Program of Study

Physician Assistant Professional Curriculum

The professional program is 27 months divided into two phases over seven consecutive semesters.

Students are strongly encouraged not to work while enrolled in the PA program. Any student who chooses to work is required to attend all program related activities and will not be granted an excused absence for work obligations.

 

Phase I - Didactic Year (12 months) (62-63 semester hours)

The didactic curriculum is organized into blocks to allow for a comprehensive and integrated approach to learning medicine by organ system.  Each clinical medicine module contains anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical skills, laboratory studies, study of disease states, pharmacology, behavioral medicine, preventive medicine, Spanish and evidence based healthcare. The morning classes are traditional lectures and the afternoon focuses on active learning through cases, skills, role playing and problem solving. Letter grades have been eliminated and all students must earn an 80% or higher to pass the module. There is a comprehensive assessment every 2 weeks. Students take an individual exam and then retake the same exam in their small groups; facilitating the opportunity to further learn the medical material through group discussion of the assessment. If a student does not pass the assessment, there are two opportunities to further learn the medical information and retest. Every student graduating from the program will have met the minimum competency of 80% in every area of medicine.

SUMMER SEMESTER (13 weeks - 18-19 semester hours)

FALL SEMESTER (16 weeks - 22.5 semester hours)
SPRING SEMESTER (16 weeks - 21.5 semester hours)

Phase II - Clinical Rotations/Graduate Project (15 months)                      (65 semester hours)                        

                        

SUMMER SEMESTER (14 weeks - 15 semester hours)
FALL SEMESTER (18 weeks - 18 semester hours)
SPRING SEMESTER (19 weeks - 19 semester hours)

SUMMER SEMESTER (13 WEEKS - 13 SEMESTER HOURS)

*Note: Each student must complete the following clinical rotations:
PA 630 - Family Practice Rotation (12 semester hours)
PA 631 - Internal Medicine Rotation (6 semester hours)
PA 633 - In-Patient Medicine Rotation (6 semester hours)
PA 634 - Surgery Rotation (6 semester hours)
PA 636 - Emergency Medicine Rotation (6 semester hours)
PA 637 - Community Medicine Rotation (6 semester hours)
PA 639 - Primary Care Rotation: Pediatrics, Women's Health, Geriatrics, Family Medicine (6 semester hours)

PA 640 - Elective Rotation (6 semester hours)

PA 696 - Graduate Project (6 semester hours) completed during Fall or Spring semester