Clinical Year Component Course Sequence and Descriptions
Course Sequence
| The Clinical Year Component follows the Classroom Component. It is 12 months in length. It runs from January to December. | |
|---|---|
| SEMESTER 5, SPRING 2 | |
| PA 625 Health Promotion & Disease Prevention | 1 |
| Rotation Period 1 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 2 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 3 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 4 | 2 |
| Semester Total | 9 credits |
| SEMESTER 6, SUMMER 2 | |
| PA 643 Values in Primary Care | 3 |
| Rotation Period 5 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 6 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 7 | 2 |
| Semester Total | 9 credits |
| SEMESTER 7, FALL 3 | |
| PA 642 Transition to Practice | 1 |
| Rotation Period 8 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 9 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 10 | 2 |
| Rotation Period 11 | 2 |
| Semester Total | 9 credits |
There are three classroom courses and eleven required rotations. The classroom courses meet when students return to campus for a few days following every 2-3 rotations. Each rotation is four weeks in length. Nine are in required medical specialty rotations. One rotation is an elective and one is time set aside for a directed research project. The sequence in which the rotations are completed varies with each student.
The rotating courses are:
- PA 654 Managing Medical Information IV: Directed Project
- PA 670 Elective Rotation
- PA 671 Family Medicine Clinical Rotation I
- PA 672 Family Medicine Clinical Rotation II
- PA 673 Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation I
- PA 674 Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation II
- PA 675 Pediatrics Clinical Rotation
- PA 676 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Rotation
- PA 677 General Surgery Clinical Rotation
- PA 678 Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation
- PA 679 Behavioral Medicine Clinical Rotation
Course Descriptions
PA 625. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 1 credit.
The course presents strategies that physician assistants employ in promoting health and well being among the people they serve. It also examines public health strategies focused on early discovery of disease, prevention of disease, and stopping the spread of disease. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 642. Transition to Physician Assistant Practice. 1 credit.
This course examines issues related to the shift from the role of a PA student to that of a practicing PA. Topics include medical liability and risk management, business aspects of clinical practice, credentialing processes, and career development. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 643. Values in Primary Care. 3 credits.
This course provides an overview of professional ethics as they apply to primary care practice for physician assistants. The focus is on major principles and methodologies that guide clinicians in ethical decision-making as they encounter situations common to primary care practice. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 654. Managing Medical Information IV: Directed Project. 2 credits
This is the fourth in a four-course series designed to provide the physician assistant student with skills to understand research design, analyze research information and apply it to clinical practice. Utilizing a study question or research protocol generated in PA 653 students will collect and synthesize information culminating in a class presentation and paper suitable for publication. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 670 Elective Rotation 2 credits
This four-week rotation is devoted to an area of study of the student’s choosing and the faculty’s approval. It might be additional time in a specialty already introduced through another rotation, a different medical specialty of interest, or a non-clinical area associated with the PA profession such as education, professional practice issues, etc. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 671 Family Medicine Clinical Rotation I, 2 credits
This is the first of two four-week clinical rotations in Family Medicine. The student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining patients of all ages, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling patients and families through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing family medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 672 Family Medicine Clinical Rotation II, 2 credits
This is the second of two four-week clinical rotations in Family Medicine. The student
gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining patients of all ages, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling patients and families through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing family medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director
PA 673 Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation I, 2 credits
This is the first of two four-week clinical rotations in internal medicine. The student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining adults, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling patients through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing internal medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director
PA 674 Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation II, 2 credits
This is the second of two four-week clinical rotations in internal medicine. The student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining adults, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling patients through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing internal medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 675 Pediatrics Clinical Rotation, 2 credits
During this four-week clinical rotation the student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining children, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling children and parents through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing pediatric medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 676 Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Rotation, 2 credits
During this four-week clinical rotation the student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining women, diagnosing and treating disorders and educating and counseling women through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing obstetric and gynecologic medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 677 General Surgery Clinical Rotation, 2 credits
During this four-week clinical rotation the student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining patients, diagnosing and treating disorders, and educating and counseling patients with surgical problems through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing surgery. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 678 Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation, 2 credits
During this four-week clinical rotation the student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining patients, diagnosing and treating disorders, and educating and counseling patients with emergent problems through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing emergency medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
PA 679 Behavioral Medicine Clinical Rotation, 2 credits
During this four-week clinical rotation the student gains knowledge, experience and skill in interviewing and examining patients, diagnosing and treating disorders, and educating and counseling patients and family members through participation in these activities while under the supervision of an experienced clinician practicing behavioral medicine. The course also includes assigned readings and exercises. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Program and successful completion of all previous courses in the curriculum, or permission of the Program Director.
