Program Objectives
Our Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program provides students with an outstanding education in preparation for a career as a PA.
The curriculum includes a foundation in leadership and service.
Our program maximizes clinical training and patient care experiences.
The following are the program’s goals:
- Matriculate and retrain qualified students from diverse backgrounds.
- Prepare competent PAs with the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional behaviors required for entry-level practice.
- Prepare graduates to work on interprofessional healthcare teams.
- Support the institution and community through student service activities.
Review our program graduate terminal competencies online.
Graduation Requirements
Our 30-month curriculum is innovative and unique.
The 12-month didactic phase uses lecture, case-based discussions and skills labs training to prepare students for clinical rotations.
Our 18-month clinical phase prepares students to practice as generalists, while providing a one-of-a-kind immersion in a specific area of clinical practice.
Students complete 12 months of core rotations and then advance to 6 months of advanced rotations.
Current areas of advanced clinical training include the following:
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Orthopedics
- Vascular surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Pediatrics
- Behavioral health
- Internal medicine
- Primary care
- Pulmonary and critical care medicine
- Interventional radiology
- Urology
- Neurosurgery
- Geriatrics,
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Review the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.
Course Curriculum
Phase I: Coursework
Summer term
- PHA - 510 Human Physiology (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 511 Human Anatomy (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 512 History and Physical Examination Credit(s): 3
- PHA - 513 Physician Assistant Professional Practice (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 514 PA Professional Practice (Credits: 4)
Fall term
- PHA - 520 Principles of Clinical Pharmacology I Credit(s): 3
- PHA - 521 Research and Statistics (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 522 Diagnostic Reasoning I (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 523 PA Professionalism and Practice II (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 524 Epidemiology & Public Health (Credits): 6)
- PHA - 525 Principles of Advanced Practice I (Credits: 2)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Spring term
- CHS - 605 Introduction to Ethics in Health Care (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 530 Principles of Clinical Pharmacology II Credit(s): 3
- PHA - 532 Diagnostic Reasoning II (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 533 Pa Professionalism & Practice III (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 534 Psychosocial Medicine (Credits: 6)
- PHA - 535 Principles of Advanced Practice II (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 536 Emergency and Surgical Medicine (Credits: 2)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Patient Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Phase II: Clinical Rotation Courses
- PHA - 581 Family Medicine (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 582 Internal Medicine I (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 583 Internal Medicine II (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 584 General Surgery I (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 585 General Surgery II (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 586 Obstetrics and Gynecology (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 587 Pediatrics (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 588 Behavioral Health (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 589 Long-Term Care/Geriatrics (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 590 Emergency Medicine (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 591 Elective I (Credits: 4)
- PHA - 592 Elective II (Credits: 4)
Phase III: Advanced Clinical Rotation Courses
Summer term
- PHA - 593 Advanced Clinical Practice I (Credits: 15)
- PHA - 595 Master’s Research Project I (Credits: 1)
Fall term
- PHA - 594 Advanced Clinical Practice II (Credits: 15)
- PHA - 596 Master’s Research Project II (Credits: 1)
Program total: 132 credit hours
View the current course catalog
Refer to the course catalog for our most up-to-date curriculum information.