2024-2025

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

College of Health and Human Services

The purpose of Health Equity Certificate is to provide certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable and accessible health care system.

PAs will examine structural, economic, systems, and other factors that influence health outcomes; systematically address the complex needs of vulnerable patients, communities, and populations through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies; and recommend solutions to address inequities in health care.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and health care systems as PA leaders and experts in health equity.

    • Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 credit hours. Many graduate certificate programs require more than 12 credit hours.
    • No more than one 400-level NAU course (3 - 4 units) may be used on a graduate certificate program.
    • No more than twenty-five percent of the units required for the certificate program may be transferred from another university.
    • A 400-level course (undergraduate course) completed at another university is not eligible for transfer credit.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved to obtain a graduate certificate. No more than three units of coursework with a Grade of "C" may be used in a certificate program.
    • A graduate student may pursue a graduate certificate concurrently with a graduate degree. Each graduate degree program must decide which, if any, certificate courses can be counted toward the graduate degree.
    • Students who are admitted to a graduate certificate program will be eligible for the official posting of the graduate certificate to their transcripts when all applicable coursework has been successfully completed and approved by the academic unit and the Graduate College.

  • Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program).  See the “Details” tab for additional information.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 12
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Some online/blended coursework Required

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Health Equity Certificate is to provide certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with the knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable, and accessible healthcare system.

The program includes coursework in health care systems and practices, improving health care using a health equity lens, policies and practices for social determinants of health, and population health management.

The program provides students with foundational knowledge in health care delivery and payment models and their relationship to health care outcomes. PAs will examine structural, economic, systems, and other factors that influence health outcomes; systematically address the complex needs of vulnerable patients, communities, and populations through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies; and recommend solutions to address inequities in health care.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and healthcare systems as PA leaders and experts in health equity.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Examine the interrelationship between the U.S. healthcare structure, financing, organization, and patient outcomes and apply these findings to new models of healthcare delivery.
  • Apply cultural and historical constructs, outcomes data, and state and national policy changes to a comprehensive understanding of the design and delivery of U.S. healthcare.
  • Develop evidence-based interventions to address healthcare inequities that apply to all components of the healthcare delivery system.
  • Communication
    • Communicate effectively with peers (e.g., discussion boards), faculty (e.g., emails, presentations, projects), and health systems stakeholders (e.g., policy memos) on behalf of patients and communities.
    • Effectively communicate specific challenges in the U.S. healthcare system (e.g., system level, patient level, provider level) and provide recommendations for improvement using evidence-based frameworks unique to the discipline.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • A degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.

     

Certificate Requirements

  • Students enrolled in this certificate may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

  • This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Federal financial aid cannot be used if the certificate is completed as a stand-alone certificate.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.