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 |
| TOTAL | 13 | |
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: Foundation for doctoral-level RNs to analyze research, health, and systems data to answer clinical, systems, or policy questions. Use and examine multiple sources of data and information as a basis for planned change and transformation in health care. | 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. | 7 |
| TOTAL | 8 | |
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. | 7 |
| TOTAL | 8 | |
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. | 7 |
| TOTAL | 10 | |
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. | 7 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
*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 | 12 | |
