Oct 08, 2024  
2024 2025 Academic Catalog 
    
2024 2025 Academic Catalog

Physician Assistant, M.S.

Location(s): Main Campus


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study

Eleanor Dana Hall
30 Hazel Street
Telephone: (203) 576-2400

Curriculum

The PA curriculum is a rigorous 28-month Master of Science program composed of didactic and clinical phases. In the didactic phase of the program, students learn the tenets of basic medical sciences, clinical medicine (pathophysiology of disease and pharmacology), clinical skills (history taking and physical exam along with clinical procedures), global and public health, and patient education and counseling. The research semester teaches the basics of evidence-based medicine and research methods, where students develop necessary skills to successfully complete a capstone research project. Prior to the clinical phase, students are oriented to each clerkship in the Clinical Seminar course. The clinical phase of the program, during the last 13 months of the program, includes 7 core clerkships (internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, family medicine, behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology), an elective and a special population selective clinical clerkship. During the didactic phase, instruction is provided by experienced faculty from the basic science departments and the PA Institute. During the clinical phase, students are instructed by their clinical preceptors who are licensed and board-certified practicing clinicians.

Program Goals

The University of Bridgeport PA Institute (PAI) has established goals that support the mission and outcomes of the program. Each goal has defined benchmarks and associated data that demonstrate how they are being met. For the most current report on goals please visit the program’s website: https://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/programs/physician-assistant-ms/goals-outcomes  

Program Competencies

Graduates of the University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Institute will be able to demonstrate competence in the following areas:

PO1: Elicit and interpret an accurate medical history from a patient. (PK)

PO2: Perform an appropriate physical examination and accurately interpret findings. (PK)

PO3: Utilize pertinent patient data and diagnostic interpretation to formulate a differential diagnosis. (PK)

PO4: Demonstrate clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to create a management plan. (PK)

PO5: Accurately perform the technical skills utilized in care of the patient. (PK)

PO6: Demonstrate effective communication skills necessary to work in healthcare teams. (HLC, ICP)

PO7: Demonstrate culturally sensitive care with a patient-centered approach. (PK, HLC))

PO8: Counsel and educate for disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle. (PK, SPH, HLC)

PO9: Understand the role of the PA and adhere to professional standards in healthcare settings. (ICP, PL, HCF)

PO10: Identify the roles of various providers in the healthcare team including alternative or complementary practitioners. (HCF)

Definitions of the abbreviations are as follows: Patient-Centered Practice Knowledge (PK), Society and Population Health (SPH), Health Literacy and Communication (HLC), Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Leadership (ICP), Professional and Legal Aspects of Health Care (PL) & Health Care Finances and Systems (HCF). Abbreviations are based on the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession.

Program Admissions

All admission’s information for the program is available on the main website found here: https://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/programs/physician-assistant-ms/admission-requirements

Semester Based Curriculum - 113 Credit(s)


Term Information


Order of clerkships vary by student schedule. See term examples.

Graduation Requirements


Graduation from the UB PAI is dependent upon the following conditions being met:

  • All courses in the PA curriculum, including all clinical clerkships, must be successfully completed with a final grade of “C” (73%) or better and satisfactorily pass all pass/fail courses.
  • A cumulative grade point average of all programmatic courses must be at or above 3.0.
  • Satisfactory completion of evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical professional behaviors assessment.
  • Successful passing of the Summative Evaluation.

Additional Information


Nutrition Degree Option for UB PA Graduates

University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant students can earn advanced standing in the MS in Nutrition program for several PA courses. The required core courses in the nutrition program will be taken after completion of PA program. Please refer to the PA/MS Nutrition Program found in the catalog at the following link: Human Nutrition, M.S.  

 

View all courses offered and read full course descriptions in our online course catalog system.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs of Study