Program Overview

Introduction to Physician Assistant Studies

The program competencies are based on the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education as established by the Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). These competencies focus on the knowledge and skills required for PA practice, which include: medical knowledge, interpersonal, clinical and technical skills, professional behaviors, and clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the PA program is divided into 2 phases. The Didactic phase is 15 months long (4 semesters) and consists of 59 semester credit hours taught at ECU's College of Allied Health Science campus in Greenville, North Carolina. The Clinical phase is 12 months long (3 semesters) and consists of 46 semester credit hours that occur during Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences in diverse healthcare settings located primarily in Eastern North Carolina.

Didactic Phase

The didactic curriculum is oriented toward primary care infused with the content related to unique problems and issues of healthcare delivery in rural settings.

Fall I

• PADP 6030: Clinical Gross Anatomy (5 credit hours)
• PADP 6040: Human Physiology (4 credit hours)
• PADP 6050: Introduction to Clinical Medicine (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6200: History and Physical Exam I (2 credit hours)
• PADP 6001: Principles of PA Practice I (1 credit hour)
• PADP 6510: Pharmacology and Therapeutics I (1 credit hour)
  • Total Credit Hours: 16

Spring

• PADP 6520: Pharmacology and Therapeutics II (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6210: History and Physical Examination II (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6150: Clinical Medicine I (5 credit hours)
• PADP 6010: Diagnostic Methods I (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6002: Principles of PA Practice II (2 credit hours)
  • Total Credit Hours: 16

Summer

• PADP 6020: Diagnostic Methods II (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6250: Clinical Medicine II (4 credit hours)
• PADP 6220: History and the Physical Examination III (3 credit hours)
• PADP 6530: Pharmacology and Therapeutics III (1 credit hour)
• PADP 6003: Principles of PA Practice III (1 credit hour)
  • Total Credit Hours: 12

Fall II

• PADP 6690: Introduction to Clinical Practice (6 credit hours)
• PADP 6800: Behavioral Medicine and the Psychosocial Issues in Health Care (2 credit hours)
• PADP 6650: Surgery and Emergency Medicine Skills (4 credit hours)
• PADP 6640: Evidence-Based Medicine (2 credit hours)
• PADP 6004: Principles of PA Practice IV (1 credit hour)
  • Total Credit Hours: 15

Clinical Phase

The twelve-month clinical phase consists of more than 1900 patient contact hours. Twelve clinical rotations are conducted at a variety of clinical sites located primarily in eastern North Carolina.

Spring II, Summer II, and Fall III

• PADP 6310: Behavioral Medicine Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6335: Internal Medicine Clinical Practicum I (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6336: Internal Medicine Clinical Practicum II (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6325: Family Medicine Clinical Practicum I (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6326: Family Medicine Clinical Practicum II (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6340: General Surgery Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6350: Emergency Medicine Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6360: Pediatrics Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6370: Women's Health and Prenatal Care Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6380: Geriatrics Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 4 credit hours)
• PADP 6390: International Medicine Clinical Practicum (elective) (4 weeks, 2 credit hours)
• PADP 6395: Physician Assistant Studies Clinical Practicum (4 weeks, 2 credit hours)
• PADP 6501: Bridge to Professional Practice I (1 week, 1 credit hour)
• PADP 6502: Bridge to Professional Practice II (1 week, 1 credit hour)
  • Total Credit Hours: 46
  • Total Weeks: 48