PA Curriculum
Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences’ PA Program will utilize an interprofessional, collaborative and specialist model of education.
It is our belief that faculty who have experience in research, teaching, and practice are best suited to teach our students. Additionally, collaborative work with such experts will only enhance the educational experience for the student, thus better preparing them for practice upon graduation.
All didactic courses (15 months of instruction) will utilize the most appropriate and up-to-date instructional techniques to ensure our students receive the best education possible. These techniques include, but are not limited to: lecture/discussion, interprofessional group and problem-based discussion, case studies, presentations, clinical skill scenarios and hospital-based experiences. Beginning in the first semester, students will participate in clinical experiences at local institutions and with local practitioners.
The clinical phase follows the didactic and is 12 months in length. Students will study in 6 week rotations with practitioners in the areas of family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral medicine/mental health and general surgery. Students may also take one elective rotation, subject to availability and program approval.
Note: The asterisk * beside course numbers indicates that the course is interprofessional.
Didactic Phase (73 semester hours)
Spring
- PAS 500 Human Anatomy – 5 credits
- PAS 502 Pathophysiology – 5 credits
- PAS 513 History and Physical Diagnosis I – 5 credits
- PAS 530* Clinical Seminar I – 1 credit
- PAS 510 Professional Wellness – 1 credit
Total: 17 credit hours
Summer
- PAS 503 Pharmacology I – 4 credits
- PAS 526 Clinical Medicine I – 5 credits
- PAS 527 Clinical Medicine I Casework – 1 credit
- PAS 528 Laboratory and Diagnostic Studies – 4 credits
- PAS 529 History and Physical Diagnosis II – 4 credits
Total: 18 credit hours
Fall
- PAS 504 Pharmacology II – 4 credits
- PAS 525 Critical Inquiry, Research and Epidemiology – 3 credits
- PAS 531 History and Physical Diagnosis III – 4 credits
- PAS 532 Clinical Medicine II – 6 credits
- PAS 533 Clinical Medicine II Casework – 1 credit
- PAS 540* Clinical Seminar II – 1 credit
Total: 19 credit hours
Spring II
- PAS 612* Community Practicum – 2 credits
- PAS 620 Policy, Ethics, and Populations – 3 credits
- PAS 625 Clinical Medicine III – 5 credits
- PAS 626 Clinical Reasoning – 4 credits
- PAS 627 Clinical Skills and Procedures – 4 credits
Total: 18 credit hours
Summer (Pre-Clinical Phase)
- PAS 622 Pre-Clinical Comprehensive Assessment 1 credit
Total: 1
Clinical Phase (12 months: 49 semester hours)
Core Clinical Rotations
PAS 641 Behavioral and Mental Healthcare – 6 credits
PAS 642 Emergency Medicine – 6 credits
PAS 643 Family Medicine – 6 credits
PAS 644 Internal Medicine – 6 credits
PAS 645 Pediatrics – 6 credits
PAS 646 Surgery – 6 credits
PAS 647 Women’s Health – 6 credits
Additional Clinical Preparation
- PAS 648 Clinical Elective – 6 credits
- PAS 623 Advanced Comprehensive Assessment – 1 credit
Total Clinical Phase Credit Hours: 49