The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is a 25-month, 111 credit full-time course of study. The curriculum is divided into a 12-month didactic phase, a 12-month clinical phase, and a 1-month capstone phase. The program begins a new cohort of students in January each year.
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.
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.
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.
The Physician Assistant Studies program trains a new generation of qualified and dedicated advanced practice professionals with a focus on providing safe, patient-centered care to underserved populations in metropolitan and rural settings.
Success in Meeting PA Program Goals 2026
| Criteria | Class of '24 | Class of '25 | Class of '26 | Class of '27 | Class of '28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 79% | 62% | 79% | 83% | 75% |
| Male | 21% | 32% | 21% | 17% | 25% |
| Age | 23.21 | 23.67 | 22.8 | 24 | 23 |
| Franklin College undergrads | 16.7% | 8% | 4% | 17% | 4% |
| Underserved IN County | 29.1% | 33% | 29% | 21% | 25% |
| Military, veteran, or reserves | 0% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Under-represented in Medicine | 12.5% | 4% | 4% | 12.5% | 17% |
Upon completion of the program, students will have acquired the knowledge, interpersonal skills, clinical reasoning and problem solving abilities, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors required for entry into PA practice.
NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 Years (PDF)
| Category | Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA) | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Entering class size | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Graduates | 22 | 22 | 21 | TBD | TBD |
| Attrition rate | 8.3% | 8.3% | 12.5% | 4.2% | 8.3% |
| Graduation rate | 92% | 92% | 88% | TBD | TBD |
| Category | Class of '24 | Class of '25 | Class of '26 | Class of '27 | Class of '28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deceleration Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.2% |
| Withdrawal Rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | 8.3% | 0 | 4.2% |
| Dismissal Rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 0 |
DID YOU KNOW? PA consistently ranks in the top 5 in U.S. News and World Report's Best Jobs and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 37% growth rate from 2016-2026.
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