Advanced Physician Assistant Online

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Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Curriculum Guide

Information contained in this curriculum guide is subject to change.
Please consult with the APA program to verify course offering and availability.

Clinical Medicine Concentration:

Required core courses:

Choose at least 2 of the 4 courses below:

Required clinical courses:

Education and Leadership Concentration:

Must complete each of the following:

Course Descriptions:

APA 501: Health Care Delivery Systems
This course will survey the U.S. healthcare delivery system and review the financial issues that face our system. Particular focus will be on those issues that directly affect the practicing Physician Assistant. The student will undertake an in depth review of managed care, reimbursement, and other economic/financial issues.

APA 503: Ethical Issues in PA Practice
In this advanced, intensive course, the student will review, analyze, and study the theories and themes of medical/bioethics. Emphasis will be given to the role of the practicing Physician Assistant in the integration of ethical practice. Discussion of case studies is an integral part of this class.

APA 504: Leadership for Health Professions
This course introduces students to leadership models in healthcare. Students will form a self awareness of their role as a leader. Students will be able to: define key leadership qualities and identify their own personal leadership profiles. Students will complete a leadership project during this course.

APA 505: PA Professional Practice Issues
This course is a review, discussion, and analysis of the issues that face the practicing Physician Assistant. The student will learn about the future of the PA profession, including economic trends, reimbursement, nonclinical roles, and legal issues.

APA 506: Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research Design
This course introduces students to the concepts of evidence-based medicine and medical research design, while stressing the examination of the best available evidence as a basis for clinical decision-making.The student will learn how to construct well-built clinical questions based on patient problems and to perform medical literature searches that yield evidence-based results. Methods for critically appraising the medical literature are emphasized throughout the course, as well as strategies for keeping up with new medical findings applicable to clinical practice.

APA 506A: Evidence-Based Medicine for Educators
This course introduces students to concepts and techniques of teaching evidence-based medicine to students within the health professions.

APA 507: Medical Writing
This course is designed to provide the practicing healthcare provider with knowledge and skills in medical writing such as articles for biomedical journals, case reports, reports of clinical studies, review articles, editorials, and book reviews. Topics include: the writing process, writing technique, common writing problems, choosing the right journal, and working with journal editors and reviewers.

APA 507A: Medical Writing for Educators
This course is designed to help students capitalize on knowledge gained in APA 507 by continuing toinvestigate their chosen research topic through the development a research proposal.

APA 620,621,622,623 Clinical Medicine
These are advanced clinical courses designed to augment and update the existing clinical skills and knowledge of the Physician Assistant. Upon completing these courses, students will understand and be able to clinically apply advanced principles of evaluation, diagnosis, and management of disease consistent with the physician assistant scope of practice in these critical areas.

APA 630: Curriculum Development and Implementation
This course will introduce the learner to curriculum design and implementation. Students will explore such topics as Course Goals and Learning Objectives, Developing a Syllabus, Instructional Design Models, Instructional Delivery Methods and Evaluation Tools. Other topics covered are; Developing a Course Rationale, Refining Intended Learning Outcomes, Forming and Organizing Units of a Course, Developing General Teaching Strategies, and Planning Course Evaluations.

APA 631: Leadership and Administrative Issues in Higher Education
This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the organization and management of health professions programs and to assist the student with developing skills necessary to contribute to the successful administration of a program. Also, Students will explore a variety of current topics in higher education, specifically PA or other health professions education. Some topics covered: Academic Law, Understanding Organizational Structure in Higher Education, Faculty – Administration, Contracts, Academic Rank & Tenure, and Budgets. Students will also consider and analyze case studies covering the following topics: Academic Dishonesty, Remediation, The Problem Student, and Instructor/Student Relationships.

APA 632: Educational Concepts
This course is designed as an introduction to basic educational concepts. Students will acquire knowledge and skills necessary to build upon during the course of the APA program. Students will gain an introductory level understanding of educational philosophy, major learning style theories and their application within educational practice. Students will identify their predominant learning and teaching styles and explore how to incorporate various strategies to improve teaching effectiveness. This course will examine the use of instructional design models to create instructional materials that focus on the needs of learners in the health professions. Some topics covered are: Adult Learning Theories, Pedagogy versus Androgogy, Adult Learning Styles, Cooperative Learning, Assessment and Evaluation.

APA 633: Technology in Education
This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to using educational technology in the traditional and/or distance education classroom. This course will also assist you with developing skills in using and applying various educational technologies to meet instructional needs. Some topics covered are: Using Technology in the Classroom, Investigation of Educational Administrative Software, and Distance Education.

APA 634: Current Topics in Education
This course is intended to present a broad exploration of contemporary issues influencing higher education with an emphasis on medical education.  Educational expertise will be fostered by exploring select current issues and trends in medical education and education as a whole. You will gain the additional knowledge and expertise needed to advance your career. Whether you are a working health professional, new to academia, or a veteran health professions educator you can focus on expanding your knowledge of critical issues confronting health educators today.

APA 637: Assessment & Evaluation
Student assessment and program evaluation are central to curriculum design.  Student assessment seeks to determine how effectively students have learned content and skills.  Program evaluation provides evidence of whether the instructional unit, program, or course has been effective.  This course will address these two topics. Students will learn about educational assessment models and explore issues and trends in assessment and evaluation that may shape curriculum design.  Some topics covered are: Testing & Student Assessment, Program Evaluation, and Issues & Trends in Educational Assessment and Evaluation.

APA 660,661,662,663 Clinical Practice
Students must document 400 hours (usually 100 hours per quarter) of clinical practice in order to complete the program. It is the responsibility of the student to identify, arrange, and recommend a clinical preceptor in their specialty area, to be approved by the Advanced Physician Assistant Program Director. The program will not be responsible for arranging clinical sites. In many instances, this will be in the PA’s current practice setting.