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 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 |
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.
