Program Overview

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PAS)

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PAS) is a 28-month program designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and skills to prepare graduates for a career as a physician assistant. The program is divided into two phases: a 16-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase.

Program Goals and Competencies

The program's vision is to earn a reputation as one of the leading contributors to the field of healthcare by graduating outstanding physician assistants, developing distinguished faculty members, and serving the local community by providing increased access to quality medical providers.

The program's mission is to train competent and caring medical professionals, in a Christian environment, to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals in the communities where they live and work.

Admission Requirements

• Official transcripts submitted via CASPA from every accredited United States College or University attended, or from a university outside of the United States with verified US equivalency.
• GPA Requirements:
  • Undergraduate Cumulative GPA: ≥ 3.0
  • Overall Science GPA: ≥ 3.0
  • Last 60 hrs. GPA ≥ 3.0
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Minimum of 200 Direct Patient Care Hours (Documented in CASPA)
• Submission of Faulkner PA Supplemental Form which includes technical standards attestation.

Prerequisites

• General Biology with Lab (7-8 credit hours)
• Microbiology with Lab (4 credit hours)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab (8 credit hours)
• General Chemistry with Lab (8 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Psychology (3 credit hours)
• Medical Terminology (1 credit hour)

Tuition and Fees

• Tuition: $900 per credit hour
• General Fee: $350 x 7 semesters
• Clinical Fee: $1,610 x 7 semesters
• Total Program Cost: $118,120

Curriculum

The program's curriculum is divided into two phases: a 16-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase.

Didactic Phase

• Semester 1 (Fall):
  • PAS 5500: Human Anatomy with Lab (5 credits)
  • PAS 5410: Foundations of Health and Disease I (4 credits)
  • PAS 5210: Professional Development I (2 credits)
  • PAS 5211: Clinical and Technical Skills I (2 credits)
  • PAS 5111: Clinical and Technical Skills Lab I (1 credit)
  • PAS 5112: Pharmacology I (1 credit)
• Semester 2 (Spring):
  • PAS 5215: Neuroanatomy (2 credits)
  • PAS 5220: Foundations of Health and Disease II (2 credits)
  • PAS 5120: Professional Development II (1 credit)
  • PAS 5221: Clinical and Technical Skills II (2 credits)
  • PAS 5121: Clinical and Technical Skills Lab II (1 credit)
  • PAS 5113: Clinical Medicine - Dermatology (1 credit)
  • PAS 5122: Clinical Medicine - Hematology (1 credit)
  • PAS 5233: Clinical Medicine - Infectious Disease (2 credits)
  • PAS 5244: Clinical Medicine - Pulmonology (2 credits)
  • PAS 5455: Behavioral Medicine and Social Sciences (4 credits)
  • PAS 5123: Pharmacology II (1 credit)

Clinical Phase

• Semester 5, 6, 7 (Clinical Rotations):
  • PAS 6508: Women’s Health SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 6509: Behavioral Health SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 6510: Elective I SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 5150: Professional Development V (1 credit)
  • PAS 6503: Internal Medicine SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 6501: Pediatrics SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 6502: Family Medicine SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 5161: Professional Development VI (1 credit)
  • PAS 6511: Elective II SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 6505: Emergency Medicine SCPE (5 credits)
  • PAS 5170: Professional Development VII (1 credit)
  • PAS 5099: Summative Seminar (0 credits)
  • PAS 6514: Surgery SCPE (5 credits)

Technical Standards

The program has identified the following minimal technical standards that are required to complete the program:

• Critical Thinking: Students must exhibit the mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, and integrate concepts and apply problem-solving skills to formulate assessments and create treatment plans.
• Communication Skills: Students must exhibit both oral and written abilities that allow for clear, concise, and effective communication with patients and colleagues.
• Sensory and Observational Skills: Students must possess visual, auditory, tactile, and other sensory abilities sufficient to allow them to observe classroom demonstrations, participate in technical procedures, and elicit accurate patient information to formulate correct diagnoses and treatment plans.
• Motor Skills: Students must exhibit the gross and fine motor skills needed to execute the technical procedures involved in the practice of medicine and surgery.
• Interpersonal Skills: Students must possess a wide range of interpersonal skills, including maintaining the emotional health required to manage high-stress situations while simultaneously displaying full intellectual abilities.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Faulkner University Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Faulkner University.

Program Policies

The program has established policies for academic progression and standing, deceleration, remediation, dismissal, and withdrawal. These policies can be found in the program's student handbook.

Student Attrition Table