Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum

In compliance with the Department of Education, 34 CFR 668.43, students who graduate from Pacific University’s School of Physician Assistant Studies are eligible for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants’ PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Examination) board examination. Successfully passing the PANCE is recognized as “certification” of the physician assistant in all 50 U.S. states.

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

Students are strongly encouraged not to work while enrolled in the school. 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 (14 months - 67 semester hours)

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

Summer Semester (11 weeks - 18 semester hours)

  • PA 554 | Fundamentals of Anatomy I (1 semester hour)
  • PA 556 | Genetics (1 semester hour)
  • PA 553 | Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine (6 semester hours) (Physiology, Nutrition, Pharmacology)
  • PA 530 | Clinical History (3 semester hours)
  • PA 581 | CM Infection and Immunology (3 semester hours)
  • PA 510 | Current Topics in the PA Profession (2 semester hours)
  • PA 595 | Introduction to Evidence Based Healthcare (2 semester hours)

Fall Semester (16 weeks - 24 semester hours)

  • PA 558 | Fundamentals of Anatomy II (1 semester hour)
  • PA 582 | CM Dermatology, Eye, ENT (3 semester hours)
  • PA 571 | CM Nephrology (3 semester hours)
  • PA 576 | CM Hematology and Oncology (3 semester hours)
  • PA 583 | CM Pulmonary Medicine (3 semester hours)
  • PA 585 | CM Cardiology and ECG (4 semester hours)
  • PA 586 | CM Gastroenterology (3 semester hours)
  • PA 577 | CM Endocrinology (3 semester hours)

Spring Semester (18 weeks - 25 semester hours)

  • PA 559 | Fundamentals of Anatomy III (1 semester hour)
  • PA 591 | CM Musculoskeletal (4 semester hours)
  • PA 590 | CM Neurology (4 semester hours)
  • PA 520 | CM Behavioral Medicine (3 semester hours)
  • PA 593 | CM Pediatric Medicine (3 semester hours)
  • PA 557 | CM Geriatrics (1 semester hour)
  • PA 589 | CM Genitourinary/Sexual Health (5 semester hours)
  • PA 596 | CM Emergency Medicine (4 semester hours)
  • CHP 550 | Foundations for Interprofessional Practice, Equity, and Inclusion (1 semester hour)

Phase II — Clinical Rotations/Graduate Project (13 months - 64 semester hours)

Summer Semester (11 weeks - 12 semester hours)

  • PA 597 | CM Surgery, Hospital Care (3 semester hours)
  • PA 599 | Whole Patient (3 semester hours)
  • PA 696 | Graduate Project (6 semester hours)

Fall Semester (19 weeks - 19 semester hours)

  • Rotation 1 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • Rotation 2 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • Rotation 3 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • PA 665 | Professional Practice Seminar I (1 semester hours)

Spring Semester (19 weeks - 20 semester hours)

  • Rotation 4 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • Rotation 5 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • Rotation 6 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • PA 666 | Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare (1 semester hour)
  • PA 667 | Professional Practice Seminar II (1 semester hour)

Summer Semester (13 weeks - 13 semester hours)

  • Rotation 7 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • Rotation 8 | 6-week Rotation (6 semester hours)
  • PA 668 | Professional Practice Seminar III (1 semester hour)

 

Clinical Courses/Rotations

  • PA 630 | Family Practice (12 semester hours)
  • PA 631 | Internal Medicine (6 semester hours)
  • PA 633 | Inpatient Medicine (6 semester hours)
  • PA 634 | Surgery (6 semester hours)
  • PA 636 | Emergency Medicine (6 semester hours)
  • PA 637 | Primary Care I:  primary care, specialties, community medicine, public health, or international/global health (6 semester hours)
  • PA 639 | Primary Care II:  primary care, specialties, community medicine, public health, or international/global health (6 semester hours)