Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

The Northern Arizona University (NAU) Physician Assistant (PA) program is the only PA program offered at a public university in Arizona. The program is a 24-month curriculum that is collaboratively delivered in partnership with community stakeholders and faculty experts specializing in their respective disciplines.

Program Overview

Successful graduates will receive a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) from NAU and will be qualified to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination that is required for licensure as a PA. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Northern Arizona University.

Accreditation

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be October 2035. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

Program Requirements

To receive a master's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master's degree programs require more than 30 units. You must additionally complete:

• All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
• All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
• All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

Program Details

The program requires 108 units distributed as follows:

• Physician Assistant Content Coursework: 56 units
• Capstone Course Requirement: 3 units
• Physician Assistant Seminar: 1 unit
• Required Clinical Rotations: 48 units

Clinical Rotations

Clinical Rotations include: Surgery, Women's Health, Mental Health, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and an Elective. Each rotation lasts for a period of six weeks.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements include:

• Transcripts
• Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• A minimum of 500 hours of health care experience
• Recommendation(s)/Reference(s)
• Interview
• Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisite Coursework

Complete prerequisite courses from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, including:

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab
• General Biology I and II
• General Chemistry I and II with lab
• Microbiology with lab
• Organic or Biochemistry
• Statistics

Program Location

MPAS students study in the state-of-the-art Phoenix Bioscience Core, a 30-acre medical and bioscience campus in downtown Phoenix. The program operates in collaboration with the University of Arizona Phoenix College of Medicine.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant Program is to educate individuals from inclusive backgrounds and lived experiences and graduate physician assistants who provide high-quality, compassionate medical care to the people of Arizona.

Licensure

Successful completion and graduation from this degree program leads to licensure in the United States.

Competencies

Graduates from the Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant Program will have met the following competencies appropriate for practice as an entry-level physician assistant:

• Medical Knowledge
• Interpersonal Skills
• Clinical and Technical Skills
• Professional Behaviors
• Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving Abilities

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Obtain and record a complete and accurate medical history from any patient in any setting
• Perform a complete or problem-focused physical examination on any patient in any setting
• Interpret and synthesize the information derived from the history, physical examination, and other patient-related data to guide the formulation of a thorough differential diagnosis
• Order, perform, and interpret appropriate diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests based upon the findings from the medical history and physical examination
• Identify, discuss, perform, and order appropriate therapy and treatment modalities for the management of commonly occurring primary care entities
• Recognize life-threatening conditions
• Clearly and effectively communicate with patients, their families, and other medical personnel in a professional manner
• Demonstrate the impact that health problems have on the individual and family members and will develop an attitude of professional concern for each patient
• Utilize critical thinking skills through the use of evidence-based medicine
• Articulate the unique role of the physician assistant in the medical team
• Possess a working knowledge of the American health care delivery system
• Exhibit ethical behavior and professional conduct

Program Fees

A program fee has been approved for this program. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.