MSPA - Curriculum
Upon completion of a Bachelor’s Degree and required prerequisites, the
Physician Assistant Program includes 26 months of intense
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Modules with clinical experiences.
These units of study are based on the most common disease
states and preventative medicine guidelines utilized in medical
practice. The curriculum
is designed to prepare primary care providers for medical practice.
All physician assistant courses are sequences and are required
of all students. The
first year of study (Phase I:
Didactic) is completed on campus in Carbondale.
This first year is centered more on the PBL modules, as well as
laboratory and clinical experiences.
The second year (Phase II:
Clinical Rotations) is held at several Illinois locations
called hubsites. Second year students may be required to relocate to
one of these. During the
clinical rotation phase, students complete rotations in Emergency
Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine,
Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatrics, Surgery, and one
elective of the students’ choice.
Phase III (the final eight weeks of the Program) is the
Preceptorship, which students may complete at a site of their choice,
with faculty approval.
Problem-Based Learning is ideally suited to PA education because
students actively learn both the basic and clinical sciences.
It is an innovative method of integrating and developing the
medical knowledge, cognitive skills, and interpersonal growth required
to produce what is desired in an SIUC physician assistant graduate.
The PBL cases used are based on real patient problems that are
carefully selected by faculty to stimulate students’ learning in all
relevant areas of basic clinical and behavioral sciences.
A humanistic approach to medicine is stressed by the use of
these cases.
Patient cases are designed to incorporate signs and symptoms of
patient’s varied problems that providers encounter in practice.
PBL also encourages recall and effective application of
knowledge and skills essential to the PA profession.
Students work together, in small groups, with the assistance of
a faculty facilitator to investigate carefully designed patient cases
and identify learning issues.
PBL provides flexibility for students as to when and how they
study. The group, the
facilitator, and the problem, all help to focus the student’s learning
efforts.
Below is a list of courses that students will have to complete to
receive their degree.
Descriptions of individual courses below may be found in the Course
Description section of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Graduate Catalog.
Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies (90 credit
hours, 26 months)
Requirements for Physician Assistant Studies Program (Professional
Program - 90 credit hours, 7 semesters)
First Year Sequence (Phase I)……………………………………..54
Physician Assistant 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506,
507, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525,
531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 547, 550, 599
Second Year (Phase II and Phase III)……………………………...36
Physician Assistant 545, 551, 580, 581, 582, 583, 596,
599
Total………………………………………………………………………..90
Physician Assistant Curriculum Guide
PHASE I
Semester 1 – Summer
(Unit 1) – 10 credit hours
PA
500-1
Introduction to the Profession
PA
501-3
PBL, Unit 1
PA
511-1
Pharmacology
PA
521-2
Clinical Anatomy and Integrated Science
PA
531-2
Patient Evaluation
PA
547-1
Research Methods
Semester 2 – Fall
(Units 2 & 3) – 22 credit hours
PA
502-3; PA 503-3
PBL, Units 2 and 3
PA
506-1
Patient Education/Behavioral Science
PA
507-1
Diversity In Medical Practice
PA
512-1; PA 513-1
Pharmacology II, III
PA
522-2; PA 523-2
Clinical Anatomy and Integrated Sciences II, III
PA
532-2; PA 533-2
Patient Evaluation II, III
PA
550-2
Clinical Mentoring - Phase I
PA
599-2
Master’s Seminar
Semester 3 – Spring
(Units 4 & 5) – 22 credit hours
PA
504-3; PA 505-3
PBL, Units 4 and 5
PA
506-1
Patient Education/Behavioral Science
PA
514-1; PA 515-1
Pharmacology IV, V
PA
524-2; PA 525-2
Clinical Anatomy and Integrated Sciences IV, V
PA
534-2
Clinical/Procedural Skills
PA
535-2
ACLS/EKG
PA
536-1
Introduction to the Surgical Setting
PA
550-2
Clinical Mentoring – Phase I
PA
599-2
Master’s Seminar
PHASE II
Semester 4 – Summer
– 6
credit hours
PA
551-1
Clinical Mentoring – Phase II
PA
580-1
PBL Tutor Group – Phase II
PA
581-3
Clinical Rotations I
PA
599-1
Master’s Seminar
Semester 5 – Fall
– 12 credit hours
PA
551-2
Clinical Mentoring – Phase II
PA
580-2
PBL Tutor Group – Phase II
PA
582-6
Clinical Rotations II
PA
599-2
Master’s Seminar
Semester 6 – Spring
– 12 credit hours
PA
551-2
Clinical Mentoring – Phase II
PA
580-2
PBL Tutor Group – Phase II
PA
583-6
Clinical Rotations III
PA
599-2
Master’s Seminar
PHASE III
Semester 7 – Summer
– 6 credit hours
PA
545-3
Health Care Systems
PA
596-3
Preceptorship
A
limited number of Electives as well as independent study classes are
also available to PA students.
PA585 Independent Study ( 1 - 6 Hours )
PA508 Holistic Medicine (
1 - 3 Hours )offered
one semester each year until further notice
PA601-Continuing enrollment is available for 1 credit hour to
students who have completed all other program ccoursework but are in
the process of completing thier masters project
The Master’s Seminar is a longitudinal course required each semester
of enrollment that is designed to equip the student with the
knowledge, skills, and attitudes to design and complete a
clinically-based Master’s Research Project.
Students apply strategies previously learned in the Research
Methods/Evidence Based Medicine Course.
The Master’s Seminar culminates with a presentation and defense
of the completed Master’s Research Project.
Problem Based
Learning
MSPA Prerequisites
Application
Expenses
MSPA Advisement
CASPA Supplemental
App Info
Technical Standards
Program Technology Requirements
SIU-C Graduate
Catalog
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