Physician Assistant Post-Professional Master's Program

Curriculum

All students in the program complete a total of 45 quarter credits for graduation. The program requires completion of 5 core courses or 25 quarter credits. The cognate courses, 15 quarter credits, are courses in a student’s area of interest, and 5 quarter credits for the Capstone project that deepen a student’s understanding of chosen areas. For the exceptional graduate student with significant, professional credentials achieved as a physician assistant, preparation and presentation of the professional portfolio to a university-based multidisciplinary committee may substitute for all or portions of the credits required for the two graduate project courses.

Course Descriptions

PA 581 — Research Methods and Designs 

This course introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate published research for clinical practice. Topics included in this web-based course are research concepts, hypotheses, and questions; literature searches and reviews; ethics in research; quantitative and qualitative research designs including sampling, data collection and interpretation; and levels of scientific evidence.

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PA 582 — Principles of Evidence-Based Practice

With an emphasis on developing skills for clinicians to critically appraise the validity of medical literature, this online course offers a critical analysis of several types of research studies for use in clinical practice. The course requires knowledge and application of basic research and statistical concepts, and online literature searching skills. Pre-requisite: PA 581 

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PA 583 — Clinical Applications of Epidemiology  

This course introduces basic terminology and concepts in epidemiology and develops knowledge for application of evidence-based health promotion strategies to clinical practice. The leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States are discussed in conjunction with recommendations for health promotion across the lifespan and population groups.

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PA 584 — Health Policy 

The web-based course explores health policy issues relating to the costs of health care and disparities in access and quality of care, and strategies to address the deficiencies in the US health care system. Each student critiques a health policy imperative and proposes solutions to remedy the identified issues.

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PA 585 — Leadership and Stewardship 

Key concepts and theories of leadership with a focus on servant and visionary leadership are discussed in this online course. Stewardship and strategies for effecting change as a leader are explored through cases applicable to professional settings. Synthesis of course content is evidenced in the compilation of a professional leadership portfolio.

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Cognate I / Cognate II / Cognate III

Students may select two courses related to their areas of interest from within the University or, with approval, they may transfer six graduate-level credits to meet the cognate requirements. Click here for a list of course selections.

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PA 698 — Capstone Project  

Working with an assigned advisor, the graduate student develops, implements, and evaluates the literature-based capstone project designed within the cognate courses. Continued critical analysis of the literature related to the project is required to fulfill the goals of the project to improve dissemination of medical knowledge and quality of care.
Pre-requisites: PA 643; or PA 663; or completion of all Certificate Program courses and PA 697 

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PA 695 — Portfolio Preparation

Students qualifying for professional portfolio submission to the multidisciplinary panel of university faculty will develop and organize their professional portfolio under the direction of a faculty advisor. Co-requisite: PA 696 

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PA 696 — Portfolio Review 
(Prerequisite: Portfolio Preparation) 

Students who have been the primary author of articles published in peer-review publications, presented at professional meetings, worked with professional organizations, participated in funded studies as a primary investigator, or have other exceptional professional experience may elect to have their professional portfolio reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of University faculty for three to twelve credits. The portfolio must meet the specified criteria for submission.

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