Physician Assistant Post-professional Master’s Program: Course Descriptions

Research Methods and Designs               PA 581                      
5 credits
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.

Principles of Evidence-Based Practice   PA 582                         5 credits
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

Clinical Applications of Epidemiology      PA 583                         5 credits
This online 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.

Health Policy                                              PA 584                         5 credits
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.

Leadership and Stewardship                    PA 585                         5 credits
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.

Clinical Update                                             PA 641                         5 credits
This web-based course explores recent advances in clinical knowledge and recommendations for clinical practice, and develops the student’s lifelong learning skills. The student undertakes a broad review of clinical medicine and identifies areas for enhancement of his/her own clinical knowledge and skills through use of reputable electronic information sources.
Pre-requisite: PA 582

Clinical Colloquium                            PA 642                        
5 credits
In this online didactic course the student explores a clinical specialty via current, reputable information sources. The student identifies a clinical topic for an in-depth study, and with faculty guidance, uses critical appraisal of current literature for enhancement of his/her own knowledge of the topic, and application to the capstone project.
Pre-requisite: PA 641

Clinical Practicum                                        PA 640                         5 credits
This optional clinical course provides a forum for the student to acquire knowledge and clinical experience in a clinical specialty. Through supervised clinical practice, critical appraisal of current medical literature, and preceptor discussions, the student develops foundational clinical skills and knowledge in the chosen subspecialty for application to clinical practice.
Pre-requisite: PA 641

Clinical Practice Project Research          PA 643                         5 credits
Working with an assigned advisor, the student reviews and catalogues the published literature related to the previously identified clinical practice topic. The student composes a literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the foundation for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal produced within this course.
Pre-requisite:                                               PA 642 (or PA 640)

Tenets of Health Promotion                      PA 661                          5 credits
The online Health Promotion course evaluates principles and theories for health promotion in terms of societal, political, and personal factors affecting health. Strategies for advancing the health status of individuals and groups are explored with a focus on the generation of effective health promotion messages.
Pre-requisite: PA 583

Health Promotion Materials                      PA 662                         5 credits
In this online course, knowledge from the Health Promotion course is applied to the review of current national health promotion campaigns, and the design of a theory-driven, audience-centered health promotion proposal. Topics essential to the design of effective health promotion campaigns such as health literacy, cultural competency, and the challenges presented by special populations are explored.
Pre-requisite: PA 661

Health Promotion Project Research       PA 663                          5 credits
The student works with an assigned advisor to review and catalogue the published literature related to the previously identified health promotion topic. The student composes a literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the foundation for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal within this course.
Pre-requisites: PA 582; PA 662

Portfolio Preparation                                 PA 695                          1 credit
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

Portfolio Review PA 696 5-10 credits
Students who have published in peer-reviewed publications, presented at professional meetings, participated in funded research studies, or have other exceptional professional experience in the PA role may elect to have their professional portfolio reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of university faculty for 5-10 credits in lieu of the project research and capstone project courses.
Co-requisite: PA 695

Independent Study PA 697 3-6 credits
In this variable credit course, the student works with an assigned advisor to review and catalogue the published literature related to the cognate topic of interest. The student composes a formal literature review and gap analysis, and critically appraises articles as the foundation for the design and outline of the capstone project proposal within this course.
Pre-requisites: PA 582; and all Certificate program courses

Capstone Project PA 698 5 credits
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