Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Publication: 2016-2017 ATSU University Catalog Program: Physician Assistant Studies (Online), MS Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Physician Assistant Studies (Online), MS

A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Advanced Physician Assistant (APA) program offers the most direct path to APA credentials–even without a Bachelor’s degree (additional admission requirements apply). Practicing Physician Assistants can begin immediately to pursue a Master of Science in Advanced Physician Assistant Studies from ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS).

ATSU’s Master of Science in Advanced Physician Assistant Studies online is a post-professional program that offers concentrations in either Clinical Medicine or Education/Leadership, with flexibility for working professionals.

This program is available only for licensed Physician Assistants.

Length of Program

The graduate physician assistant may take one or two years to complete the program of 40 credits over 8 courses.

Admissions

Application Process

Applicants will need to create an account at https://apply.atsu.edu for access to the online application. Instructions are included on how to complete the application and provide us with all required documentation. If you have any questions regarding the online application, please contact Admissions at 877.469.2878 or by email at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu.

Application Deadline

Students are accepted into the Advanced Physician Assistant Studies program each quarter. Application deadlines are eight weeks prior to the start of each quarter.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the online Advanced Physician Assistant Program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

  1. Applicants are required to meet all ATSU and ASHS general admission requirements
  2. Applicants must have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale and minimum PA program GPA 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. Applicants will have earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physician Assistant studies from a regionally accredited college or university, or an earned Associate or Certificate in Physician Assistant studies to be eligible for the non-bachelor equivalency option. (Please contact an Enrollment Counselor at 877.469.2878 for more information about the non-bachelor PA equivalency option).
  4. Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts prior to matriculation.
  5. Applicants will submit a curriculum vitae or detailed personal resume.
  6. All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T Still University. See the ASHS English Proficiency section for more details.
  7. Candidates are expected to be computer literate and experienced in word processing. All curricula require extensive computer usage. Accepted applicants are required to have a personal computer prior to matriculation and have access to a high-speed Internet connection.
    1. See the Minimum Technology Specifications under the General Admission Requirements section.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant Studies online, all students must:

  1. Complete all prescribed didactic and clinical courses
  2. Pass all courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ and all comprehensive exams when applicable
  3. Discharge all financial obligations to ATSU
  4. Submit an RSVP for the appropriate Commencement ceremony (found on the graduation website)
  5. Ensure that the mailing address in CampusNexus Student Portal is current. This is the address where the diploma will be mailed.
  6. Attending commencement is not required but highly recommended.

Curriculum

Courses offered in the Clinical Medicine concentration of the Advanced Physician Assistant degree program are designed to broaden the clinical knowledge and skill level of practicing physician assistants. In addition to the didactic course work, which may be completed 100 percent online, the Clinical Medicine concentration requires 400 hours of direct patient care. The physician assistant degree student may complete this at their place of employment.

Classes are concentrated, with students dedicating 10-15 hours of work per week, and the Advanced Physician Assistant degree program begins every quarter. This concentrated focus challenges students to meet the rigors of the comprehensive curriculum.

The Education/Leadership concentration of the Advanced Physician Assistant degree is designed for the physician assistant who wishes to gain advanced training in the theory and practice of educating healthcare professionals.

Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
APA 633 - Assessment and Evaluation 5 credit hours
APA 620 - Clinical Medicine I 4 credit hours each
APA 621 - Clinical Medicine II 4 credit hours each
APA 622 - Clinical Medicine III 4 credit hours each
APA 623 - Clinical Medicine IV 4 credit hours each
APA 660 - Clinical Practice I 1 credit hour each
APA 661 - Clinical Practice II 1 credit hour each
APA 662 - Clinical Practice III 1 credit hour each
APA 663 - Clinical Practice IV 1 credit hour each
APA 634 - Current Topics in Education 5 credit hours
APA 630 - Curriculum Development & Implementation 5 credit hours
APA 632 - Educational Concepts 5 credit hours
APA 503 - Ethical Issues in PA Practice 4 credit hours
APA 506 - Evidence-Based Medicine & Clinical Research Design 4 credit hours
APA 506A - Evidence-Based Medicine for Educators 5 credit hours
APA 501 - Healthcare Delivery Systems 4 credit hours
APA 631 - Leadership & Administrative Issues in Higher Education 1 credit hour
APA 507 - Medical Writing 4 credit hours
APA 507A - Medical Writing for Educators 1 credit hour
APA 505 - PA Professional Practice Issues 4 credit hours
APA 637 - Technology in Education 5 credit hours
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