COURSE CONTENT: REQUIRED COURSES

PA 500.  Introduction to the PA Role.  1 credit Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.  This on-line course introduces the student to the profession.  It reviews the history of the profession, the history of the UND PA Program, the ethical implications of being a graduate student, and the challenges to be faced in role transition.  It introduces the student to the different techniques of interviewing including interviewing of different age groups or ethnic or cultural backgrounds for the purpose of obtaining information for a patient’s medical history. 

PA 505.  Anatomy and Medical Terminology. Part I  3 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  One of two successive courses, this on-line, self directed course begins the review of the basic principles of anatomy and medical terminology in preparation for the clinical phase of the program, especially physical assessment, medical interviewing, and medical charting.

PA 506.  Anatomy and Medical Terminology. Part II  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of PA 505.  Part II of this on-line, self directed course continues the review of the basic principles of anatomy and medical terminology in preparation for the clinical phase of the program, especially physical assessment, medical interviewing, and medical charting.

PA 510.  Pathophysiology for the Physician Assistant.  Part I. 3 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  One of two successive courses, this on-line course covers the physiologic and pathophysiologic function of the human body from the cellular level (with emphasis on genetics) to organ systems.

PA 511.  Pathophysiology for the Physician Assistant.  Part II.  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Successful completion of PA 510.  Part II of this on-line course continues to cover the physiologic and pathophysiologic function of the human body from the cellular level (with emphasis on genetics) to organ systems.

PA 515.  Investigative Studies for the Physician Assistant.  3 credits.  Prerequisite:  Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program This on-line course discusses basic diagnostic tests, including their role in diagnoses and treatment, acceptable normals for individual tests, and interpretations of abnormals.  Components studied include hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, immunology, genetic and molecular testing and microbiology. 

PA 516.  Introduction to Pharmacology and Basic EKG.  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  This 2 part, on-line survey course reviews: pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacodynamics in preparation for clinical pharmacology taught in Primary Care II and III; and Basic EKGs, in preparation for EKG interpretation taught in Primary Care I and II.

PA 520.  Evidence-based Medicine I.  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.  This on-line course provides the PA student with an overview of statistical and epidemiological principles used in medical literature.  The units build sequentially to provide the student with a solid foundation, which includes applied statistics and in-depth literature reviews, to provide a basis of comparison for understanding the medical literature and translating research findings into the clinical setting. 

PA 525.  Evidence-based Medicine II.  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.  This on-line course is a continuation of PA 520, with the discussions and application of Evidence-based Medicine. Epidemiology and research principles that apply to the analysis of medical literature are discussed.  The course is designed to prepare the student for the writing of the scholarly project.

PA 540.  Primary Care I.  8 credits.  Prerequisite:  Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  This four week didactic course on the UND campus uses the analytical approach to the theory and techniques required to elicit a complete health history, perform a complete physical examination, and document findings on patients of all ages.  Variances due to normal growth and development, pregnancy and aging are studied as is instruction in preventive health, behavioral science, and normal psychological development across the lifespan.  Numerous clinical skills labs are utilized to apply techniques of systematic physical exam skills.

PA 541.  Primary Care I Clinical.  4 credits.  Prerequisite:  Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  Following completion of PA 540, a clinical practicum of eight weeks supervised by a physician in a primary care setting, is required to assist students in the application of history taking, physical examination techniques, and documentation skills. 

PA 550.  Primary Care II.  8 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.  This 4-week on-campus didactic course uses the problem solving process to instruct students in the diagnosis and management of acute, emergent & chronic conditions seen in the child, adolescent, adult, elderly and pregnant women in the primary care setting.  Emphasis is placed on analysis of a symptom and the process of developing a diagnosis.  Components of medical interviewing and documentation are continued adapting to a variety of patient situations.   The most common conditions seen in primary care are taught in a system based approach. Content areas of radiology, nutrition, behavioral science and genetics are also covered.  The pharmacology portion emphasizes pharmacological preparations (organized by systems) used in acute, emergent & chronic conditions through teaching the principles of rational drug therapy:  selection (generic vs. brand name drugs), initiation, and monitoring, with current information regarding efficacy, toxicity, and the cost of pharmacological agents.  Skills labs in suturing, casting and splinting, IV/injections and sterile technique are completed. 

PA 551.  Primary Care II Clinical.  6 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.  Following completion of PA 550, an extensive clinical practicum of twelve weeks supervised by a physician is required to assist students in the synthesis and application of theoretical and scientific concepts in the care of patients in primary care, including outpatient, in-patient, surgery, and emergency room settings.

PA 560.  Primary Care III. 8 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  This 4-week on-campus didactic course uses the problem solving process to instruct students in the diagnosis and management of acute, emergent & chronic conditions seen in the child, adolescent, adult and elderly in the primary care setting.  Management of patient’s with multiple problems is emphasized.   Components of medical interviewing and documentation are continued adapting to a variety of patient situations.  Conditions less commonly seen in primary care are taught in a system based approach.  Content areas of radiology, nutrition, behavioral science and genetics are continued from PA 550.  The pharmacology portion of this course emphasizes pharmacological preparations (organized by systems) used in acute, emergent & chronic conditions through teaching the principles of rational drug therapy:  selection, initiation, and monitoring, with current information regarding efficacy, toxicity, and the cost of pharmacological agents.  Special emphasis is given to drug interactions and polypharmacy.  Skills labs in joint injection and punch biopsies are completed.

PA 561.  Primary Care III Clinical.  4 credits Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  Following, completion of PA 560,  this eight week clinical practicum supervised by a physician is required to assist students in the synthesis and application of theoretical and scientific concepts as it relates to patients in primary care, including outpatient, hospital, rehab, palliative and long term care settings.

PA 565.  PA Role.  3 credits  Prerequisite: Enrolled in Physician Assistant Program.            This on-line course introduces the PA student to a more complete role definition in varied sectors of the health care industry.  It introduces the PA student to: the US health care system; the PA organizations on both the state and national level; the role of the PA in rural and underserved primary care settings; credentialing; licensure; professional liability; malpractice insurance and other legal/ethical issues.  It also prepares the student for transition from PA-S to PA-C; practice preparation; role expectations, national certification and recertification, licensure, the impaired professional, leadership within the profession, and the life-long learner.  Through clinical testing, it verifies and validates the student’s skills in history taking, physical exams, and treatment protocols. Through comprehensive written testing prior to graduation, it verifies and validates the student’s knowledge base in preparation for national board certification.

PA 580.  Specialty Clerkship.  1-8 credits  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  Specialty clinical rotations, each of varying lengths, as determined by the faculty advisor and student in discussion with the clinical preceptor, that are necessary to fulfill the program requirements for types of patients, patient settings, and age groupings and/or to strengthen the student’s understanding of the development of referral patterns between primary care practitioners and specialty physicians.   One credit is given for two weeks of clinical practice. 6 credits required. One credit of PA 588 may be substituted for one of the required 6 credits.

PA 585.  Current Trends and Issues for the Physician Assistant Practitioner.  2 credits Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  This on-line course covers the following areas: Ethical issues; Complementary and Alternative Medicine; and Practice Management.

PA 995.  Scholarly Project.  2 credits.  Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program.  The scholarly project requires the student to investigate a topic related to an area of interest within primary care and/or the PA profession.  Before initiating the project, the student must obtain approval from designated faculty. 

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