The Physician Assistant Studies program requires successful completion of 121 semester hours of preclinical and clinical course work as specified below. Transfer credit, or credit for experiential learning cannot be substituted for any course in the curriculum. Advanced placement in the PA curriculum is not granted for any reason.
Preclinical Component
First (Summer) Semester
Course #
Credit Hours
PA 510 Clinical Medicine I
8
History & Physical Exam
Role and History of PAs
Blood Borne Pathogens
Basic Epidemiology & Medical Research Methods
Basic Patient Counseling
Nutrition Fundamentals

PA 511

 Human Gross Anatomy
4
PA 512 Physiology I
4
   
16
Second (Fall) Semester
Course #
Credit Hours
PA 520 Clinical Medicine II
8
History & Physical Exam
Behavioral Medicine
Cardiovascular Medicine
Dermatology
Pulmonary Medicine
ENT
Ophthalmology
Rheumatology
EKG
ACLS*
Medical Research Methods
PA 521 Infectious Diseases
4
PA 522 Physiology II
2
PA 523 Pathophysiology
4
18
*ACLS is required for our program and is offered at a discounted cost to students enrolled in the program.
Third (Spring) Semester
Course #
Credit Hours
PA 530 Clinical Medicine III
8
History & Physical Exam
Ob/Gyn
Endocrinology
Genitourinary Medicine
Pediatric Medicine
Orthopaedics
Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Medical Research Methods
PA 531 Issues in Health Care
4
PA 532 Pharmacology I
6
 
18
Fourth (Summer) Semester
Course #
Credit Hours
PA 540 Clinical Medicine IV
8
History & Physical Exam
Nephrology
Neurology
Geriatric Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Hematology/Oncology
Medical Research Methods
PA 541 Interpretation of Diagnostic Data and Studies
4
PA 542 Pharmacology II
4
16
Clinical Component
Fifth (Fall) Semester
Scheduled Clinical Rotation Requirements (see below)

18 hours
Sixth (Spring) Semester
Scheduled Clinical Rotation Requirements (see below)

18 hours
Seventh (Summer) Semester
PA 594 Research Project Presentation
3 hours
PA 595 Comprehensive Review and Exam
2 hours
Scheduled Clinical Rotation Requirements (see below)

18 hours
CLINICAL ROTATION REQUIREMENTS
Length
Credit Hours
PA 550 Internal Medicine Preceptorship
4 weeks
4
PA 555 Psychiatry Preceptorship
4 weeks
4
PA 560 Pediatrics Preceptorship
8 weeks
8
PA 570 Primary Care/Family Practice Preceptorship
8 weeks
8
PA 580 Surgery Preceptorship
4 weeks
4
PA 590 OB/GYN Preceptorship
4 weeks
4
PA 591 Emergency Medicine Preceptorship
4 weeks
4
PA 592 Elective Clinical Preceptorship I
4 weeks
4
PA 593 Elective Clinical Preceptorship II
4 weeks
8

At least 16 weeks of the clinical rotations must service rural/urban underserved populations. Clinical rotations will be in our service area, unless otherwise approved by the faculty.  Clinical rotation specialty areas and time periods are subject to change annually. The Program reserves the right to make curriculum changes as necessary.
 
University of South Alabama
College of Allied Health Professions
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
For questions or comments Contact Us
Last date changed: April 09, 2007 08:37 AM
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/curriculum.html