M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum

Overview

’s 86-credit M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies is an evidence-based medical science program that prepares students for work in a variety of clinical settings. In the first-year didactic curriculum, students develop the knowledge and skills to confidently and competently provide patient-centered care on interdisciplinary health care teams. Didactic lectures are complemented by laboratories in which students participate in simulated patient-care experiences.

In the second-year clinical curriculum, students apply the skills and concepts from year one in a range of clinical settings. Each student rotates through eight five-week core clinical disciplines and two five-week electives at clinical sites throughout the New York area. Core rotations include family medicine, primary care, internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, women’s health, pediatrics and behavioral health. Clinical electives cover a wide variety of medical and surgical specialties.  

The PA program fosters high ethical standards, dedication, cultural competence, communication skills, interpersonal skills and professionalism, as well as the technical skills and medical knowledge required for clinical excellence and leadership in the field.  

Degree Requirements 

The M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time, 28-month program. To earn the M.S. degree, students must complete the following courses:

Didactic Curriculum (12 months/48 credits) 

Fall 1 (18 Credits)

• Human Anatomy (4 credits)  
• Foundations in Medicine I (2 credits)  
• Pharmacology I (3 credits)  
• Patient Evaluation I (2 credits)  
• Diagnostic Methods I (1 credit)  
• Clinical Medicine I (5 credits)  
• Professionalism, Policy and Practice I (1 credit)  

Spring 1 (18 credits)

• Foundations in Medicine II (2 credits)  
• Patient Evaluation II (2 credits)  
• Pharmacology II (3 credits)  
• Diagnostic Methods II (1 credit)  
• Clinical Medicine II (5 credits)  
• Psychosocial Medicine (2 credits)  
• Research Methods I (1 credit)  
• Professionalism, Policy and Practice II (1 credit)  
• Clinical Skills and Procedures I (1 credit)  

Summer 1 (12 credits)

• Clinical Medicine III (5 credits)  
• Research Methods II (1 credit)  
• Primary Care, Preventive Medicine, Public Health (4 credits)  
• Professionalism, Policy and Practice III (1 credit)  
• Clinical Skills and Procedures II (1 credit)  

Clinical Curriculum (16 months/38 credits)  

Fall 2 (10 credits)  

• Clinical Colloquium I (1 credit)  
• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Spring 2 (10 credits)  

• Clinical Colloquium II (1 credit)  
• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Summer 2 (9 credits)  

• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Fall 3 (9 credits)  

• 1 Clerkship course (see list below; 3 credits)  
• PANCE Preparation (3 credits)  
• Bridge to Practice (1 credit)  
• Capstone Project (2 credits)  

Clerkship Courses

• Internal Medicine (3 credits)  
• Surgery (3 credits)  
• Pediatrics (3 credits)  
• Family Medicine (3 credits)  
• Emergency Medicine (3 credits)  
• Women’s Health (3 credits)  
• Behavioral Health (3 credits)  
• Primary Care (3 credits)  
• Clinical Elective (3 credits)  
• Clinical Elective II (3 credits)