Program Contact: Laurie Seeger 203-582-3882
This entry-level dual-degree Physician Assistant (ELMPA) program leading to a Bachelor of Health Science Studies and Master of Health Science is divided into a 4-year preprofessional component and a 27-month professional component. To progress to the professional phase, all ELMPA courses and program requirements must be completed within four years.
The preprofessional component provides students with a well-rounded education and a strong focus in biological and health science studies. This very structured and organized undergraduate program not only prepares students for the rigors of the professional component of the program, but also introduces students to the role and responsibilities of physician assistants as well as the six competencies for the physician assistant profession. The program addresses the need for medical experience by providing students with emergency medical technician (EMT) training (PY 388 /PY 389 ) as well as extensive time shadowing practicing physician assistants (PY 397 ). EMT ride time and preclinical experiences take place at off-campus sites, and students are responsible for transportation to and from all off-campus sites beginning in the sophomore year. In addition, students must meet specific program health and immunization requirements for participation in the preclinical experiences. Program costs associated with the preclinical affiliations and EMT course, including uniform, parking, certification exam, health requirements documentation, background check and additional program fees, are the responsibility of the student.
Undergraduate portion of the dual-degree (ELMPA) minimum required credits 122
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| BIO 101 & BIO 101L |
and UC Natural Science with Lab |
4 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing (UC First Year Writing) | 3 |
| MA 141 | UC Math | 3 |
| CHE 110 & CHE 110L |
and |
4 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar (UC Foundations Inquiry) | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 102 & BIO 102L |
and |
4 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research (UC First Year Writing) | 3 |
| UC Disciplinary Inquiry(Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Science | 3 | |
| CHE 111 & 111L |
and General Chemistry II Lab |
4 |
| PY 104 | Physician Assistant Seminar I - Orientation to the Profession | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Patient Contact Hours | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIO 211 & BIO 211L |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I and |
4 |
| CHE 210 & CHE 210L |
and |
4 |
| PHY 110 & PHY 110L |
and |
4 |
| PY 388 & PY 388L |
and 1 |
3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 212 & 212L |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab |
4 |
| CHE 211 & CHE 211L |
and |
4 |
| PY 397 | 3 | |
| PY 389 & PY 389L |
and 1 |
3 |
| HSC 202 | 2 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Patient Contact Hours | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BMS 370 & BMS 370L |
and |
4 |
| BIO/BMS Core science elective | 3-4 | |
| UC Disciplinary Inquiry (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| UC Disciplinary Inquiry (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BMS 200 | 3 | |
| BMS 304 | 3 | |
| BIO/BMS Core science elective | 3-4 | |
| BIO/BMS/HSC Science elective | 3-4 | |
| UC Personal Inquiry 1 (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Patient Contact Hours | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PY 401 | 3 | |
| BIO/BMS Core science elective | 3-4 | |
| UC Personal Inquiry 1 (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| UC Personal Inquiry 2 (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 1-3 | |
| Credits | 13-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PY 204 | 1 | |
| BMS 332 | 4 | |
| BIO/BMS/HSC Science elective | 3-4 | |
| UC Personal Inquiry 2 (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| SHS 420 | 3 | |
| PY 411 | 1 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Total Credits | 122-129 | |
- 1
If student has current EMT licensure on admission to the program, two additional science electives are taken instead of PY 388 and PY 389.
Total number of credits required for completion of the preprofessional component = 122
Students who have earned advanced placement credit or other college credit in an introductory-level science course must still take BIO 101/BIO 102 and CHE 110/CHE 111 at Quinnipiac. Students with AP credits in non-science courses may elect to take only 14 credits in the fall semester of the first year.
Acceptable Core Science Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following courses: | ||
| BMS 310 | 3 | |
| BMS 318 | 3 | |
| BMS 320 | 3 | |
| BMS 325 | 3 | |
| BMS 330 | 3 | |
| BMS 372 & BMS 372L | and | 4 |
| BMS 375 & BMS 375L | and | 4 |
| BIO 350 | 3 | |
Additional Science Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from core science electives OR from the following: | ||
| BIO 282 & BIO 282L | and | 4 |
| or BIO 471 | ||
| BIO 298 | 3 | |
| BIO 317 & BIO 317L | and | 4 |
| BMS 318 | 3 | |
| BIO 328 & 328L | Human Clinical Parasitology and Human Clinical Parasitology Lab | 4 |
| BIO 329 | 3 | |
| BIO 346 & BIO 346L | and | 4 |
| BIO 365 | Cancer Biology | 3 |
| BIO 382 & 382L | Human Genetics and Human Genetics Lab | 4 |
| BMS 276 | 3 | |
| BMS 378 | 3 | |
| BMS 470 | 4 | |
| BMS 473 | 3 | |
| or BMS 474 | ||
| BMS 475 | 1-4 | |
| BMS 482 | 1 | 1-4 |
| BMS 498 | 1 | 1-4 |
| BMS 499 | 1 | 1-4 |
| BMS 525 | 1 | 3 |
| BMS 556 | 1 | |
| BMS 595 | 1 | 3 |
| HSC 220 | 3 | |
| HSC 225 | 3 | |
| HSC 262 | 3 | |
| HSC 270 | 3 | |
| HSC 315 | 3 | |
| HSC 498 | 1 | 1-4 |
- 1
With permission. Students who complete an independent study course for 2 credits must also complete a 4-credit science elective course in order to have at least 6 credits of science electives.
Acceptable UC Social Sciences (Disciplinary Inquiry/Personal Inquiry 1)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 101 | 3 | |
| PS 210 | 3 | |
| PS 232 | 3 | |
| PS 244 | 3 | |
| PS 261 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PS 262 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| PS 272 | 3 | |
| PS 284 | 3 | |
| SO 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SO 280 | 3 |
Acceptable UC Elective(Personal Inquiry 2)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 200 | 3 |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Entry-Level Master’s Physician Assistant program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:
Goal: Students will have a strong foundation in sciences and the healthcare system preparing them for the rigors of the graduate PA program.
- Core Science Knowledge: Demonstrate a knowledge of core sciences.
- Interprofessional Health Care: Understand the roles and shared values of various healthcare professionals.
Goal: Students will become advocates of professional responsibility.
- Professionalism: Demonstrate the attributes of a high-quality professional.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Possess the ability to safely and effectively communicate with various populations.
- Community Service: Engage all students in active and ongoing community outreach.
- Leadership: Support a culture of leadership in the university and the community.
Program Requirements
Formal evaluation of the pre–physician assistant student by the Academic Progression and Retention Committee takes place at the end of the spring semester of the first year. To continue in the program, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 and a minimum cumulative science GPA of 3.20. Following the initial evaluation, students are evaluated after completion of each semester. Failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 and a minimum cumulative science GPA of 3.20 results in dismissal from the program. In addition, a 3.20 minimum GPA (both cumulative and science) is required for participation in preclinical affiliations. All required courses must be completed with a course grade of C or better.
By February 1 of the fourth year, students are required to have accumulated at least 1,000 hours of documented direct patient contact through paid and/or volunteer experiences (e.g., certified nurse’s aide, medical assistant, phlebotomy technician, emergency room technician, EMT), 12 hours of Interprofessional Education and 60 hours of Community Service. While patient contact hours must be preapproved by program faculty, students are responsible for making their own arrangements to obtain these direct patient contact hours. In addition, all students are required to obtain student membership in the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
Requirements for Progression to the MHS Physician Assistant Program
For a student in the Entry-Level Master’s Physician Assistant (ELMPA) program to progress to the MHS Physician Assistant program at Quinnipiac University, the student must successfully complete all requirements to obtain a BS degree in Health Science Studies, including all prerequisite courses for the PA program admission, the CASPER test and a formative interview. Students progressing to the professional phase of the program may not have any course failures or grades of incomplete, and no outstanding academic integrity or professionalism issues at the time of progression. In addition, students must meet the established requirements for direct patient contact hours, EMT certification, Interprofessional Education, Community Service and Leadership hours. Prior to beginning the Physician Assistant program, students meet with a faculty member from the Department of Physician Assistant Studies for a final academic review. The student must meet all academic, curricular, professional, health and immunization, background check and technical standards requirements of the PA program to matriculate into the program.
For information on the professional component of the Entry-Level Master’s Physician Assistant program, please see the Graduate Studies section.
PY 104. Physician Assistant Seminar I - Orientation to the Profession.1 Credit.
This course is for ELMPA majors only. Students gain a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of the physician assistant profession and are introduced to the competencies of the PA profession. PA education, role expectations and practice settings are examined. In addition, historical information on the profession is presented. Students must have active AAPA student membership.
Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Spring