Program Description

The PA Program is an intense, full-time, 27-month curriculum with a total of 98 credit hours. A Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies is awarded upon completion of the curriculum and fulfillment of University Of Saint Francis Graduate School requirements.

Students will spend the first 15 months primarily in the classroom obtaining a foundation of medical knowledge, in the areas of basic biomedical science and clinical skills.

Problem-based learning techniques are used exclusively in the 3rd and 4th semesters in medical diagnosis and therapeutics courses.

During the last 12 months of the program, students will be assigned to clinical rotations spending a minimum of 40 hours per week working with a physician preceptor in settings such as physician offices, clinics, extended care facilities and hospitals.

All students will complete a core of rotations in areas of family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, psychiatry, geriatrics / long term care and an elective. Then, students may choose from a series of rotations in the areas of trauma / surgery subspecialty, hospital-based care, family practice or internal medicine.