Find out what to expect with the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.
Study plan for Master of Physician Assistant Studies program
Didactic curriculum
The didactic phase of the IU Physician Assistant Studies curriculum builds on prerequisite coursework and provides the foundation for the experiences in the clinical curriculum.
The program does not grant advanced placement to any applicant. No courses taken prior to entrance in the program will substitute for any required courses within the program.
Semester 1 (summer) | 18 credits
This is an introductory course in human gross anatomy designed to introduce the principal concepts, basic structure, and function of the human body. Students will have the opportunity to learn, through dissection and demonstration of human cadaveric specimens, clinical and functional correlates of human anatomy.
This course provides students with an understanding of the history and development of the Physician Assistant (PA) profession and the PA's role in the health care system. Regulations governing practice, credentialing, licensure, malpractice insurance, physician supervision, delegation and prescribing, health and safety, ethics and professionalism will be discussed.
This course is part of a two-course series on health promotion and disease prevention. This course prepares the Physician Assistant student to recognize social determinants of health and population health considerations and to effectively communicate with individuals regarding health behaviors.
This course will explore U.S. health care systems and policies. Discussion will focus on policy formation; stakeholders' role in policy making; health care system operations; the impact policies have on U.S. health care outcomes; and the interaction of national, state, local and global health policies.
This course will prepare students to search, interpret, and evaluate the medical and scientific literature relevant to patient care based on the concepts of evidence based medicine and to become familiar with human subject research.
This course will provide physician assistant students with a knowledge base of human physiology and pathology as a foundation for their clinical practice. This is the first course in a two-course sequence.
Semester 2 (fall) | 19 credits
The first in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
This course prepares the Physician Assistant student to utilize basic interviewing and history-taking skills, perform a complete physical exam including appropriate special tests, and present medical information in both written and oral formats.
This is the second course in a two-course sequence. This course will provide physician assistant students with a fundamental knowledge of human physiology and pathology as a foundation for clinical practice.
This survey of pharmacology will teach the student general principles of drug action. Students will develop an understanding of the basic pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic principles underlying drug therapy; prototypic drugs and their adverse effects; the development of drug dependence and addiction; and an awareness of environmental toxins.
Semester 3 (spring) | 18 credits
The second in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
This course is a continuation of Patient Evaluation I in which students continue to learn physical examination skills. They will refine history taking skills and develop critical thinking skills, oral presentation skills, and written documentation skills.
This is the first in a two course series designed to aid students in the development of skills needed for successful clinical practice including both technical and clinical skills.
Semester 4 (summer) | 17 credits
The third in a series of three, this course provides Physician Assistant students with the knowledge of a variety of general medical problems encountered in clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate and manage common problems while utilizing and amplifying critical thinking skills and knowledge learned in basic science courses.
This course builds on the general principles of pharmacology and teaches how they are used to make rational clinical prescribing decisions. Students will develop the pharmacologic and therapeutic skills that a physician assistant will need to provide comprehensive patient care in clinical practice.
This course is part of a two-course series on health promotion and disease prevention. This course prepares the Physician Assistant student to apply the principles of health promotion and disease prevention across the lifespan.
This is the second in a two course series designed to aid students in the development of skills needed for successful clinical practice including both technical and clinical skills.
Educational experiences
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
- Casting and splinting
- Central line placement
- Disaster training
- Emergency medicine simulation cases
- Incision and drainage
- Injections
- Interprofessional education
- Intravenous access
- Intubation
- Lumbar puncture
- Paracentesis, biopsies, and thoracentesis
- Standardized patient encounters
- Supervised clinical experiences
- Suturing and wound closure
- Ultrasound
Clinical curriculum
The clinical phase of the program provides students with a variety of clinical experiences designed to prepare them for generalist practice.
As a student, you’ll participate in seven core clinical rotations and four electives.
Semester 5 (fall) | 13 credits
Students will integrate concepts and knowledge gained from didactic instruction and clinical rotations with emphasis placed on preparation for entering clinical practice. An opportunity for students to further define, expand, and acquire skills necessary for the practice of medicine as a primary care physician assistant. Integrate concepts and knowledge gained from rotation. Emphasis will be placed on patient and professional communication, life-long learning, and current clinical issues dealing with patient safety, quality improvement, prevention of medical errors and risk management. The third component of this series will include review and practice for licensure examination and employment search.
Students partake in four clinical rotations.
Semester 6 (spring) | 13 credits
This course provides the framework for continuously learning to understand, appreciate, and react to the leadership and management principles necessary to influence and assume leadership positions in the Physician Assistant (PA) profession and clinical practice. This will include risk management.
Students partake in four clinical rotations.
Semester 7 (summer) | 13 credits
This course is a review of common medical conditions seen in primary care and are topics listed in the NCCPA Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) blueprint.
This course is a summative portfolio of program defined competencies and requirements for graduation as an entry level PA.
Students partake in three clinical rotations.
Clinical rotation descriptions
The 4-week Family Medicine Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the family medicine discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to chronic and preventive patient encounters, their complications, and impact on adult patients.
MPAS-M 682 is the 4-week Elective I Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue a discipline of medicine. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest that is available within the United States. This rotation serves to deepen the student’s commitment and understanding of the treatment of patients and their complications.
The 4-week Women’s health Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the women’s health discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to prenatal and gynecologic encounters, their complications, and impact on patients.
The 4-week Pediatrics Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the pediatrics discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to preventive patient encounters, their complications, and impact on infant, child, and adolescent patients.
The 4-week Surgery Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the surgery discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to surgical management, including pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative encounters, their complications, and impact on patients.
The 4-week Behavioral Medicine Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the behavioral medicine discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to behavioral and mental health encounters, their complications, and impact on patients.
MPAS-M 687 is the 4-week Elective II Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue a discipline of medicine. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest that is available within the United States. This rotation serves to deepen the student’s commitment and understanding of the treatment of patients and their complications.
The 4-week Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the internal medicine discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to acute encounters, their complications, and impact elderly patients.
The 4-week Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation is designed to provide students with a clinical opportunity within the emergency medicine discipline under the direct supervision of a qualified preceptor. This rotation introduces students to acute and emergent patient encounters, their complications, and impact on patients.
MPAS-M 690 is the 4-week Elective III Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue a discipline of medicine. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest that is available within the United States. This rotation serves to deepen the student’s commitment and understanding of the treatment of patients and their complications.
MPAS-M 691 is the 4-week Elective I Clinical Rotation that allows the student to choose to pursue a discipline of medicine. The rotation exists to encourage expansion of opportunities to practice medicine in an area of interest. Students will complete a PANCE review course and exit interviews.