Marshall B. Ketchum University provides the highest quality PA education through excellence in teaching, patient care, research, and public service.
The College of Health Sciences’ School of Physician Assistant Studies offers a 27-month, post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree of Master of Medical Science. The class size is 40 students.
The didactic phase of the PA curriculum provides the foundation for clinical practice with instruction in applied medical sciences, patient assessment, clinical medicine and pharmacotherapeutics. The curriculum is organized into systems-based modules which incorporate anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, clinical skills, patient assessment, diagnostic testing, and pharmacotherapeutics taught in an organized and integrated sequence with a strong emphasis on active learning. Other courses include medical ethics, PA professional practice issues, evidence-based practice, and population and public health. Students will also participate in interprofessional education courses and will experience supervised patient interactions.
The clinical phase of the PA curriculum focuses on direct patient care in various clinics, hospitals, and health centers. The program offers a vast array of clinical opportunities with diverse and challenging patient encounters. In order to graduate from the School of Physician Assistant Studies Master of Medical Science Program, a student must complete and pass each course, clinical rotation, Masters Capstone Project, and multi-faceted summative evaluation.
The Master’s Capstone Project involves two components: 1) teams of 3-4 students conduct a review of literature and needs analysis in order to identify a population healthcare need. The students then develop and implement a project that addresses the healthcare need. 2) Students develop a scholarly poster and presentation that meets national and/or state conference standards.