Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum
The five-year Physician Assistant Studies Program is completed in two distinct and separate phases:
- In the pre-professional phase, you will spend the first three years at University of the Sciences gaining a solid foundation in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and physician assistant specific coursework.
- In your fourth and fifth years, you will enter the professional phase of the program at PCOM, where your coursework will be combined with extensive clinical experience in a variety of settings and specialties.
The following is a typical curriculum for physician assistant studies students entering University of the Sciences in Fall 2010; current students should refer to their academic advisor for their curricula.
Pre-Professional Phase
First Year
PA Seminar
First-Year Seminar for Health Science
General Biology I, II
General Chemistry I, II
General Chemistry Lab I, II
Writing and Rhetoric I, II
Introduction to Psychology
Mathematical Analysis I, II
Physical Education I, II
Second Year
PA Shadowing &
Physical
Examination I, II
Microbiology
Organic Chemistry I, II
Organic Chemistry Lab I, II
Survey of Physics
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Communication
Intellectual Heritage I, II
General Education Requirements
Third Year
PA Interview Seminar
Anatomy and Physiology I, II
Clinical Immunology
Hematology
Introduction to Biostatistics
Scientific Writing
Survey of Biochemistry
Medical Terminology I, II
Introduction to Pharmacology
Electives
Professional Phase* (at PCOM)
Pharmacologic Concepts and Pharmacotherapeutics
Pathology I, II, III
Pharmacology I, II, III
Clinical Medicine I, II, III
History Taking and Physical Examination
Human Physiology
Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
Human Gross Anatomy
Professional Practice Issues and Health Policy
Research Methods in Health and Disease
Radiology for the Physician Assistant
Medicine, Law, and Health Care Ethics
Community Health Service I, II
*
Acceptance into the pre-professional phase of the Physician Assistant program at the University reserves you the opportunity to apply and interview for a seat in the professional phase of the program; however, it does not guarantee admission into the professional phase at PCOM.
Following successful completion of the didactic component, students will then proceed into the clinical preceptor phase. During this 12-month clinical preceptorship phase, students will refine their medical knowledge and clinical skills by participating in supervised patient care, teaching rounds, and clinical procedures as they rotate through various preceptorships at outpatient clinics and inpatient hospital clinical facilities. In keeping with the mission of the program, students are exposed to a variety of practice settings and patient populations in urban and rural areas of the United States.
Clinical Preceptorships Include:
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Prenatal & Gynecology
General Surgery
Behavioral Medicine
Pediatrics
Elective
Research Practicum
Comprehensive Review
Additional general education courses will be required as part of the program.
Further information regarding the professional phase of the physician assistant program at PCOM can be found at www.pcom.edu.
For detailed course descriptions and other information about the physician assistant studies curriculum, see the University Catalog.