits.

Sample Course Plan

A sample course plan for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program is provided below:

• Summer Before Year 1 (May-July)
  • SMD 500: Human Cadaver Anatomy (2 credits)
  • SMD 501: Human Cadaver Dissection (4 credits)
  • PAS 502: Legal and Ethical Practice (credits not specified)
  • PAS 503: Healthcare and the Evolving Role of the PA (credits not specified)
• Year One
  • Fall
    • SMD 505: Evidence Based Practice in Sports Medicine (3 credits)
    • PAS 510: Patient Communication and Assessment (credits not specified)
    • PAS 511: Physical Diagnosis Lab (credits not specified)
    • PAS 512: Physiology and Pharmacology (credits not specified)
    • PAS 513: Medical Pathophysiology and Clinical Microbiology (credits not specified)
    • PAS 514: Introduction to Diagnostics (credits not specified)
    • PAS 515: Professional Issues and Healthcare Policy (credits not specified)
  • Spring
    • PAS 520: Clinical Medicine for the Lifespan I (credits not specified)
    • PAS 521: Pharmacotherapeutics (credits not specified)
    • PAS 522: Emergent and Surgical Medicine (credits not specified)
    • PAS 523: Clinical Reasoning and Evidence-Based Practice (credits not specified)
    • PAS 524: Diagnostics Seminar (credits not specified)
    • PAS 525: Interprofessional Practice Seminar (credits not specified)
  • Summer Session I
    • PAS 530: Clinical Medicine for the Lifespan II (credits not specified)
    • PAS 531: Health Promotion and Patient Safety (credits not specified)
    • PAS 532: Applied Behavioral Health (credits not specified)
    • PAS 533: Clinical Skills Lab (credits not specified)
  • Summer Session II
    • PAS 540: Current and Emerging Issues in Healthcare (credits not specified)
    • PAS 541: Clinical Practice Seminar (credits not specified)
• Year Two
  • Fall
    • PAS 610: Internal Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 611: Master's Experience: Develop (credits not specified)
    • PAS 620: Surgery Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 630: Pediatrics Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 640: Emergency Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
  • Spring
    • PAS 621: Master's Experience: Refine (credits not specified)
    • PAS 650: Women's Health and Prenatal Care Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 660: Behavioral Health Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
    • PAS 670: Family Medicine Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
  • Summer Session I
    • PAS 680: Elective Clinical Experience (credits not specified)
  • Summer Session II
    • PAS 631: Master's Experience: Execute (credits not specified)