Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program Description and Curriculum

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program begins in January, with courses that provide essential medical knowledge and clinical skills. During the first 15 months of the program, you can expect a challenging curriculum of lectures, practical lab sessions, interpretation of medical literature, case presentations, problem-based learning sessions, and off-campus clinical interactions.

The program continues with a 12 or 14 month clinical training year. Intensive hands-on training takes place through clinical rotations in local and rural health care facilities. All rotations occur in clinical sites that are approved and scheduled by clinical coordinators. Each of the eight required rotations involve five weeks of full-time -- a minimum of 40 hours per week -- clinical practice with supervision from a designated preceptor. The elective rotation is six weeks in length and may be arranged by the student with the approval of the faculty. The elective rotation can be completed in any area of medicine or surgery. The clinical year of the program is managed through technology. Each student receives, at no additional cost, a pocket PC that is then used to collect data about student experiences during the clinical year.

As part of the graduate curriculum, each student will be involved in research. Students may choose from two research options. The Research Forum option allows students to define, design, research, and present a research project while completing their clinical rotations. Students in the Research Forum track graduate in May. The Research and Advanced Clinical Practice research option allows students to complete a research project in an extended 10 week clinical fellowship at a clinical site selected by the student. Students can complete the Advanced Clinical Practice research track at clinical sites across the nation or anywhere on the globe. This option allows students to complete their research project after all required clinical rotation requirements are satisfied. These students graduate in August.

This full schedule of academic and clinical experiences prepares graduates to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), a single national certification exam developed by the National Board of Medical Examiners and administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

The curriculum for the combined B.S./M.S. in Physician Assistant includes additional undergraduate level courses in addition to the courses listed below.