Master of Health Services
Physician Assistant Studies Program Curriculum
SUMMER 1st YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 250 | Foundations of Primary Health Care: Foundational primary health care concepts essential to the care of common medical and surgical conditions. Foundational content in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and clinical reasoning organized by organ system. | 8 |
| PAS 270 | Foundations of Pharmacology: Introduction to major concepts in foundational pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenetics, and other molecular mechanisms of health and disease. | 2 |
| PAS 400 | Basic Clinical Skills - Patient Interview - Physical Exam: Fundamental clinical skills for patient care. Principles of effective communication in establishing the therapeutic provider-patient relationship. | 5 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
FALL 1st YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 251A | Primary Health Care: Introduction to primary health care concepts essential to the care of common medical and surgical conditions. Various organ systems and specialty areas each quarter: Ophthalmology, Pulmonology, Renal, Genitourinary and Hematology/Oncology. | 8 |
| PAS 271A | Pharmacology: Pharmacology series aligned with pathophysiology and physical exam skills courses. Variable content each quarter. Different organ systems and specialty areas across the lifespan. | 2 |
| PAS 410A | Advanced Clinical Skills: History taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content. Organ system focus varies by quarter. | 4 |
| PAS 260 | Foundations of Behavioral Health: Spectrum of normal psychological development over the lifespan for children, adults and elders. Theories of stress and coping mechanism as a framework for the assessment of individuals. | 2 |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
WINTER 1st YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 251B | Primary Health Care: Introduction to primary health care concepts essential to the care of common medical and surgical conditions. Various organ systems and specialty areas each quarter: Cardiology, Ophthalmology, GI and Endocrinology. | 8 |
| PAS 271B | Pharmacology: Pharmacology series aligned with pathophysiology and physical exam skills courses. Variable content each quarter. Different organ systems and specialty areas across the lifespan. | 2 |
| PAS 410B | Advanced Clinical Skills: History taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content. Organ system focus varies by quarter. | 3 |
| NRS 220 | Social, Cultural and Behavioral Determinants of Health: Health is not merely the absence of disease but instead represents a state of physical, mental and social well-being. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. The purpose of this course is to help students understand and synthesize the impact of these circumstances on population health and the well-being of individuals across the lifespan. The effect of globalization, social, economic and political systems, local and global economies, culture, race, class, gender and sexuality on population health will be examined. Bio-psycho-social factors associated with personal health across the life span will be assessed. | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
SPRING 1st YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 251C | Primary Health Care: Introduction to primary health care concepts essential to the care of common medical and surgical conditions. Various organ systems and specialty areas each quarter: Musculoskeletal medicine, Rheumatology, Neurology and Psychiatry. | 7 |
| PAS 251D | Gender and Transgender Health: Health care concepts specific and essential to the care of men, women, and transgender populations. Unique aspects of preventive care and treatment of conditions specific to these populations. | 4 |
| PAS 271C | Pharmacology: Pharmacology series aligned with pathophysiology and physical exam skills courses. Variable content each quarter. Different organ systems and specialty areas across the lifespan. | 2 |
| PAS 410C | Advanced Clinical Skills: History taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content. Organ system focus varies by quarter. | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
SUMMER 2nd YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 251E |
Surgery & Emergency Medicine: Concepts essential to the care of common urgent and emergent medical conditions, as well as chronic, urgent, and emergent surgical conditions. Epidemiology, presentation, evaluation and management of these conditions. | 4 |
| PAS 251F |
Pediatrics & Gerontology: Health care concepts essential to care of special populations at earliest and latest stages of life. Unique aspects of both pediatric and geriatric patients. | 4 |
| PAS 243A |
Professional Practice in Healthcare: Role of the Physician Assistant in the context of healthcare system. Physician Assistant topics in practice of healthcare delivery within interprofessional team. | 2 |
| NRS 234V |
Research & Evidence-Based Practice: This graduate-level core course provides an introduction to evidence-based practice in healthcare and research methods used to produce evidence to support clinical decision making. This course serves as a foundation for developing, interpreting, and applying research, health, and systems data to answer clinical, systems, or policy questions. The emphasis will be on the reading, interpretation, and potential application of research, rather than the design and implementation of research. | 3 |
| PAS 410D |
Advanced Clinical Skills: History taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content. Organ system focus varies by quarter. | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
FALL 2nd YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 410E | Advanced Clinical Skills: Continuation of focus on history taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content related to specified systems. | 1 |
| PAS 450-459* |
Supervised Clinical Practice: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate provider (see details below) per accreditation requirements. | 14 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
WINTER 2nd YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 410F | Advanced Clinical Skills: Continuation of focus on history taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content related to specified systems. | 1 |
| PAS 450-459* |
Supervised Clinical Practice: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate provider (see details below) per accreditation requirements. | 14 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
SPRING 2nd YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 410G | Advanced Clinical Skills: Continuation of focus on history taking and physical examination skills with advanced/specialized content related to specified systems. | 1 |
| PAS 450-459* |
Supervised Clinical Practice: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate provider (see details below) per accreditation requirements. | 14 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
SUMMER 3rd YEAR
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 243B | Professional Practice in Healthcare: Current trends for Physician Assistants in U.S. healthcare system; delivery of healthcare; health outcomes; and PA profession. Specific requirements for graduate PA entering professional clinical practice. | 2 |
| PAS 450-459* |
Supervised Clinical Practice: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate provider (see details below) per accreditation requirements. | 14 |
| TOTAL | 16 | |
*SUPERVISED CLINICAL PRACTICE COURSES
Students will complete two 5-week clinical courses each quarter. Required clinical experiences include family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, psychiatry, emergency medicine, surgery, and internal medicine.
| COURSE | COURSE TITLE and TOPIC | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| PAS 450 | Supervised Clinical Practice -Family Medicine: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate community-based family medicine provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 451 | Supervised Clinical Practice – Pediatrics: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate community-based pediatric medicine provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 452 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Women's Health: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate community-based women’s health and prenatal care provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 453 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Mental Health: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate community-based psychiatrist, psychiatric/mental health provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 454 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Emergency Medicine: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate emergency medicine provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 455 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Surgery: Five-week clinical experience under the supervision of an appropriate surgical provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 456 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Internal Medicine: Five-week clinical rotation under the supervision of an appropriate internal medicine provider per accreditation requirements. | 7 |
| PAS 459 | Supervised Clinical Practice - Other Specialties: Five-week selective rotations available to accommodate student interest and/or accommodate a student’s clinical deficits identified by the program. | 7 |
| TOTAL | 14 | |
