Course Descriptions

3201 Professional and Behavioral Medicine
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses to the professional phase of the PA program.
This course is designed to introduce the PA student to ethical principles of the medical profession and the role of the Physician Assistant as a member of the health care team. The course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Teaching emphasis will be sequential methods of instruction relevant to the history of the PA profession, role development, medical-legal-ethical issues and cultural diversity. Emphasis is placed on case-based ethical dilemmas, contemporary ethical-legal issues, ethical debates and the development of qualities, behaviors, attitudes and values essential to providing ethical and compassionate patient care.
Lecture, Credit: 1 semester hour.

3202 Medical Assessment
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses to the professional phase of the PA program.
This course is designed to introduce the PA student to various diagnostic imaging studies, clinical chemistry theory and laboratory assessment. Emphasis is placed on indications for diagnostic testing, characteristics of specific procedures, interpretation of laboratory or imaging results and the techniques, advantages, disadvantages, benefits and risks of various procedures. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on case-based clinical assessment, association of abnormal laboratory and imaging results with specific diseases, and the correlation of enzymes to body systems and organ dysfunction.
Lecture, Credit: 2 semester hours.

3203 Clinical Medicine 1
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses to the professional phase of the PA program.
This course is designed to instruct the PA student in the areas of human health and disease in immunology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otonasolaryngology and pulmonology. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction relevant to the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, clinical pharmacological applications, complications and prognoses of selected disease states. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on case-based clinical therapeutics and patient education regarding drug administration, potential adverse effects and drug interactions.
Lecture, Credit: 4 semester hours.

3204 Clinical Medicine 2
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses to the professional phase of the PA program.
This course is designed to instruct the PA student in the areas of human health and disease in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, hematology, oncology, nephrology and urology. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction relevant to the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, clinical pharmacological applications, complications and prognoses of selected disease states. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on case-based clinical therapeutics and patient education regarding drug administration, potential adverse effects and drug interactions.
Lecture, Credit: 4 semester hours.

3205 Comprehensive Health History and Physical Diagnosis
This course is designed to develop the cognitive, psychomotor and affective attributes in the PA student for identifying and describing normal human anatomy, recognizing normal vs. pathological clinical manifestations, obtaining a medical history, performing a screening physical examination and recording findings as medical-legal documents. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction relevant to the structure and function of body systems, common pathophysiology and clinical manifestations and physical examination demonstration. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on communication skills, cultural sensitivity, professionalism and standardization of medical record documentation. Students will demonstrate acquisition of skills during supervised hospital visits and practical examinations, and will begin to incorporate assessment and management plans into patient care.
Lecture, 4 hours Credit: 4 semester hours

3206 Clinical Medicine 3
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to instruct the PA student in the areas of human health and disease in neurology, cardiology, infectious disease, obstetrics and gynecology. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction relevant to the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, clinical pharmacological applications, complications and prognoses of selected disease states. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on electrocardiogram interpretation, case-based clinical therapeutics and patient education regarding drug administration, potential adverse effects and drug interactions.
Lecture, Credit: 4 semester hours.

3207 Clinical Medicine 4
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to instruct the PA student in the areas of human health and disease in rheumatology, orthopedics, psychiatry and community medicine. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction relevant to the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, clinical pharmacological applications, complications and prognoses of selected disease states. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Emphasis is placed on special procedures in diagnostic imaging, as well as promotion, prevention, maintenance, and protection of health and wellness of individuals and communities to include social and economic determinants of health and common medical problems that are frequently encountered in urban settings. Teaching will also utilize case-based clinical therapeutics and patient education regarding drug administration, potential adverse effects and drug interactions.
Lecture, Credit: 4 semester hours.

3208 Case-Enhanced Focused Health History and Physical Diagnosis
Prerequisite: All pre requisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to build on the knowledge gained in HHPD 1 to facilitate the PA student in refining their skills in performing focused, problem-based histories and physical examinations. Teaching emphasis will be a sequential method of instruction integrated with concurrent medical lecture in having students form accurate, logical and relevant differential diagnoses, performing proper diagnostic assessment and developing therapeutic plans for specific patient complaints. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. Students will demonstrate acquisition of skills during supervised hospital visits and practical examinations.
Lecture, Credit: 1 semester hour.

3209 Emergency Medicine
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to instruct the PA student in the emergency department approach to medical care, including triage techniques, prioritization and consultation relevant to a variety of patient conditions. The student will incorporate knowledge of the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostics and management of disease states to treat focused emergency problems. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing and treating conditions that are potentially life-threatening requiring urgent or emergent intervention inclusive of emergency techniques. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty form varied areas of expertise and experience.
Lecture, Credit: 2 semester hours.

3210 Geriatric and Pediatric Medicine
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to introduce the PA student to the variable structures and functions of organ systems throughout the human lifespan, and medical and behavioral problems unique to pediatric and geriatric populations. Emphasis is placed on the behavioral and infectious conditions encountered in pediatric and geriatric clinical practice, and on patient, parental and caregiver education in regards to vaccinations, health care maintenance, safety and anticipatory guidance, long-term care facilities and home care. Specifically, it will provide an overview of the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, complications and prognoses of selected pediatric and geriatric conditions. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience.
Lecture, Credit: 2 semester hours.

3211 General Surgery
Prerequisite: All prerequisite courses and fall courses in the professional phase of the PA program. This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts of surgical diagnosis and treatment, building on the student’s integrated foundation of clinical medicine, laboratory medicine, diagnostic imaging and pharmacological applications. The student will learn to recognize diseases that require surgical intervention, formulate surgical diagnoses and identify relevant surgical treatments. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the Physician Assistant in the pre-operative, operative and post-operative management of surgical patients. This course will incorporate interdisciplinary instruction utilizing faculty from varied areas of expertise and experience. The student will also become competent in performing various medical-surgical procedures.
Lecture, Credit: 2 semester hours.

4201 Emergency Medicine
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital or urgent care ambulatory setting. The student will be introduced to the triage system to learn and develop the skills necessary to perform the primary survey and stabilization of patients in the acute setting. The student will perform focused history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for adult and pediatric patients with urgent or emergent conditions, as well as provide ambulatory or “fast-track” care. This includes diagnostic testing, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions. The student will also demonstrate and perform practical medical-surgical procedures including CPR and BCLS skills. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral in provision of cost-effective urgent and emergent care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance, with an emphasis on health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4202 Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital inpatient or ambulatory setting, which may include outpatient, emergency room, or office-based clinical duties of gynecological or obstetrical patients. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for patients with gynecological and obstetrical conditions. This will include diagnostic testing, medications and nonpharmacological treatment interventions, including recognizing the need for consultation and referral. Experiential learning will include provision of cost-effective adult medical care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will provide patient education with an emphasis on health literacy issues. The student may have the opportunity to participate in surgical gynecological or obstetrical procedures.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4203 Clinical Orthopedic Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital, ambulatory or office based orthopedic setting. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for acute and chronic problems in orthopedic patients across all age groups. This rotation may include surgical management including pre-operative, intra-operative, and postoperative orthopedic care. Students will order diagnostic tests and medications and recommend non-pharmacological treatment interventions for the orthopedic patient. The student will demonstrate and perform practical splinting, casting, and surgical procedures and skills. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral in provision of cost-effective orthopedic care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion and safety, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will provide patient education with an emphasis on cast/ immobilization techniques, safety and health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4204 Clinical Pediatrics Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital or office based pediatric setting. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for pediatric patients with acute and chronic pediatric problems and well child visits and school/camp exams. This will include diagnostic testing, medications and nonpharmacological treatment interventions. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral in provision of cost effective infant, pediatric, and adolescent medical care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will provide patient education with an emphasis on growth and development and health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4205 Clinical Primary Care 1 Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in an ambulatory or outpatient hospital or office-based primary care medical setting. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic medical problems, including diagnostic tests, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral, transfer to an emergency or acute care setting in provision of cost-effective medical care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, and patient education. The student will provide patient education, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance across all age groups with an emphasis on health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4206 Elective Clinical Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a specialty of the student’s choice that may take place in a hospital or office based setting. Elective rotations include but are not limited to the following: cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, psychiatry, pulmonology, heme-oncology, critical care, dermatology, occupational medicine, gay and lesbian health, and the physically and mentally challenged. The student will perform comprehensive or focused history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic problems. This will include diagnostic tests, medications and nonpharmacological treatment interventions. The student will become familiar with the need and role of consultation and referral of patients, transfer to an emergency or acute care setting in the clinical setting through provision of cost-effective care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will provide patient education with an emphasis on health literacy issues across all age groups as applicable to clinical site.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4207 Clinical Surgical Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital inpatient setting, which may include outpatient or office based clinical duties. Student responsibilities include: performance of history and physical exams, formulation of differential diagnoses, therapeutic treatment plans across all age groups for patients with surgical problems, including pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care. The clinical experience will also include ordering of diagnostic tests, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions and performance of diagnostic laboratory tests, and participation in surgical procedures (operating room).
Rotation, 200 hours/on call required. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4208 Clinical Geriatrics/Long Term Care Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital or office-based geriatric setting. The student will perform comprehensive and focused history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for adult and geriatric patients with medical or surgical conditions. This includes diagnostic tests, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions, while under the supervision of the preceptor. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral, in provision of cost-effective geriatric care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, health maintenance and disease prevention. The student will provide patient education with an emphasis on health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4209 Clinical Primary Care 2 Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation that continues the educational and experiential learning of the Primary Care 1 course in an ambulatory or outpatient hospital or office-based primary care medical setting for an additional five-week rotation. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic medical problems. This will include diagnostic tests, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions. The student will recognize the need for consultation and referral, transfer to an emergency or acute care setting in provision of cost-effective medical care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will provide patient education, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance across all age groups with an emphasis on health literacy issues.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4210 Clinical Internal Medicine Rotation
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This course is a five-week rotation in a hospital or office-based internal medicine setting. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, generate differential diagnoses and develop therapeutic treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic medical problems. The clinical experience will include diagnostic testing, medications and non-pharmacological treatment interventions including patient education with an emphasis on health literacy issues across all age groups. The student will learn to recognize the need for consultation and referral in provision of cost-effective adult medical care, including acute and chronic disease management, health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance.
Rotation, 200 hours. Credit: 3 semester hours.

4211 Senior Competencies Component
Prerequisites: All required didactic year classes and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. This is a course is designed to supplement the clinical experience of the Physician Assistant student with appropriate learning sessions on callback days. While on clinical rotations, students will be performing comprehensive or focused history and physical examinations, generating differential diagnoses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and imaging studies and developing treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic problems under the supervision of the preceptor. Emphasis is placed on cost effective care, disease management and health promotion, disease prevention and routine healthcare maintenance. The student will gain and apply knowledge regarding epidemiology, risk factors, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and the clinical assessment of medical and surgical diseases. Learning sessions on call back days are designed to augment student’s knowledge and further develop and perfect their history taking, physical examination and procedural skills.
Lecture. Credit: 0