Master Capstone Project
Master’s Capstone Project
The Master’s Capstone Project (MCP) will be completed during the clinical phase of the SHU PA program; successful completion is required for graduation and conferment of the Masters’ Degree. The MCP refers to a manuscript that reports on original research, with the general expectation that the finished product is of publishable quality, meets professional standards, and is useful to some external audience. This course builds on first year courses (Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, and Population Health and Wellness) and is designed for the PA student to complete a Master’s Capstone Project (MCP) under the guidance of the DORA and approved external advisor. Students will work in teams of two (when available) to complete the MCP. There are four MCP tracks: Clinical, Global Health, Community Outreach, and PA Education. Each student must choose one of these tracts to complete their MCP; generally, any topic that is appropriate for the MCP will fall into one of these categories. Each team will identify a scholarly question on a clinical, global health, community outreach, or PA education topic, search and analyze the literature, then develop a scholarly paper of publishable quality in a peer-reviewed journal (i.e. JAAPA, Clinical Review, PA Professional, Journal of PA Education, etc.). Each MCP project will also encompass a complementary presentation and may require an additional Capstone Deliverable: Clinical track – scholarly poster, Global Health – scholarly poster, Community Outreach – scholarly poster & community service learning project, PA Education – scholarly poster & presentation/lecture.
Teams will be required to complete each component of their MCP according to the time line outlined in this handbook. Teams will be expected to complete components of the MCP sequentially within their assigned Capstone Block.
Leave of Absence Policy
Leave of Absence (LOA) is a student-requested withdrawal from all Program activities for a specific and defined period of time. The Program Director and the PPC, through the process described below, may grant a LOA. Students should note that the Program is not obligated to honor a request for LOA when it is determined by the Program that the leave is educationally unsound. By definition, LOA is withdrawal from all Program activities. Student activities cannot be scheduled for the student during the leave, nor may the student present themselves as a SHU Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program student during the leave of absence.
During the didactic year: There is no option for a Leave of Absence (LOA) during the didactic year.
During the clinical phase: Refer to the MPAS Student Clinical Handbook for requesting a LOA during the clinical phase of the program.
Unexpected absences due to illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances:
During the didactic year, students with unexpected absences due to illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances who miss one consecutive calendar week or more may be suspended from the program. This is due to the robust, lock-step educational curriculum. At the discretion of the Program Director and PPC, students may return to the program in the next matriculating class with availability, which must be within 24 months from the date of suspension and must be requested in writing to the Program Director and PPC at time of suspension. Any completed courses must be taken again to ensure the student is proficient and current in course content, which will incur additional tuition and costs to complete the program.
For students with unexpected absences that are more than 2 days, but less than one consecutive calendar week, will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Please also refer to the Missed Assessment Policy.
Sacred Heart University Dismissal Policy/Academic Appeals
Please refer to the MPAS Program Student Handbook for criteria for dismissal. Please also refer to the section of the SHU Graduate Catalog for the protocol on appealing a grade, and for the grievance and appeals policies.
For updated program information, please visit our website at Sacred Heart Physician Assistant Program.