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Department of Physician Assistant Studies: Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. College of Health Professions
  3. Department of Physician Assistant Studies
  4. Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
  5. About the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
  6. Curriculum for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

Curriculum for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

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 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

Clinical Phase

Course IDCourse TitleSemester Credit Hours
PHAS 58101Summative Evaluation1
PHAS 58202Capstone Project2
PHAS 59003Elective Rotation I3
PHAS 59033Elective Rotation II3
PHAS 59045Clinical Rotation I5
PHAS 59055Clinical Rotation II5
PHAS 59065Clinical Rotation III5
PHAS 59075Clinical Rotation IV5
PHAS 59085Clinical Rotation V5
PHAS 59095Clinical Rotation VI5
PHAS 59105Clinical Rotation VII5
PHAS 59135Clinical Rotation VIII5
PHAS 59145Clinical Rotation IX5
PHAS 59155Clinical Rotation X5
Total Hours59

Curriculum Summary

SemesterHours
Didactic Phase — Year One Summer18
Didactic Phase — Year One Fall21
Didactic Phase — Year One Spring20
Didactic Phase — Year Two Summer10
Clinical Phase59
Total Program Hours128

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.

Learn more about UAMS Interprofessional Education.

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

Course Descriptions

For descriptions of each course in this program, please see the UAMS Catalog.

View the Catalog

Textbooks

The list of required textbooks is published on the UAMS Bookstore website in compliance with Arkansas Code Annotated section 6-60-601.

More Information

More specific information about program requirements can be obtained by contacting the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Call 501-686-7211
UAMS College of Health Professions LogoUAMS College of Health ProfessionsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-5730
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