M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum

Overview

YU’s 86-credit M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies is an evidence-based medical science program that prepares students for work in a variety of clinical settings. In the first-year didactic curriculum, students develop the knowledge and skills to confidently and competently provide patient-centered care on interdisciplinary health care teams. Didactic lectures are complemented by laboratories in which students participate in simulated patient-care experiences.

In the second-year clinical curriculum, students apply the skills and concepts from year one in a range of clinical settings. Each student rotates through eight five-week core clinical disciplines and two five-week electives at clinical sites throughout the New York area. Core rotations include family medicine, primary care, internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, women’s health, pediatrics and behavioral health. Clinical electives cover a wide variety of medical and surgical specialties.  

The PA program fosters high ethical standards, dedication, cultural competence, communication skills, interpersonal skills and professionalism, as well as the technical skills and medical knowledge required for clinical excellence and leadership in the field.  

Degree Requirements 

The M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time, 28-month program. To earn the M.S. degree, students must complete the courses below. Download course descriptions.

Didactic Curriculum (12 months/48 credits) 

Fall 1 (18 Credits)

• PAS 5000 Human Anatomy (4 credits) 
• PAS 5001A Foundations in Medicine I (2 credits) 
• PAS 5002A Pharmacology I (3 credits) 
• PAS 5003A Patient Evaluation I (2 credits) 
• PAS 5004A Clinical Medicine I (5 credits) 
• PAS 5005A Professionalism, Policy and Practice I (1 credit) 
• PAS 5006A Diagnostic Methods I (1 credit) 

Spring 1 (18 credits)

• PAS 5001B Foundations in Medicine II (2 credits) 
• PAS 5002B Pharmacology II (3 credits) 
• PAS 5003B Patient Evaluation II (2 credits) 
• PAS 5004B Clinical Medicine II (5 credits) 
• PAS 5005B Professionalism, Policy and Practice II (1 credit) 
• PAS 5006B Diagnostic Methods II (1 credit) 
• PAS 5007A Clinical Skills and Procedures I (1 credit) 
• PAS 5008A Research Methods I (1 credit) 
• PAS 5009 Psychosocial Medicine (2 credits) 

Summer 1 (12 credits)

• PAS 5004C Clinical Medicine III (5 credits) 
• PAS 5005C Professionalism, Policy and Practice III (1 credit) 
• PAS 5007B Clinical Skills and Procedures II (1 credit) 
• PAS 5008B Research Methods II (1 credit) 
• PAS 5010 Primary Care, Preventive Medicine, Public Health (4 credits) 

Clinical Curriculum (16 months/38 credits)  

Fall 2 (10 credits)  

• PAS 6011 Clinical Colloquium I (1 credit) 
• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Spring 2 (10 credits)  

• PAS 6012 Clinical Colloquium II (1 credit) 
• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Summer 2 (9 credits)  

• 3 Clerkship courses (see list below; 9 credits)  

Fall 3 (9 credits)  

• 1 Clerkship course (see list below; 3 credits) 
• PAS 6013 PANCE Preparation (3 credits) 
• PAS 6014 Bridge to Practice (1 credit) 
• PAS 6015 Capstone Project (2 credits)  

Clerkship Courses

• PAS 6001 Internal Medicine (3 credits) 
• PAS 6002 Surgery (3 credits) 
• PAS 6003 Pediatrics (3 credits) 
• PAS 6004 Family Medicine (3 credits) 
• PAS 6005 Emergency Medicine (3 credits) 
• PAS 6006 Women’s Health (3 credits) 
• PAS 6007 Behavioral Health (3 credits) 
• PAS 6008 Primary Care (3 credits) 
• Clinical Elective (3 credits) 
• Clinical Elective II (3 credits)