Program Curriculum

The MSPAS Program curriculum is designed to lead students through a 27-month system-based plan that prepares them to meet the competencies for entry into the PA profession in the areas of medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, clinical reasoning and problem solving, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors. The program is a total of 120 credit hours. Students who successfully meet all requirements for graduation will earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

Didactic Phase

The didactic phase is 15 months. Each trimester course builds upon the content delivered in previous terms and emphasizes active engagement to facilitate the application of newly acquired knowledge and skills.

Clinical Phase

The clinical phase of the program is 12 months in duration and consists of supervised clinical practice experiences in outpatient, inpatient, emergency department, and operating room settings. Students learn to care for patients across the life span (infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly) in various medical disciplines. There are seven core rotations and one elective rotation, all of which are required. In addition, students complete courses designed to advance evidence-based practice, professional development, and clinical readiness. This includes the Research Capstone Series, which develops skills in applying evidence-based medicine; Professional Practice Series, which supports the transition into full clinical practice; Advanced Medical Spanish, which enhances communication with patient populations in our community; and the Summative Seminar, which integrates knowledge and skills in preparation for the comprehensive summative evaluation during the final four months of the program.

Reliable transportation is required throughout a student's time in the program. While many of the program's clinical rotations are within the nearby communities, students should expect to commute up to 90 minutes each way, both to and from clinical rotations and may complete rotations outside of a commutable distance. All travel expenses related to a student's education while enrolled in the MSPAS program are the responsibility of the student. When clinical rotations occur outside of commutable distances, there may or may not be MSPAS program-identified housing options and housing expenses are the responsibility of the student. These expenses are factored into the expected cost of attendance figures on the Tuition and Fees tab of our website.

Clinical Phase Courses