Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

*Please note that all applicants must have a degree from the United States in order to be eligible to apply

The mission of the Thiel College Master of Science in Physician Assistant program is to graduate physician assistants who have the disciplinary knowledge and skills, clinical preparation, and dispositions to provide excellent patient care and serve the needs of their community.

Academic Progress Requirements

To graduate from the PA Program and earn a Master of Science degree, the candidate must:

• Achieve a grade of C or better in all PA Program courses.
• Achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 at the end of the program.
• Successfully complete the PA Program Summative Evaluation.

The Thiel College Student Learning outcomes are based on the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession document published by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

SLO 1: Medical Knowledge
Medical knowledge includes the synthesis of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention. Physician assistant students must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In Addition, physician assistant students are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.

SLO 2: Interpersonal & Communications Skills
Interpersonal and communication skills encompass the verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic exchange of information. Physician assistant students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients' families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the healthcare system.

SLO 3: Patient Care
Patient care includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Physician Assistant students must obtain a relevant medical history, adequately perform physical examinations, and implement treatment plans for patients of all age groups, appropriate to the patient’s condition. In addition, Physician Assistant students must demonstrate proficiency in technical procedures and health care that is effective, patient-centered, safe, compassionate, and culturally appropriate for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of health.

SLO 4: Professionalism
Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician Assistant students must acknowledge their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency, or mental illness. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

SLO 5: Practice-based Learning & Improvement
Practice-based learning and improvement include the processes through which Physician Assistants engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self- and practice improvement. Physician Assistant students must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices.

SLO 6: Systems-based Practice
The systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational, and economic environments in which healthcare is delivered. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that balances quality and cost while maintaining the primacy of the individual patient. PAs should work to improve the health care system of which their practices are a part.

Summer Semester 1 (note: this is an 8-week semester)

• PA 501 Medical Science I 2
• PA 504 Principles of Medicine I 3
• PA 507 Pharmacology I 1
• PA 510 Patient Assessment & Clinical Reasoning I 2
• PA 514 Professional Practice 1

Total Credits: 9

Fall Semester 1

• PA 502 Medical Science II 3
• PA 505 Principles of Medicine II 5
• PA 508 Pharmacology III 2
• PA 511 Patient Assessment & Clinical Reasoning II 3
• PA 512 Diagnostic Medicine I 3
• PA 515 Infectious Disease/Clinical Microbiology 2

Total Credits: 18

Spring Semester 1

• PA 503 Medical Science III 3
• PA 506 Principles of Medicine III 5
• PA 509 Pharmacology III 2
• PA 513 Diagnostic Medicine II 2
• PA 516 Evidence-Based Medicine & Public Health 3
• PA 517 Behavioral/Mental Health Medicine 2
• PA 521 Clinical Skills & Procedures I 2

Total Credits: 19

Summer Semester 2

• PA 522 Clinical Skills & Procedures II 2
• SPAN 523 Medical Spanish 2
• PA 524 Healthcare Delivery 2
• PA 525 Clinical Medicine across the Lifespan 4
• PA 526 Surgery and Emergency Medicine 2
• PA 527 Clinical Practicum 2

Total Credits: 14

Fall Semester 2

• PA 528 Professional Development I 1
• PA 531 Clinical Clerkships I (Rotations 1, 2 & 3) 15

Total Credits: 16

Spring Semester 2

• PA 529 Professional Development II 1
• PA 532 Clinical Clerkships II (Rotations 4, 5 & 6) 15

Total Credits: 16

Summer Semester 3

• PA 530 Professional Development III 1
• PA 533 Clinical Clerkships III (Rotations 7, 8, & 9) 15

Total Credits: 16