Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation Major (HSPJ)

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation (HSS PA Prep) at Western Michigan University prepares students to understand the healthcare world and how to work successfully in it. In addition, it includes pre-requisites for most, if not all, physician assistant (or associate) graduate programs. Through the three required elements of 1) core courses, 2) specialized knowledge and 3) a capstone experience, students gain knowledge and experience to take their place as team members in today’s health services systems.

This major has three required elements: core courses, specialized knowledge and a capstone experience.

The HSS PA-Preparation Core is comprised of the two sets of courses: the Core Major requirements and the Core Cognate requirements. These courses provide an introduction of core competencies that are needed across health services disciplines including delivering patient and family centered care, working in interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, health literacy practices, quality improvement, informatics, and ethical decision making. In addition, the HSS PA-Preparation Core provides a more in-depth study of the organization and delivery of health services, safety practices, health disparities, diversity in delivering services, and health policy.
Specialized knowledge through physician assistant cognate courses to prepare students for successful application to graduate physician assistant programs.
A capstone experience that pulls together skills obtained throughout the program and applies them to an internship placement, a professional project, or a research project. Please see more information at “Capstone Experience”.

Admission
Admission to the HSS-PA Preparation major occurs when students, who have previously been admitted to WMU, select the major, as long as the student has a 2.0 GPA and is not on academic probation. However, all students must raise their GPAs to 2.5 before taking the required capstone course.

Continuance and Graduation Policy
Students must obtain at least a “C” in all required core courses with the Health Services (HSV) designation. Students may repeat courses to obtain the required grade of “C”. Only two repeated HSV courses will count toward degree requirements. These two repeated courses may be the same course repeated twice or two separate courses repeated once each.

Students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA when applying for the required capstone course. Those who do not have a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the semester before their capstone course may take one additional semester to raise their cumulative GPA to a 2.5 or better. If after this additional semester they do not meet the 2.5 cumulative GPA requirement they will be dismissed from the program.

Academic Advising
The College of Health and Human Services provides advising to all students who wish to enroll in and who are admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation program. Students should contact an advisor as early as possible. Failure to meet with an advisor on a regular basis may result in difficulty in completing the program in a timely manner.

Specific program requirements to follow.

BS-Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation

Students must successfully complete 1) WMU Essential Studies requirements; 2) core major and core cognate courses; 3) capstone experiences, usually an internship.

HSS PA Preparation Core Major Courses

Students must complete all the HSS Core major courses.

HSV 1000 - Introduction to Professions in Health and Human Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 2250 - Lifespan Development Credits: 3 hours
HSV 3000 - Research in Health Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 3700 - The Health System and Its Environment Credits: 3 hours
HSV 3900 - Core Competencies and Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4100 - Legal Issues in Healthcare Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4400 - Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Services Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4780 - U.S. Health Policy Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4800 - Healthcare Management Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4860 - Health Literacy Practices Credits: 3 hours
HSV 4880 - Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Healthcare Credits: 3 hours

HSS Core Cognate Courses

Students must complete all the HSS Core cognate courses.

BIOS 2110 - Human Anatomy Credits: 4 hours
OR
BIOS 1980 - Human Form and Function Credits: 4 hours
MDSC 2010 - Medical Terminology Credits: 1 hour
PHIL 2010 - The Good Life Credits: 3 hours
OR
PHIL 3340 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 4 hours
OR
NUR 3220 - Health Care Ethics Credits: 3 hours
HOL 4700 - Relationship-Centered Skills Credits: 3 hours

Physician Assistant Preparation Cognate Courses

In addition to the HSS core major and core cognate courses, students will take the following Physician Assistant Preparation cognate courses and complete the capstone experience (usually an internship).

The Western Michigan University Department of Physician Assistant recommends the following courses in the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Services and Sciences to prepare students to apply to the Physician Assistant program. However, completion of this program does not guarantee admission to the Physician Assistant Graduate program. Other physician assistant graduate programs have similar but not necessarily identical prerequisites, students should check the requirements of their preferred graduate program while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

BIOS 1600 - Biological Form and Function Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 1610 - Molecular and Cellular Biology Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 1620 - Ecology and Evolution Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 2320 - Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Credits: 4 hours
OR
BIOS 3120 - Microbiology Credits: 5 hours
BIOS 2500 - Genetics Credits: 4 hours
BIOS 3500 - Human Physiology for Majors Credits: 5 hours
CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 1130 - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3550 - Introductory Biochemistry Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 3560 - Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
CHEM 3700 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 hours
CHEM 3710 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab Credits: 1 hour
MDSC 4390 - Pharmacology for Health Professionals Credits: 3 hours
MDSC 4450 - Pathophysiology for the Health Professional Credits: 3 hours
STAT 2160 - Introductory Statistics Credits: 3 hours

One Capstone Experience Course

(See section below for more details on HSV 4890, HSV 4895 and HSV 4900)

HSV 4890 - Health and Human Services Independent Research Credits: 3 hours
OR
HSV 4895 - Capstone Project Credits: 3 hours
OR
HSV 4900 - Internship in Healthcare Services Credits: 4 hours

Capstone Experience

To graduate, students must complete a capstone experience (or transfer in an equivalent): either an internship, capstone project or individual research. A capstone experience is one that integrates special studies with the Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation major and extends, critiques, and applies knowledge gained throughout the program. Students typically complete the capstone experience in the final semester before graduation. They will do this by also completing HSV 4900, HSV 4895 or HSV 4890.

Many students will complete an internship as their capstone experience.
Students who have at least one year of paid experience in healthcare or in a health-related organization may opt to complete a capstone project instead of an internship.
Occasionally a student with extensive healthcare experience may decide that their future goals are best supported by completing an individual research project.

Internship in Healthcare Services (HSV 4900) - Appropriate for most students
wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships

Students completing an internship integrate and apply their knowledge and abilities, as well as hone skills in preparation for employment or graduate study in a healthcare or health-related organization.

In the semester prior to the internship, students meet with the internship coordinator to establish an appropriate, supervised placement that will further their education and professional objectives. A minimum of 200 clock hours is required for internships (some internships require more). A classroom seminar accompanies the internship placement (HSV 4900).

The requirements of the internship are:

Completion of all prerequisites prior to enrollment in any of the capstone courses.
Application to the capstone experience/internship program. Application includes the application form, the student’s resume and unofficial transcripts. All applications must be submitted via the Intern Placement Tracking (IPT) system found on the program website at www.wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships.
Application must be made by the deadline for the semester in which a student wishes to begin the internship. See below for deadlines.

Capstone Experience HSV 4890, HSV 4895 or HSV 4900	Application Deadline
Summer	December 1 (the previous year)
Fall	March 1 (of the same year)
Spring	June 1 (the previous year)

Students should review the listing of internship sites on the website, wmich.edu/healthservices/academics/internships/descriptions and mention any placements that they are interested in on their application.
After the application is received, the student will meet with the internship coordinator to establish an appropriate, supervised placement that will further their education and professional objectives.
Students must enroll in HSV 4900 and participate in the internship seminar.
Students engaged in an internship must give evidence of having health insurance at the time of course enrollment.
Liability insurance coverage will be provided by the University through a fee assessed at the time of enrollment in HSV 4900.
Students must have the minimum of a 2.5 GPA to enroll in HSV 4900 and to complete an internship. If a student misses the minimum GPA the student will be given one semester to achieve the 2.5 before taking the course. If a student is unable to achieve the 2.5 GPA in one semester the student will be dismissed from the program barring hardship circumstances. If hardship circumstances are present the Internship Coordinator, the Program Director and the Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs will review the case.

Students who are registered, certified, or licensed healthcare professionals may pursue a clinical experience providing it exposes the student to the development of new skills, or is in a situation outside their usual employment.

Capstone Project (HSV 4895)
The capstone project provides students an opportunity to design and complete a project in health services. Only students who have completed at least one year of employment at a healthcare or health-related organization and have successfully applied for this option may select it. Students must complete a capstone experience application following the date guidelines for all capstone experiences. Students complete the project over one semester, typically the student’s final semester of his/her undergraduate career.

The capstone project requires students to conceive, plan, and implement a special project in an area within the scope of healthcare services and sciences. This is generally at their place of employment, but not always. Capstone projects may take many different forms. Some examples are: patient satisfaction surveys in an applied setting, a written health literacy project, analysis of a health informatics system, clinical review of a therapeutic intervention, implementation of a quality improvement project, development of a patient manual or an educational program.

Students will work under the supervision of a capstone project instructor. Enrollment in the capstone project course requires departmental approval from the HSS internship coordinator. If you have at least one year of healthcare experience and desire to take the capstone project course, contact the HSS internship coordinator for more information.

Students must have the minimum of a 2.5 GPA to enroll in HSV 4895 to complete a capstone project. If a student misses the minimum GPA the student will be given one semester to achieve the 2.5 GPA before taking the course. If the student is unable to achieve the 2.5 GPA in one semester the student will be dismissed from the program barring hardship circumstances. If hardship circumstances are present, the Program Director and the Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs will review the case.

Health and Human Services Independent Research (HSV 4890)
Restricted to certified, licensed, or registered health providers, this course requires the completion of a student created research project related to a current issue in health and human services.

If a healthcare provider chooses HSV 4890: Independent Research (3 hours), the project must conform to the following standards:

The student must select a research committee consisting of a faculty mentor knowledgeable in the field of inquiry and a reader who will also act as a resource person (the resource person may work outside of the University).