Didactic Year Curriculum
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The website reflects the current curriculum for the in-coming cohort; please refer to the appropriate catalog for cohorts other than the incoming class.
Didactic Year Semesters and Course Descriptions
| Spring | Course | Credit Hours |
| PAS 701 | Clinical Medicine I | 8 |
|
PAS 710 |
Pharmacology I | 3 |
| PAS 720 | Anatomy, Physiology & Pathophysiology I | 3 |
| PAS 730 | Physical Diagnosis I | 3 |
| PAS 740 | Clinical Skills I | 3 |
| PAS 750 | Diagnostics I | 2 |
| PAS 760 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| PAS 770 | The PA Profession | 2 |
| PAS 780 | Genetics | 2 |
| Summer | Course | Credit Hours |
| PAS 702 | Clinical Medicine II | 8 |
| PAS 711 | Pharmacology II | 3 |
| PAS 721 | Anatomy, Physiology & Pathophysiology II | 3 |
| PAS 731 | Physical Diagnosis II | 3 |
| PAS 741 | Clinical Skills II | 3 |
| PAS 751 | Diagnostics II | 2 |
| PAS 761 | EKG Interpretation | 1 |
| PAS 762 | Behavioral Medicine | 1 |
| PAS 781 | Geriatrics | 2 |
| Fall | Course | Credit Hours |
| PAS 703 | Clinical Medicine III | 8 |
| PAS 712 | Pharmacology III | 3 |
| PAS 722 | Anatomy, Physiology & Pathophysiology III | 3 |
| PAS 732 | Physical Diagnosis III | 3 |
| PAS 742 | Clinical Skills III | 3 |
| PAS 752 | Diagnostics III | 2 |
| PAS 763 | Radiology | 1 |
| PAS 790 | Critical Thinking | 2 |
| PAS 782 | Pediatrics | 2 |
- PAS 701 / CLINICAL MEDICINE I / 8 CREDIT HOURS
This course covers the medical and surgical topics with associated pharmacology, anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, laboratory medicine, and clinical skills. It incorporates problem-based learning of common diseases and problems using a body systems approach. Incorporated into the lesson plan is our "putting it all together" case study series that will include knowledge gained from all other courses enabling the Physician Assistant student to use critical analysis in the medical decision and problem solving process.
- PAS 702 / CLINICAL MEDICINE II / 8 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 701, Pre-req: PAS 701
- PAS 703 / CLINICAL MEDICINE III / 8 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 702, Pre-req: PAS 701 and PAS 702
- PAS 710 / PHARMACOLOGY I / 3 CREDIT HOURS
This course is a comprehensive survey of the subject of pharmacology. The course emphasized the fundamentals of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. The course focuses on the relationship between drugs and receptors, adverse drug reactions, toxicity, indications and contraindications of drugs. Pharmaco-therapeutics with application to clinical patient scenarios is also incorporated in this course.
- PAS 711 / PHARMACOLOGY II / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 710, Pre-req: PAS 710
- PAS 712 / PHARMACOLOGY III / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 711, Pre-req: PAS 710 and PAS 711
- PAS 720 / ANATOMY,PHYSIOLOGY & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY I / 3 CREDIT HOURS
This course is an intersive review of human anatomy and physiology with clinical applications, medical terminology with an emphasis on pathophysiology.
- PAS 721 / ANATOMY,PHYSIOLOGY & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 720, Pre-req: PAS 720
- PAS 722 / ANATOMY,PHYSIOLOGY & PATHOPHYSIOLOGY III / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 721, Pre-req: PAS 720 and PAS 721
- PAS 730 / PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS I / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Methods of interviewing patients to elicit and record a complete medical history are covered. Documentation of medical records, performance of a systematic physical examination and organization of the results for oral and written presentation are emphasized.
- PAS 731 / PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS II / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 730. Pre-req: PAS 730
- PAS 732 / PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS III / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 731. Pre-req: PAS 730 and PAS 731
- PAS 760 / MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY / 1 CREDIT HOUR
This course introduces the Physician Assistant student to the language of medicine. The content is logically organized with a body system approach. This course will also provide a brief review of anatomic terminology.
- PAS 740 / CLINICAL SKILLS I / 3 CREDIT HOURS
A course designed to review of the description, indications, contraindications, rationale, complications, essential anatomy/physiology, and steps in performing clinical procedures. The class will follow a topic guideline that mimics that of the clinical medicine class. The class is taught in traditional class time with scheduled practicum time and check off evaluations. BLS is included in the course and must be passed to proceed.
- PAS 741 / CLINICAL SKILLS II / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 740 and ACLS is included in the course and must be passed to proceed. Pre-req: PAS 740
- PAS 742 / CLINICAL SKILLS III / 3 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 741 and PALS is included in the course and must be passed to proceed. Pre-req: PAS 740 and PAS 741
- PAS 761 / EKG INTERPRETATION / 1 CREDIT HOUR
A course designed to educate the Physician Assistant student on the utilization and interpretation of the electrocardiogram. This course will utilize lecture, reading assignments, and laboratory experiences. Course content includes an overview of the electrophysiology of the heart, basic approach to the evaluation of an electrocardiogram, obtaining a 12 lead electrocardiogram and rhythm strip, recognition of cardiac abnormalities such as dysrhythmias, ischemia, infarction, cardiac inflammatory conditions, conduction abnormalities, and chamber enlargement.
- PAS 763 / RADIOLOGY / 1 CREDIT HOUR
A course designed to educate the Physician Assistant student on the utilization and interpretation of radiological diagnostic tests. This course will utilize lecture, reading assignments, and laboratory experiences. Course content includes an overview of radiology, its history, and interpretation of x-rays, competence in ordering the correct diagnostic test for presenting complaint, introduction to fluoroscopy, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and angiography.
- PAS 750 / DIAGNOSTICS I / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This course introduces the Physician Assistant student to the diagnostic testing of medicine. The content is logically organized with a body system approach and covers laboratory tests, when to use and how to interpret and effectively utilize the results.
- PAS 751 / DIAGNOSTICS II / 2 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 750. Pre-req: PAS 750
- PAS 752 / DIAGNOSTICS III / 2 CREDIT HOURS
Continuation of PAS 751. Pre-req: PAS 750 and PAS 751
- PAS 770 / THE PA PROFESSION: ROLES/MEDICAL-LEGAL,ETHICAL/ISSUES / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This course explores the history of the PA profession, the role of the PA in today’s health care system and the factors affecting them. Additional topics include credentialing, licensing, policies and procedures, regulations governing scope of practice, and the development of professional organizations for physician assistants, issues of professionalism, physician/PA relationships and ethics.
- PAS 762 / BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE / 1 CREDIT HOUR
A course covering topics in psychology/behavioral sciences as related to the PA profession. While many issues will be addressed during this course, particular attention is given to the following issues: psychosocial/sociopolitical/ethical, human development/sexuality/life span/end of life, stress management, domestic violence/child abuse/neglect, addictions, mental disorders, challenging patients and current practice concerns.
- PAS 790 / CRITICAL THINKING / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This course provides insight to scientific critical thinking, language of science, logical thinking, statistical reasoning, classification of research studies, formulating answerable questions, searching medical databases, evaluating the validity of claims made in publications of clinical studies, evaluating claims made by pharmaceutical companies in their presentations and publications.
- PAS 780 / GENETICS / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This is a course designed to introduce the PA student to geneomic medicine. The course will cover the effect of the entire genome on disease and health. The science and technology related to genetics and genomics will be covered. Genomics will enhance the study of medicine by: creating a fundamental understanding of the biology of the many diseases, even many "non-genetic" ones; leading to defining disorders by biology of causation, rather than by symptoms; and providing knowledge of individual genetic predispositions via microarray and other technologies. This course will enable the graduate Physician Assistant to treat patients based as the biological individuals they each are.
- PAS 781 / GERIATRICS / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This is a course designed to introduce the PA student to geriatric medicine. The course will cover normal changes of aging, the geriatric exam, and specific medical diseases and disorders as they relate to the geriatric patient.
- PAS 782 / PEDIATRICS / 2 CREDIT HOURS
This is a course designed to introduce the PA student to pediatric medicine. The course will cover normal growth and development, the pediatric well-baby exam, immunizations and specific medical diseases and disorders as they relate to the pediatric patient.