Year One: Didactic Phase

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The year-long rigorous didactic phase of training provides students with a strong foundation in medical knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes required to practice medicine. It consists of an integrated medical curriculum. Courses are taught using a systems-based approach that eliminates compartmentalized knowledge and helps students achieve clinical acumen by creating meaningful application between biomedical science, clinical science, pharmacotherapy, and professional practice. Content synthesis is further enhanced by integrating a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, labs, problem-, team-, and inquiry-based learning, simulation, interprofessional activities, evidence-based practice, and community engagement.

We do not accept previous professional level coursework or experience for advanced placement within the PA program. 

 

Year Two: Clinical Phase

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Following successful completion of didactic training, students begin a year of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) in a variety of clinical settings in multiple medical disciplines, under the supervision of a clinical preceptor. In direct patient care environments, students expand and apply basic medical knowledge, practice clinical and technical skills, and participate in the team-based practice of medicine. 

Required Rotations:

Internal Medicine, Primary Care (including rotations in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Psychiatry/Behavorial Health), Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and an Internal Medicine Subspeciality Elective.

If assigned a rotation outside of a 60-mile radius from the program, housing and transportation costs will be covered. 

Semester 1

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• MPAS 6001: Professional Development I (1)
• MPAS 6010: Mechanisms of Health and Disease (2)
• MPAS 6020: History & Physical (3)
• MPAS 6040: Medical Diagnostics (2)
• MPAS 6030: Pharmacology (1)
• MPAS 6050: Evidence-Based Practice I (1)
• MPAS 6060: Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat (2)
• MPAS 6080: Infectious Disease (3)
• MPAS 6101: Clinical Integration I (2)
• MPAS 6110: Pulmonology (3)

Summative Competency Assessment 1

Total credit hours: 20

Semester 2

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• MPAS 6002: Professional Development II (1)
• MPAS 6070: Dermatology (1)
• MPAS 6100: Heme/Onc (1)
• MPAS 6130: Endocrinology (3)
• MPAS 6150: MSK I (1)
• MPAS 6120: GU (Neph/Urology) (3)
• MPAS 6180: CV Medicine (3)
• MPAS 6102: Clinical Integration II (2)

Summative Competency Assessment 2

Total credit hours: 15

Semester 3

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• MPAS 6003: Professional Development III (1)
• MPAS 6210: Psychiatry (3)
• MPAS 6170: Neurology (3)
• MPAS 6190: Gastroenterology (3)
• MPAS 6200: MSK II (2)
• MPAS 6140: OB/GYN (3)
• MPAS 6051: EBP II (1)
• MPAS: Clinical Integration III (2)

Summative Competency Assessment 3

Total credit hours: 18

Semester 4

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• MPAS 6004: Professional Development IV (1)
• MPAS 6005: Professional Development V (1)
• MPAS 6500: Preceptorship Rotations I (12)

Total credit hours: 14

Semester 5

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• MPAS 6006: Professional Development VI (1)
• MPAS 6500: Preceptorship Rotations II (12)
   

Total credit hours: 13

Semester 6

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• MPAS 6500: Preceptorship Rotations III (12)

Total credit hours: 12

Graduation 

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Students who successfully complete each aspect of the program, including 92 credit hours of didactic and clinical curriculum, a Master’s Project, and Summative Competency Assessments, are eligible for graduation. Graduates will receive a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree from Weber State University.

Upon graudation, students are eligible for board certification by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), and can sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). Once certified, the PA is eligible to apply for individual state licensure(s) to practice medicine.