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.
The program’s goals are:
- Matriculate and retain cohorts with competitive academic and clinical admission qualifications.
- Deliver a curriculum that produces cohorts with nationally distinguished board exam outcomes.
- Prepare students to work collaboratively in interprofessional healthcare teams.
- Demonstrate student engagement in service to the institution and community.
A summary of our performance on goals is available online.
Review our program graduate terminal competencies online.
Graduation Requirements
Our unique 30-month curriculum maximizes clinical training and patient care experiences.
The 12-month didactic phase uses lecture, case-based discussions and skills labs training to prepare students for clinical rotations.
The 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 and vascular surgery
- Orthopedics
- Emergency medicine
- Pediatrics
- Behavioral health
- Internal medicine
- Primary care
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Critical care medicine
- Urology
- Neurosurgery
- 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: 5)
- PHA - 512 History and Physical Examination (Credits: 3)
- PHA - 513 Physician Assistant Professional Practice (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 514 Clinical Medicine I (Credits: 5)
Fall term
- PHA - 520 Principles of Clinical Pharmacology I (Credits: 3)
- PHA - 521 Research and Statistics (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 522 Clinical Reasoning I (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 523 Epidemiology and Public Health (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 524 Clinical Medicine II (Credits: 6)
- PHA - 525 Principles of Advanced Practice I (Credits: 2)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Person Centered Teams (Credits: 0)
Spring term
- CHS - 605 Introduction to Ethics in Healthcare (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 530 Principles of Clinical Pharmacology II (Credits: 3)
- PHA - 532 Clinical Reasoning II (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 533 Psychosocial Medicine (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 534 Clinical Medicine III (Credits: 6)
- PHA - 535 Principles of Advanced Practice II (Credits: 2)
- PHA - 536 Emergency and Surgical Medicine (Credits: 2)
- IPE - 502 Interprofessional Person 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 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (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.