UDM College of Health ProfessionsCurriculum
All PAS courses require admission to the PA Program as a prerequisite.
Entry Level Curriculum
DIDACTIC PHASE (Year 1)
Fall Semester
BIO 543* Advanced Human Anatomy 4cr
HLH 590* Advanced Pathophysiology 3cr
PAS 524 Clinical Medicine I 3cr
PAS 510 Patient Evaluation Practicum I 3cr
PAS 536 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures I 1cr
Total Credits 14Winter Semester
HLH 530* Pharmacology I 2cr
HLH 550* Research Methods for Health Care Professionals 3cr
HLH 570* Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues 3cr
PAS 525 Clinical Medicine II 3cr
PAS 520 Patient Evaluation Practicum II 3cr
PAS 537 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures II 1cr
Total Credits 15Summer Semester
HLH 532* Health Promotion, Risk Reduction 3cr
HLH 531* Pharmacology II 2cr
PAS 526 Clinical Medicine III 3cr
PAS 530 Patient Evaluation Practicum III 3cr
PAS 538 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures III 1cr
Total Credits 12
*Taken the first year of the three year track
CLINICAL PHASE (Year 2)
Fall Semester
PAS 580 Clinical Rotations I 8cr
PAS 587 PA Seminar I 1cr
Total Credits 9Winter Semester
PAS 581 Clinical Rotations II 8cr
PAS 588 PA Seminar II 1cr
Total Credits 9Summer Semester
PAS 582 Clinical Rotations III 8cr
PAS 589 PA Seminar III 1cr
Total Credits 9
Grand Total 68 Credit Hours
Physician Assistant Course Descriptions and Requirements
All PAS courses require admission to the PA Program as a prerequisite.
BIO 543 Advanced Human Anatomy
A lecture and laboratory course covering all of the body systems. The laboratory portion involves dissection of human cadavers.
HLH 590 Advanced Pathophysiology
This course focuses on the advanced physiology of the altered health and body function and disease processes with the emphasis on clinical application to practice. Students will learn the "how and why" of signs, symptoms and laboratory changes of various physiological conditions and human responses. This knowledge will be applied to the process of developing diagnosis and treatment skills.
HLH 530 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics I
This course provides the foundation for advanced principles of clinical pharmacokinetics with application to dosage determination. The pharmacokinetics of automatic transmission, adrenergic agonists and blocking agents, cholinergic agonists, muscarinic blocking agents and cardiovascular agents are examined.
HLH 531 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics II
(Prerequisite BCS 530)
This course continues the examination of various pharmacotherapeutic agents including anti-infectives, eicosanoids, adrenal steroids, nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory, opioids, antihistamines, and diuretics. Psychotropic agents including antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnosedatives, and anticonvulsants are also addressed.
HLH 532 Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
Examines theoretical and empirical basis for health promotion and risk reduction. It will prepare the health care professional to provide population-centered, interdisciplinary, prevention-oriented health care. Healthy People 2000/2010 will be used as the framework as well as theories and research from multiple disciplines for application to practice.
HLH 550 Research Methods in Health Care
Introduces students to the research process relevant to the health care professional. The research process is analyzed with emphasis on techniques to: apply research findings to clinical practice, determine client population needs, evaluate outcomes, and participate in research teams.
HLH 570 Health Care Delivery and Policy Issues
Examines the theoretical and empirical bases for health care delivery and policy issues in the United States. Health policy decisions are examined in relation to cost, quality, access, ethics, and managed care.
PAS 510 Patient Evaluation Practicum I
A three-semester course designed to teach the skills required to perform a complete medical evaluation of a patient. Effective communication skills and the art of interviewing. Techniques of the physical examination utilizing a systems anatomic approach. An introduction to traditional medical record keeping, and the construction and writing of organized medical histories and physical examination.
PAS 520 Patient Evaluation Practicum II
(Prerequisite PAS 510)
Skill development in obtaining and recording historical and physical exam data from patients. Integration of the knowledge gained in other courses with the medical evaluation of patients.
PAS 524 Clinical Medicine I
Intensive study of human disease from the perspectives of epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations and course, diagnostic tests, treatment and prognosis. The series of clinical medicine (524, 525, 526) incorporates the health promotion/disease prevention model. All the major areas of medicine are studied over the course of one year. This study emphasizes the differential diagnoses and diagnostic problem solving.
PAS 525 Clinical Medicine II
(Prerequisite PAS 524)
Continued study of selected topics in medicine.
PAS 526 Clinical Medicine III
(Prerequisite PAS 525)
Continued study of selected topics in medicine.
PAS 530 Patient Evaluation Practicum III
(Prerequisite PAS 520)
A continuation of PAS 520 and PAS 520. Continued refinement of skills in history-taking and physical examination. Patient management through formulation of problem lists, differential diagnoses and management plans. Oral presentations of patient cases which focus on the pathophysicologic mechanisms involved.
PAS 536 Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Procedures I
Skills and understanding necessary to perform selected diagnostic (both laboratory and invasive) and therapeutic procedures. Clinical implications of findings.
PAS 537 Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Procedures II (Prerequisite PAS 536)
Continuation of PAS 536.
PAS 538 Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Procedures III (Prerequisite PAS 537)
Continuation of PAS 536 and 537.
PAS 580 Clinical Rotation I
This series of externships provides the student with comprehensive clinical training in the major areas of primary medical care. It allows integration of learning in didactic and research components with direct patient care.
PAS 581 Clinical Rotation II
(Prerequisite PAS 580)
Continuation of PAS 580.
PAS 582 Clinical Rotation III
(Prerequisite PAS 581)
Continuation of PAS 580 and 581.
PAS 587 PA Seminar I
An opportunity to further define, expand and acquire skills necessary for the practice of medicine as a primary care physician assistant. Students completing this capstone course will define their multi-dimensional role in health care and take part in professional role development.