2011-2012 CCBC College Catalog

Physician Assistant

Collaborative Master's Degree and Certificate Program
Health Workforce Shortage Program

Physician Assistant Certificate, CCBC Essex
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Towson University Graduate School

This is a Selective Admissions program. Click here before continuing for more information.

Students must be admitted to the Physician Assistant Program in order to register for these courses.

Program Requirements:
Credits
     
Year I
Summer
 
____PAST 212 Public Health and Preventive Medicine
2
____PAST 217 Pathophysiology and Anatomy
3
____PAST 602 Ethics, Issues and Trends
3
____PAST 603 Medicine I
2
____PAST 216 Psychosocial Issues in Medicine II

2

Total Credits:
12
   
Fall  
____PAST 213 Diagnostic Process
4
____PAST 214 Psychosocial Issues in Medicine I
2
____PAST 230 Diagnostic Studies I
2
____PAST 604 Medicine II
6
____PAST 606 Pediatrics I
2
____PAST 609 Pharmacology I
2
Total Credits:   
18
Winter (Mini-semester)
____PAST 231 Diagnostic Studies II
2
____PAST 605 Medicine III
2
 
Total Credits:
4
Spring  
____PAST 232 Diagnostic Studies III
2
____PAST 250 Introduction to Clinical Practice
4
____PAST 601 Research Methods

3

____PAST 607 Pediatrics II
2
____PAST 608 Medicine IV
6
____PAST 610 Pharmacology II
2
 
Total Credits:
19
Year II
Summer
____PAST 251 Clinical Practicum I
6
 
Total Credits:
6
Fall     
 
____PAST 801 Research Seminar I
1
____PAST 252 Clinical Practicum II
12
____PAST 730 Clinical Management I
2
Total Credits:
15
Winter/Mini-semester
____PAST 253 Clinical Practicum III
3
Total Credits:
3
Spring  
 
____PAST 802 Research Seminar II
1
____PAST 254 Clinical Practicum IV
11
____PAST 731 Clinical Management II
2
Total Credits:
14
Summer  
 
____PAST 255 Clinical Practicum V
5
Total Credits:
5
Total Credits Required for Degree:
96

NOTE: Students are not required to take ACDV 101 in their first semester at CCBC since the minimum admission requirements include a Bachelor's Degree.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

  1. perform, order, and interpret diagnostic studies, including radiographs, imaging studies, electrocardiograms, and those tests necessary to assess complaints common to the ambulatory, hospitalized, and emergency medicine patient;
  2. demonstrate proficiency in basic clinical skills, especially those focusing on the diagnostic process and elements of clinical management, including eliciting patient history, physical assessment, recording patient data and case presentation, diagnosis and basic management plans, and performing basic clinical skills with actual patients in the clinical setting;
  3. operate as highly skilled health care providers who practice medicine with the supervision of licensed physicians through experience gained in the successful completion of ten clinical rotations in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, community medicine, psychiatry, and two general elective areas in primary care and general medicine;
  4. apply principles of the practice of medicine covered throughout the program in a primary care or rural/underserved location and students will function as a full member of a medical team and be responsible for patient care from presentation through follow-up including diagnostic evaluation and patient management; and
  5. incorporate the knowledge, responsibilities, and standards essential to the professional practice of physician assistant.

Program Description:

Physician Assistants are highly skilled health care providers who practice medicine with the supervision of licensed physicians. This collaborative program of CCBC and Towson University Graduate School is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree prior to admission and prepares individuals with strong academic science backgrounds and clinical experiences for careers as Physician Assistants. Full-time, continuous enrollment is required throughout the 26-month program. The curriculum is approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA). Individuals who successfully complete the program are eligible for certification by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

Entry into the program requires admission to the Physician Assistant Program, CCBC, and the Towson University Graduate School.

Enrollees must successfully complete all requirements of the Physician Assistant (PA) program and the Towson University Graduate School. The PA Professional Certificate and the M.S. degree in PA Studies will be awarded upon successful completion of all 96 program credits which includes 36 graduate credits.

Tuition and fees for 200-level courses are paid to CCBC Essex. Tuition and fees for 600, 700 and 800 level courses are paid to Towson University. Applicants will pay appropriate application fees to both institutions.

All classes are taken at CCBC Essex. Students will register for 200 level courses with CCBC Essex and will register for 600, 700 and 800 level courses with the Towson University Graduate School.

Minimum Admission Requirements:

  1. Bachelor’s degree (science/biology discipline preferred)
  2. Acceptance to Towson University Graduate School (Submit CASPA Application before applying to Towson University)
  3. 3.0 GPA (last 60 undergraduate credits) – 3.2 GPA preferred (Applicants with a 2.75 GPA or above may be considered for conditional admissions)
  4. Four hundred (400) hours of patient contact or medical/health related experience or equivalent experience -- 1400 hours preferred
  5. Completion of specific prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "B": Human Anatomy and Physiology, 8 credits; Microbiology, 4 credits; Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry, 4 credits; Statistics, 3 credits; Medical Terminology, 3 credits.

As the program requires full-time attendance (minimum 40 hours per week) throughout the 26-month program, students must complete financial preparation so that employment is not necessary during enrollment. No special consideration will be given to students who choose to ignore this warning.

Admission to this program is a separate process from admission to the college. Admission to the School of Health Professions programs is competitive and selective and is based on published criteria. Applications to the Physician Assistant program must be submitted to the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), www.caspaonline.org.

School of Health Professions Policies: Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code, exhibit professional behavior, communicate effectively in English, provide proof of health insurance and immunizations, and will be asked to submit to a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Students are expected to incur costs associated with these requirements.

Please log on to the Towson University Website (www.towson.edu/chp/pa) for complete PA Program and course information.

Physician Assistant graduates:

  1. Promote the public's interst and the patient's needs before any other considerations.
  2. Serve as ethical health care professionals.
  3. Serve as advocates for patient needs.
  4. Provide patient education and preventive health care services.
  5. Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning.
  6. Work with other health care professionals in providing coordinated health care.

Program Director:

CCBC Essex
Shawn McNamara, Interim Program Director
443-840-2854 or SMcNamara2@ccbcmd.edu

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