Curriculum Overview
The didactic phase of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program curriculum consists of 69 credit hours and is 13 months long, while the rest of the program is made up of the clinical phase and totals 59 credit hours. See below for courses taken during each phase of the program.
See program policies for more information.
Degree Plan for the Classes of 2025 and 2026
The following degree plan will be followed by all students in the Classes of 2025 and 2026.
Didactic Phase
Year One Summer
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAS 51001 | Professional Issues I | 1 |
| PHAS 51061 | Clinical Reasoning I | 1 |
| PHAS 51091 | Patient Communication I | 1 |
| PHAS 53003 | Clinical Physiology | 3 |
| PHAS 53033 | Clinical Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHAS 54004 | PA Gross Anatomy | 4 |
| PHAS 55005 | Physical Assessment | 5 |
| Total Hours | 18 |
Year One Fall
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAS 51031 | Professional Issues II | 1 |
| PHAS 51071 | Clinical Reasoning II | 1 |
| PHAS 51101 | Patient Communication II | 1 |
| PHAS 52032 | Pharmacotherapy I | 2 |
| PHAS 52062 | Intro to Evidence Based Medicine | 2 |
| PHAS 53042 | Diagnostic Assessment I | 3 |
| PHAS 53063 | Behavioral Medicine | 3 |
| PHAS 58008 | Principles of Medicine I | 8 |
| Total Hours | 21 |
Year One Spring
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAS 51081 | Clinical Reasoning III | 1 |
| PHAS 51141 | Medical Genetics | 1 |
| PHAS 52042 | Pharmacotherapy II | 2 |
| PHAS 52072 | Foundations of Evidence Based Medicine | 2 |
| PHAS 53043 | Diagnostic Assessment II | 3 |
| PHAS 53073 | Emergency Medicine | 3 |
| PHAS 58038 | Principles of Medicine II | 8 |
| Total Hours | 20 |
Year Two Summer
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAS 51041 | Professional Issues III | 1 |
| PHAS 51051 | Professional Issues IV | 1 |
| PHAS 51451 | Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine | 1 |
| PHAS 52002 | Medical Ethics | 2 |
| PHAS 52052 | Surgical Medicine | 2 |
| PHAS 53083 | Principles of Medicine III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 10 |
Clinical Phase
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAS 58101 | Summative Evaluation | 1 |
| PHAS 58202 | Capstone Project | 2 |
| PHAS 59003 | Elective Rotation I | 3 |
| PHAS 59033 | Elective Rotation II | 3 |
| PHAS 59045 | Clinical Rotation I | 5 |
| PHAS 59055 | Clinical Rotation II | 5 |
| PHAS 59065 | Clinical Rotation III | 5 |
| PHAS 59075 | Clinical Rotation IV | 5 |
| PHAS 59085 | Clinical Rotation V | 5 |
| PHAS 59095 | Clinical Rotation VI | 5 |
| PHAS 59105 | Clinical Rotation VII | 5 |
| PHAS 59135 | Clinical Rotation VIII | 5 |
| PHAS 59145 | Clinical Rotation IX | 5 |
| PHAS 59155 | Clinical Rotation X | 5 |
| Total Hours | 59 |
Curriculum Summary
| Semester | Hours |
|---|---|
| Didactic Phase — Year One Summer | 18 |
| Didactic Phase — Year One Fall | 21 |
| Didactic Phase — Year One Spring | 20 |
| Didactic Phase — Year Two Summer | 10 |
| Clinical Phase | 59 |
| Total Program Hours | 128 |
Service Learning
The program has a service learning requirement that is separate from coursework 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.
Course Completion Requirements
A grade of C of better must be achieved in all courses.
Interprofessional Education
All students in the UAMS College of Health Professions must complete all Interprofessional Education activities.
Program Completion Requirements
Students must meet the following requirements to complete the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.
- Pass all required courses in the program with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
- Complete Interprofessional Education requirements.
- Complete the service learning component of the program
Textbooks
The list of required textbooks is published on the UAMS Bookstore website in compliance with Arkansas Code Annotated section 6-60-601.