The 12-month didactic phase of the PA program contains the preclinical curriculum that will prepare the student to succeed during the clinical phase. The program begins in January each year with an orientation and a 4-week intensive semester that will give the foundation for subsequent clinical courses. The remainder of the didactic phase will work sequentially through clinical body systems one at a time integrating the clinical course with the Applied Patient Care and Systems Pharmacology courses. Altogether, each body system module will contain the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, history and physical exam, diagnostic techniques, evidence-based medicine, and treatment specific to that system.
In addition to the clinical medicine, students will work through all other aspects of PA practice including interprofessional practice, ethics and social issues, diversity and cultural competency, life-long learning, evidence-based medicine, and research methods.
Semester | Class # | Class Name | Cr Hours |
Intensive | MSPA 500 | Principles of PA Practice I | 1 |
4 wk | MSPA 505 | Foundations of Clinical Anatomy | 2 |
MSPA 510 | Intro to Pathophysiology | 2 | |
MSPA 515 | Intro to Clinical Pharmacology | 1 | |
MSPA 520 | Applied Patient Care I | 2 | |
Total Credit Hours (8) | 8 | ||
Spring | MSPA 501 | Principles of PA Practice II | 1 |
14 wk | MSPA 521 | Applied Patient Care II | 2 |
MSPA 530 | Intro to Evidence-Based Practice | 1 | |
MSPA 550 | Systems Pharmacology I | 2 | |
MSPA 560 | Clinical Hematology and infectious disease | 4 | |
MSPA 561 | Clinical HEENT | 2.5 | |
MSPA 562 | Clinical Dermatology | 1.5 | |
MSPA 563 | Clinical Pulmonology | 4 |
|
Total Credit Hours (18) | 18 | ||
Summer | MSPA 502 | Principles of PA Practice III | 1 |
12 wk | MSPA 522 | Applied Patient Care III | 2 |
MSPA 551 | Systems Pharmacology II | 2 | |
MSPA 570 | Clinical Cardiology | 5 | |
MSPA 571 | Clinical Nephrology and Urology | 3 | |
MSPA 572 | Clinical Orthopedics and Rheumatology | 4 | |
Total Credit Hours (17) | 17 | ||
Fall | MSPA 503 | Principles of PA Practice IV | 1 |
16 wk | MSPA 523 | Applied Patient Care IV | 3 |
MSPA 552 | Systems Pharmacology III | 2 | |
MSPA 580 | Clinical Gastroenterology | 3 | |
MSPA 581 | Clinical Endocrinology | 2 | |
MSPA 582 | Clinical Behavioral Medicine and Neurology | 4 | |
MSPA 583 | Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics | 3 | |
MSPA 584 | Clinical Pediatrics | 3 | |
MSPA 590 | Research Methods | 2 | |
Total Credit Hours (23) | 23 | ||
Total Didactic Year (66) |
The clinical phase of the program consists of structured clinical practice experiences (SCPEs). Students will complete 7 required rotations (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, general surgery, emergency medicine, behavioral health) and have 2 elective rotations of the students choosing from a robust list of options. Following each clinical experience, students will return to campus for end-of-rotation exams and the Bridge to Clinical Practice courses. In addition, students will work on their capstone community engagement projects.
Semester | Class # | Class Name | Cr Hours |
Spring 2 | MSPA 650 | Surgery | 4 |
MSPA 651 | Internal medicine | 4 | |
MSPA 652 | Emergency medicine | 4 | |
MSPA 653 | Family medicine | 4 | |
MSPA 630 | Bridge to Clinical Practice I | 1 | |
Total semester | 17 | ||
Summer 2 | MSPA 654 | Women’s Health | 4 |
MSPA 655 | Pediatrics | 4 | |
MSPA 631 | Bridge to Clinical Practice II | 1 | |
MSPA 665 | Community Engagement | NC | |
Total semester | 9 | ||
Fall 2 | MSPA 656 | Behavioral Medicine | 4 |
MSPA 657 | Elective I | 4 | |
MSPA 658 | Elective II | 4 | |
MSPA 632 | Bridge to Clinical Practice III | 1 | |
Total semester | 13 |
Note: Rotation sequence will be different for each student
The final capstone phase of the PA program lasting 1 month includes program summative testing, completion and presentation of the community engagement projects, Bridge to Clinical Practice IV, and structured board exam review.
Capstone | MSPA 633 | Bridge to Clinical Practice IV | 4 |
MSPA 665 | Community Engagement | 2 | |
Total semester | 6 |