Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Methodist University

Physician Assistant Program Curriculum Requirements

The PA Program has one start date a year in August. The program is full-time, 27 month in length (7 semesters) and consists of 2 phases: Didactic and Clinical.

Didactic Phase

The Didactic Phase is 3.5 semesters of classroom instruction. Each didactic semester is broken down in the following way (subject to change due to curricular purposes):

Fall Semester I (Didactic)

  • PHA 5000 Medical Ethics (2 credits)
  • PHA 5010 PA Orientation (1 credit)
  • PHA 5070 History and Physical Exam I (3 credits)
  • PHA 5100 Pharmacology I (2 credits)
  • PHA 5140 Physiology (4 credits)
  • PHA 5150 Emergency Medicine I (2 credits)
  • PHA 5201 Human Anatomy I (4 credits)
  • PHA 5210 Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (1 credit)
  • PHA 5810 Dermatology (1 credit)

Total: 20 credits

Spring Semester (Didactic)

  • PHA 5080 History and Physical Exam II (3 credits)
  • PHA 5090 Lab Medicine I (2 credits)
  • PHA 5110 Pharmacology II (2 credits)
  • PHA 5160 Emergency Medicine II (2 credits)
  • PHA 5220 Behavioral Medicine (2 credits)
  • PHA 5221 Human Anatomy II (4 credits)
  • PHA 5740 Cardiology (3 credits)
  • PHA 5770 OB/GYN (2 credits)
  • PHA 5820 Neurology (2 credits)
  • PHA 5880 Emerging Issues in Clinical Medicine (2 credits)

Total: 24 credits

Summer Semester (Didactic)

  • PHA 5120 Pharmacology III (2 credits)
  • PHA 5130 Lab Medicine II (2 credits)
  • PHA 5190 Surgery (2 credits)
  • PHA 5240 Clinical Skills I (2 credits)
  • PHA 5300 Pediatrics (2 credits)
  • PHA 5410 Research Methods (2 credits)
  • PHA 5720 Endocrinology (2 credits)
  • PHA 5730 Gastroenterology (2 credits)
  • PHA 5750 Orthopedics (2 credits)
  • PHA 5760 Urology/Nephrology (2 credits)
  • PHA 5800 Pulmonology (2 credits)
  • PHA 5860 Infectious Disease (2 credits)

Total: 24 credits

Fall Semester II (Didactic) (8 weeks)

  • PHA 5250 Clinical Skills II (1 credit)
  • PHA 5280 Geriatrics (2 credits)
  • PHA 5710 Clinical Research Project (3 credits)
  • PHA 5780 Ophthalmology (1 credit)
  • PHA 5790 ENT (1 credit)
  • PHA 5830 Hematology (1 credit)
  • PHA 5840 Oncology (1 credit)
  • PHA 5850 Critical Thinking (2 credits)
  • PHA 5870 Clinical Preparation (4 credits)
  • PHA 5900 History & Physical Exam III (2 credits)

Total: 18 credits

Clinical Phase

The Clinical Phase is the final 3.5 semesters and consists of supervised, off-campus clinical instruction. Clinical rotations are generally arranged within Cumberland County and surrounding areas at local medical centers and private doctor’s offices. The majority of rotations are within a 75 mile radius of campus, but students may be expected to complete at least one rotation outside of this radius. Students may accrue additional housing expenses. Clinical rotations required by the program are as follows:

  • PHA 5510 Internal Medicine (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5520 OB/GYN (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5530 Pediatrics (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5540 Family Medicine (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5570 Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5580 Psychiatry (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5590 Orthopedics (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5600 General Surgery (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5650 Elective I* (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5680 Elective II** (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5690 Primary Care*** (4 weeks)
  • PHA 5640 Clinical Seminar**** (4 weeks)

Total clinical credits: 48 credits

*Students will be able to select from various medical specialties and subspecialties.

** Students will be able to select from the following medical specialties and subspecialties, to include: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology-Oncology, Infectious Disease, Orthopedics, Pulmonology, and Urology. Additional specialties may be selected for approval by the Program.

***Family Medicine, Pediatrics, or Outpatient Internal Medicine

**** The clinical seminar will occur within four months of graduation. This seminar gives students the opportunity to demonstrate that they are ready to take on the responsibility of a practicing physician assistant. It also supports the physician assistant student in their transition to clinical practice through lectures, activities and independent study.

Total Credits & Additional Notes

Total number of credits for the program: 134

Additional notes about the curriculum and academic standards:

  • Students are required to complete a clinical research project during the didactic year. The research paper is based on a topic of interest, but must be approved by the faculty advisor. Both the paper and presentation are a part of the Clinical Research Project course.
  • Students must successfully pass a Summative Exam that is administered at the end of the clinical year to meet graduation requirements.
  • Clinical students attend a PANCE review course in the final semester of the program.
  • It is essential to their development that students adopt and exhibit self-directed responsibility for their mastery of knowledge and skills. It is the policy of the Methodist University PA Program that a student maintains a minimum score of 70% on each examination or written assignment. Any performance less than 70% is interpreted as not obtaining competency. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain the required academic standards and to initiate the necessary interventions to resolve deficiencies in any area of study. The physician assistant program faculty and staff will offer guidance to a physician assistant student experiencing academic difficulties but it remains the responsibility of the student to achieve.

Academic Progression & Completion

Graduation Requirements

  • Completion of all requirements for the specified professional phase of the program (didactic and clinical rotations) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and no grades below a C (70%)
  • The professional phase (didactic and clinical rotation years) completed in residency
  • Good standing in character, conduct, and financial obligation to the University.
  • Recommended by the faculty for graduation
  • Has met all other graduation requirements for the M.M.S. Degree

Exam Remediation

It is essential that students adopt and exhibit self-directed responsibility for their mastery of knowledge and skills. It is the policy of the Methodist University PA Program that a student maintains a minimum score of 70% on each examination within a course.  It is the student’s responsibility to maintain the required academic standards and to initiate the necessary interventions to remediate deficiencies in any area of study.

Any student that scores below a 70% on an examination during the didactic phase of the program should follow the procedures listed below.  For information related to clinical year examinations please see the MUPAP Clinical Manual.

  • Contact the course instructor within 24 hours of the failed examination by email, phone, or in person to schedule a time to discuss the areas in which the student was deficient
  • Complete and sign the Assessment Remediation Form outlining the plan for remediation
  • Schedule appointment with any referrals for student resources recommended by faculty
  • Upload remediation assignment to Canvas by the due date

Remediations should be completed no later than 7 days from the date the failed examination was administered.  Students should seek guidance from program faculty and course instructors as necessary to complete this process.  Failure to complete this process would result in a referral to the PASC.

This process applies to any examination within a course.  It does not apply to a final course grade below 70%.

Course Failure & Course Remediation

All courses in the program must be completed with 70% or higher in order to meet graduation requirements.  Students are allowed to remediate no more than two (2) courses throughout the program.  The process for course remediation during the didactic phase of the program requires a written comprehensive examination and should follow the procedures listed below.  For information related to clinical year course remediation please see the MUPAP Clinical Manual.

  • Student must meet with the course instructor to review the deficiencies.
  • Student should request this meeting in writing by email within 24 hours of the final course grade being posted to Canvas.
  • Once the meeting with the course instructor occurs, students will have 7 days or prior to the start of the next semester, whichever occurs first, to complete the written comprehensive examination.
  • Student must score 70% or higher on the remediation exam to continue in the program.
  • If the student is successful, the final course grade will be entered as 70% and student will be allowed to progress to the next semester.
  • Students are only allowed to remediate up to two (2) courses throughout the program.  Any subsequent course failure will result in dismissal from the program.

Good Academic Standing (Satisfactory Academic Progress)

  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher calculated after each semester
  • Students must achieve a grade of C (70.00%) or above in all didactic and clinical courses.
  • Does not meet any criteria for academic probation or dismissal

Academic Warning

This is an internal program status that is not reflected on student’s official transcript.  A student who is placed on Academic Warning is still considered in Good Academic Standing.  Academic Warning alerts the program faculty that a student may be at risk of dropping below good academic standing.  A student who is placed on Academic Warning would be required to meet with their Faculty Advisor more frequently than once a semester to ensure that student is utilizing all available resources for success.

A student may be placed on Academic Warning for any of the criteria listed below:

  • A student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.15 but above 3.0, calculated at the completion of each semester.
  • A student fails 2 or more examinations in a single didactic semester.
  • A student requires one remediated final course grade(s) throughout the curriculum.
  • A student receives more than one final course grade below 80.000 in a single semester.
  • A student fails one EOR exam during the clinical phase of the program.
  • A student fails one Preceptor Evaluation during the clinical phase of the program.

A student that is placed on Academic Warning will remain on Academic Warning throughout the remainder of the program.

Academic Probation

This status is reflected on the student’s official transcript. A student may be placed on Academic Probation for any of the criteria below:

  • A student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, calculated at the completion of each semester.  A student must bring their cumulative GPA to above 3.0 by the end of the following semester.
  • A student requires two remediated final course grade(s) throughout the curriculum.
  • A student fails two EOR exams during the clinical phase of the program.
  • A student fails a course during the clinical phase of the program, regardless of whether they have failed any previous courses.

Academic Probation status is assessed and reported to the Registrar’s office at the completion of each semester.  The PASC will review the progress of students that are on Academic Probation at the completion of each semester and students will receive a letter from the Program Director of the PASC’s decision regarding whether a student will remain on Academic Probation or will return to Academic Warning as well as any progression criteria that must be met specific to the student’s situation.

Academic Dismissal

A student may be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:

  • A student’s failure to notify the program of intended return following voluntary leave of absence.
  • A student’s failure to satisfactorily complete any course remediation requirements.
  • A student’s cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for two (2) consecutive semesters.
  • A student fails a third course in the program after two previous failures that was successfully remediated.

Non-Academic Warning

  • A student exhibits a breach in program Standards of Conduct or fails to adhere to safety standards.

Non-Academic Probation

  • A student exhibits a second breach in program Standards of Conduct or fails to adhere to safety standards for a second offense.

 Non-Academic Dismissal

  • Engaging in the following acts of misconduct, regardless of whether such misconduct is engaged in, on or off, University-owned or controlled property:
    • Commission of an offense classified as a felony by Federal criminal statutes.
    • Unlawful use, possession, or sale of drugs or narcotics, whether or not felonious.
    • Falsification of records, or other acts which impugns the integrity of the student.
    • HIPAA and FERPA violations.
    • Repeated or egregious discriminatory, biased, or harassment behavior towards classmates, faculty, staff, clients, or other university community members; to include, but not limited to threats, retaliation, and/or hate crimes.
    • Actions which would substantially reduce or eliminate the student’s ability to effectively pursue a degree at Methodist University due to alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, or other physically or psychologically incapacitating condition.

Leave of Absence

A student is eligible for a leave of absence if he/she/they:

  1. Is facing a personal or family difficulty.
  2. Is in good standing with the University and the PA Program.
  3. Meets with the offices of Student Financial Services and Financial Aid prior to or in the process of requesting a leave of absence and fully understands any additional financial obligations that will occur due to the leave of absence which could include increase in tuition and fees based on the timing of reentry or expenses related to a possible delay in graduation.
  4. Understands that rotations that are outstanding due to the leave of absence will be made up at the beginning of the calendar year following the class graduation date. Clinical sites (not courses) may differ from those that were originally scheduled, and the rotation dates will coincide with the current clinical year cohort’s rotation schedule.
  5. Notifies the Program Director in writing of the requested leave to include the tentative dates for the leave and plan for return, leave of absence must last no longer than 1 year.
  6. Meets with the Program Director and either the Academic Coordinator and Clinical Coordinator as well as the Director of Admissions & Alumni Development for the program prior to approval.
  7. Before granting permission to return, the program reserves the right to: require an assessment to confirm that program competencies (cognitive and skill) are met, request additional evaluations that would support the student’s eligibility to reenter the program and confirm that the student is able to meet the program required technical standards.
  8. Program Completion Timeline: Leave of absence must last no longer than one year.

Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from the program for any reason must:

  • conduct a meeting with the program director to discuss his/her intent to withdraw prior to withdrawing
  • submit a written statement to the program director before withdrawing from the program
  • students must be in good academic standing to withdraw from the program

Students who seek to reenter the program at a later date must receive permission from the program prior to reentering.  The program reserves the right to deny any request to reenter the program.

Deceleration

The program does not have a deceleration policy.  Students will not be allowed to repeat any courses in the program due to course failure.

Dismissal

Students who are dismissed from the program for academic or non-academic reasons are not permitted to reenter the program and are not eligible for admission should he/she reapply. Dismissal from the program will be reflected on the student’s academic transcript.

Probations and dismissals of students are executed by the Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services and are reflected on transcripts.

Dismissals are final and cannot be appealed.

Student Grievances & Appeals

Visit Student Affairs Policies to refer to the “Appeal Process” section and “How to Report a Grievance” form.