Introduction
The Physician
Assistant (PA) Program is offered through the School of Allied Health in the
College of Applied Sciences and Arts in collaboration with the Department of
Family and Community Medicine in the School of Medicine. The Program utilizes a problem-based learning
curriculum to prepare primary care physician assistants to practice medicine
with physician supervision.
Overview of Profession
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Physician Assistants are health
professionals who are licensed to practice medicine with physician
supervision. PAs exercise
autonomy in medical
decision-making and providing a broad
range of medical and
diagnostic services.
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The physician assistant performs a
variety of primary care tasks including collecting historical and physical data
and ordering appropriate laboratory tests.
The physician assistant makes a diagnosis of the patient’s
condition. They can provide medication,
treatments, or therapy for health-related problems. Also, the physician assistant can evaluate
psychological aspects of a patient’s health, counsel when appropriate, and
provide patient education. The physician assistant makes referrals when needed. The physician assistant can also perform technical
skills such as EKGs, venipuncture, minor suturing, injections, splinting,
casting, and assisting in surgery.
Physician Assistant
Master’s Degree Program
The Physician
Assistant Program curriculum includes intense problem-based learning (PBL)
studies and clinical rotations. The
curriculum is designed to prepare the primary health care provider. All PA courses are sequenced and are required
of all students.
Before students
begin the physician assistant curriculum, they must complete a Bachelor of
Science Degree and all PA prerequisites.
Consideration for admission to the PA program is given to candidates
with high cumulative and prerequisite GPAs in addition to having significant
direct health care experience and/or shadowing a Certified PA.
Transfer credits
may be accepted. No PA program credit is given for experiential learning. No
advanced placement is awarded toward completion of PA program courses, even if
you are already licensed as a medical doctor.
Prerequisite Courses
The Master of
Science Degree and PA prerequisites
include a minimum
of the following: English Composition 101,
Speech 101, Medical
Terminology HCP 105 or proficiency, Physiology 301 (Cadaver Anatomy),
Physiology 310 (or higher), Chemistry
140 a & b (7-8 hrs); 1 semester of organic and biological recommended),
Microbiology 201 and lab, Psychology 102 (or Developmental Psychology), Basic
Statistics (Math 282 or higher, or ESPY 402, HCM 365), General Biology 115 or
200A for Science Majors and BCLS (HED 334 or CPR for Providers (can be taken at
a community college or area hospital). Courses in Physiology must be completed
within the last five years. Complete either a GRE, MAT or MCAT exam. A Science
or Health related degree is preferred.
Students go through
a selective admission process for entrance into the PA Program and begin only in the Summer session (usually the last Friday
in May).
Those selected for
our Program are notified of acceptance during spring semester prior to the
summer of entry.
Curriculum
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The curriculum is designed to prepare
the graduate to become a primary care provider.
Subsequent to
completion of a Bachelor’s Degree and required prerequisites, the PA program
includes 26 months of intense problem-based learning studies and clinical
rotations.
The curriculum is a
structured sequence with one year of PBL Curriculum; laboratory and clinical
experiences; and, one year of clinical rotations again utilizing the PBL
process. During the clinical rotation
phase, students may be required to relocate to one of 7 locations: Bloomington,
Carbondale/Delta, Decatur, Mattoon, Olney, Peoria, Quincy or Springfield. An 8-week preceptorship is required after
completion of clinical rotations.
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The Physician Assistant 26-month program
consists of:
Phase I
- Didactic Phase _________
Summer 10
Credit Hours
Fall 22 Credit Hours
Spring 22
Credit Hours
Phase II -
Clinical Rotation Phase
Summer 6
Credit Hours
Fall 12
Credit Hours
Spring 12
Credit Hours
Phase III -
Preceptorship
Summer 6
Credit Hours
Problem-Based
Learning
The Physician
Assistant Program at SIUC is taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). 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
behavorial 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 tutor 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.
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For more information of PBL go to:
http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/~paprogram
Expenses
*Students accepted into the Physician Assistant Program will
have higher tuition rates than other undergraduate students.
Tuition rates are
established by the SIUC Board of Trustees but still remain competitive with
other PA Programs. Annual tuition and
fees are estimated to be approximately $20,250 for
Students accepted
into the physician assistant program have expenses in addition to the
University’s tuition and fees. Some of
these expenses include textbooks; an instrument kit; vaccines; professional
association dues; examination fees; transportation and housing, and the
continuing education program. More information on these expenses is on our
website.
A personal home
computer or laptop computer is required.
Financial aid is
available. For detailed information,
contact Rick
Steudel in the
Financial Aid office at (618) 453-4334.
Application and Admission
Criteria
for PA Application and Admission
Part 1
Admission to the PA
program is a two-part process. In Part
I, a prospective student must:
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Submit a generic online Graduate
School Information Form. It is located
at www.siu.edu/gradschl.
Choose the MSPA Major in the College
of Applied Science.
Make sure you have a Bachelor of
Science and completed all required prerequisites as specified in the Curriculum
section of this brochure prior to applying to the Graduate School.
PA
Student Selection Criteria
Part II
After fulfilling Part
I requirements, students accepted may apply to the PA Program. Applicants must:
Complete and submit a PA Program
application online through http://portal.CASPAonline.org, along with the
application fee by December 1st.
Applications with postmarks after the December 1 deadline will not be
reviewed.
Make sure all official transcripts are
submitted to the SIUC PA Program Academic Advisor.
Have an earned cumulative (overall)
Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 (A=4.0) or higher as calculated by SIUC, for your
Bachelor’s coursework. If this GPA is
below 2.8, your application cannot be reviewed.
Have an earned GPA of 3.0 or higher
(A=4.0) on all PA prerequisites, as calculated by SIUC.
Have evidence of significant health
care experience. Shadowing a PA is also recommended.
The most academically and
experientially qualified students will be invited to participate in formal
interview sessions. Selection of
candidates for admission in to the PA Program will be made by a full admissions
committee review following the applicants’ interviews.
*Students
must meet the technical standards of the PA
Program. These standards are
posted on our website and are on file at the PA Program office and are
available upon request. Submit a copy of your CPR for Providers card.
Advisement
Advisement for
those interested in the SIUC PA Program can be obtained from the Academic
Advisor in the Program Office:(618) 453-5527;
e-mail:paadvisement-l@listserv.siu.edu. An unofficial transcript should be
submitted prior to seeking an appointment.
Important Dates
April
15 Applications
accepted.
Late June Interviews
of qualified applicants with completed applications begin.
December
1 Deadline for submission of
PA Application materials.
* The PA Program utilizes a rolling admissions
process.
Therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply early.
For More Information:
More information can be found online in the SIUC Graduate Catalog
and on our website: http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/~paprogram
For SIUC Admission Information:
Freshman or Transfer Students:
New
Student Admission Services
Woody Hall D108,
Mailcode 4710
Southern
Telephone: (618)
536-4405
FAX: (618) 453-3250
For former SIUC
Students:
Admissions and Records
Woody Hall A221,
Mailcode 4701
Southern
Telephone: (618)
453-4381
FAX: (618) 453-3250
For SIUC Physician Assistant Program
advisement or admission information:
Academic Advisor
Physician Assistant
Program
Lindegren Hall 129,
Mailcode 6516
Southern
Office Telephone:
(618) 453-8850
Advisement Telephone: (618) 453-5527
FAX: (618) 453-7216
E-mail: paadvisement-l@listserv.siu.edu
For Grad School information form or admission
information:
Ms
Lu Lyons, Supervisor
Woody
Hall B-103, Mailcode 4716
FAX:
(618) 453-4562
*It is the policy of Southern Illinois
University Carbondale to provide equal opportunity and educational
opportunities for all qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a disabled
veteran or a veteran of the
*This informative material is subject to
change. Contact the PA Program
department for the latest information.
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Southern
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College
of Applied Sciences and Arts
Physician Assistant
Program
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Degree
(MSPA)