Didactic Curriculum

The didactic phase of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program curriculum is 13 months long, while the rest of the program is made up of the clinical phase. See below for courses taken during the didactic phase of the program.

Year One Summer

Course IDCourse TitleSemester Credit Hours
PHAS 51001Professional Issues I1
PHAS 51061Clinical Reasoning I1
PHAS 51091Patient Communication I1
PHAS 53003Clinical Physiology3
PHAS 53033Clinical Pharmacology3
PHAS 54004PA Gross Anatomy4
PHAS 55005Physical Assessment5
Total Hours18

Year One Fall

Course IDCourse TitleSemester Credit Hours
PHAS 51031Professional Issues II1
PHAS 51071Clinical Reasoning II1
PHAS 51101Patient Communication II1
PHAS 52032Pharmacotherapy I2
PHAS 52062Intro to Evidence Based Medicine2
PHAS 53042Diagnostic Assessment I3
PHAS 53063Behavioral Medicine3
PHAS 58008Principles of Medicine I8
Total Hours21

Year One Spring

Course IDCourse TitleSemester Credit Hours
PHAS 51081Clinical Reasoning III1
PHAS 51141Medical Genetics1
PHAS 52042Pharmacotherapy II2
PHAS 52072Foundations of Evidence Based Medicine2
PHAS 53043Diagnostic Assessment II3
PHAS 53073Emergency Medicine3
PHAS 58038Principles of Medicine II8
Total Hours20

Year Two Summer

Course IDCourse TitleSemester Credit Hours
PHAS 51041Professional Issues III1
PHAS 51051Professional Issues IV1
PHAS 51451Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine1
PHAS 52002Medical Ethics2
PHAS 52052Surgical Medicine2
PHAS 53083Principles of Medicine III3
Total Hours10

Notes

A grade of C of better must be achieved in all courses. 

A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required to earn the degree. 

See program policies for more information.

Service Learning

The program has a service learning requirement that is separate from course work during the didactic phase of the program. Students will be required to complete ten hours of service learning activities across the life span (seniors, children, adults) during the first three semesters of the didactic phase of the program.

Students will be assigned to a service learning community partner each semester. The activity will be medically-related, but will be community-based. The goal of the service learning component is to increase understanding of environmental and social issues that communities and patients face. Increasing understanding of community issues will enable future medical providers to better care for patients.

Medicine is not about treating the disease, but rather about treating the patient. Patient management goes way beyond prescribing medication. It encompasses understanding cultural issues and social determinants, and assisting the patients with areas that ultimately affect their health.

Textbooks

The list of required textbooks is published on the UAMS Bookstore website in compliance with State of Arkansas General Assembly Act 175 of the 2007 Regular Session.