Nov 23, 2024  
2023-24 ATSU University Catalog 
    
2023-24 ATSU University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education (Online), PA Post-Professional Graduate Certificate


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Physician Assistant Post-Professional Graduate Certificate in Education


The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program offers a post-professional certificate for physician assistants (PAs) in Education. The certificate is comprised of three courses (9 semester credit hours) offered through a distance-learning format. All course work will be taken with current Doctor of Medical (DMSc) students. All courses require active participation using current technology.

The purpose of the certificate is to provide physician assistants with post-professional education in the field of education. The certificate is also beneficial for graduates of the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree who did not select the education track for their initial DMSc degree. These courses can be used as part of the DMSc degree program required course work if you wish to proceed with obtaining the Doctor of Medical Science degree later.  An Application to Transfer Academic Credit will need to be completed.

Length of Program

The Certificate program consists of a minimum of three (3) courses that could be completed over one or more semesters.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is due the first day of class. The tuition due each semester is based on the credit hours being taken by the student during that specific semester. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5% per month, which is 18% per year. For more information on Student Account Collection, please reference ATSU Policy #50-112 within the Financial Policies  section of this catalog.

Tuition Student Technology Fee
$652 per credit hour $38 per credit hour

Admissions

Application Process

Students interested in the Physician Assistant Post-Professional Certificate in Education in the Doctor of Medical Sciences program, may use the online application available at apply.atsu.edu

Admission to the certificate program is as a non-degree student which is not eligible for federal financial assistance.

Written requests for applications should be sent to: Arizona School of Health Sciences, Attention: Certificate - Doctor of Medical Sciences, 5850 E. Still Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206.

Application Deadline

Please contact Admissions at 877.469.2878 or by email at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu for more information regarding the application deadlines for the Certificate program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Physician Assistant Post-Professional Certificate program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

  1. Currently certified/licensed physician assistant or, if retired, previously certified/licensed to practice as a PA.
  2. Master’s degree from a a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor or meet the following equivalency.
    • Master’s Equivalency Option: Applicants MUST have a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies AND meet and document in a portfolio at least one (1) of the criteria below:
      • An approved military or civilian post-professional PA residency or fellowship
      • An approved medical specialty certificate program (i.e. public health certificate)
      • A Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) offered by the NCCPA
      • At least 15 credit hours of post-secondary education toward a master’s degree
  3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  4. Licensed PAs from Canada and the UK are eligible to apply.
  5. Applicants must be fluent in English (the language of instruction of this program). When the applicant speaks and/or writes in English as a second language, the applicant must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for review.
  6. Applicants must be able to meet the University technology requirements.

Certificate Requirements

To earn a PA Post-Professional Graduate Certificate, all students must:

  • Complete with a passing grade (“P”) three (3) of the education courses.

DMSc Transfer Credit

Graduate Certificate to Doctorate

Upon successful completion of one of the graduate certificate programs, students who meet the program requirements are encouraged to apply for admission to the DMSc doctoral degree program.

All courses successfully completed in the certificate program will transfer to the DMSc degree (Education track only; not eligible for the Clinical track). The DMSc application fee will be waived for certificate holders.

Curriculum

Upon completion of the PA Post-Professional Graduate Education Certificate, students will be able to:

  1. Develop teaching skills for clinical and academic environments.
  2. Students will learn:
    1. adult learning theory,
    2. how to develop and design curriculum,
    3. learn about cutting edge advances in educational technology, and
    4. understand educational assessments and evaluations.

Courses

Descriptions and Credit Values


Students are only required to take 3 of the 4 courses but can opt to take all 4 courses (for additional tuition/fees).

Sample Schedule

Block 1

DMSC 8100 and 8110

Block 2

DMSC 8120 and/or 8220 and/or 8140

 

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