Clinical Phase

While the Program makes every attempt to ensure that our students will have minimal travel throughout the clinical phase of their training, there are many excellent sites throughout the United States. Student preferences for specific sites are considered, however, temporary travel and relocation may be required.

Clinical Phase Coursework

The clinical phase of the program includes four semesters of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs), further didactic training and research, and summative evaluation and training. Didactic sessions will include lectures, grand rounds presentations, small and large group sessions, course and program evaluations, and an in-depth board review session. 


All of the following courses are required for graduation. The MPAS Program does not permit advanced placement and does not waive any of the below course requirements under any circumstance.

  • PA 540 - Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

    Practice-Based Learning and Improvement is designed as the PA students’ graduate-level research course with emphasis on practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI). The course includes specific training in evidence-based medicine and practices, systems-based practice, practice/performance improvement, research methods & design, and the analysis and application of medical research. This course will serve as a foundational course enabling the PA student to conduct a systematic review on a relevant research practice topic. Most of the course will be conducted via team-based learning in which students will receive and review presentation material prior to each class session and then discuss and apply what they have learned to activities conducted in small and large group sessions. Four semester hours.

     


    Required Text(s): The course will use multiple peer-reviewed articles and learning module trainings as the main required readings.

  • PA 601 - Behavioral Medicine/Psychiatry SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Behavioral Medicine/Psychiatric SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female patients in a behavioral medicine and psychiatric practice setting; experiences can take place in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 602 - Emergency Medicine SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Emergency Medicine SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in the emergency medicine practice setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 603 - Family Medicine SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Family Medicine SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure toand training with male and female pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in a primarily outpatient family practice setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 604 - General Surgery SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The General Surgery SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female patients in a primarily inpatient surgical treatment setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on surgical conditions and procedures; students will participate in operating room cases, hospital consultations for surgical conditions and pre- and post-surgical patient evaluations. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 605 - Internal Medicine/Hospitalist SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Internal Medicine – Hospitalist SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female adult and geriatric patients in a primarily inpatient hospitalist setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours

  • PA 606 - Pediatrics SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Pediatric SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female pediatric and adolescent patients in a primarily outpatient pediatric practice. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 608 - Women’s Health SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acuteand chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Women’s Health SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with adult female patients in both outpatient and inpatient practice settings. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment and management specifically related to obstetrical and gynecological conditions and preventative healthcare. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 609 - Selective SCPE

    Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Elective SCPE is specifically designed as a 6-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training in an elective specialty and practice setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment and management specifically related to specialty and practice setting. Four and one-half semester hours.

  • PA 622 - Summative Course

    The Summative Course includes lectures and seminars providing students with an intensive board review in preparation for their national certification examination in addition to summative written and practical examinations required for program completion. Three semester hours.

  • PA 650 - Special Topics

    Selected topics in Physician Assistant Studies chosen by the department chair and instructor. May be re-taken for credit for different topics. One to eight semester hours.