Curriculum Overview

Physician Associate

The PA Program consists of a rigorous master’s level curriculum spanning 24 months, consisting of 127 credit hours, and combining didactic and clinical phases. Upon successfully completing the program, students will be awarded a Master of Medical Science degree. They will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Upon successful completion of the PANCE, individuals are then eligible for state licensure in Georgia. It is the student's responsibility to be knowledgeable of regulatory and specific licensure requirements in their home state or future state of employment. For information on other state licensure requirements, please visit the American Academy of PAs website: https://www.aapa.org/advocacy-central/state-advocacy/state-licensing/.

Didactic Phase (Year 1)

Fall 1

  1. MPA 501 Anatomy & Physiology 1 (3-2-4)
  2. MPA 511 Clinical Medicine 1 (8-0-8)
  3. MPA 521 Clinical Pharmacology 1 (3-0-3)
  4. MPA 531 Clinical Skills & Procedures 1 (2-3-4)
  5. MPA 541 Clinical Application 1 (2-0-2)
  6. MPA 551 Professional Topics 1 (4-0-4)
  7. MPA 560 Clinical Science (2-0-2) 


Spring 1

  1. MPA 502 Anatomy & Physiology 2 (3-2-4)
  2. MPA 512 Clinical Medicine 2 (8-0-8)
  3. MPA 522 Clinical Pharmacology 2 (3-0-3)
  4. MPA 532 Clinical Skills & Procedures 2 (2-3-4)
  5. MPA 542 Clinical Application 2 (2-0-2)
  6. MPA 552 Professional Topics 2 (4-0-4)
  7. MPA 570 Evidence Base-Practice (2-0-2) 


Summer 1

  1. MPA 503 Anatomy & Physiology 3 (3-2-4)
  2. MPA 513 Clinical Medicine 3 (8-0-8)
  3. MPA 523 Clinical Pharmacology 3 (3-0-3)
  4. MPA 533 Clinical Skills & Procedures 3 (2-3-4)
  5. MPA 543 Clinical Application 3 (2-0-2)
  6. MPA 553 Professional Topics 3 (4-0-4)
  7. MPA 580 Didactic Seminar (2-0-2) 


Clinical Phase (Year 2)  

Fall 2 

  1. MPA 600 Emerging Topics in Medicine Course (Fall 2) (2-0-2)
  2. Take three of the following:
    1. MPA 610 Family Medicine Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Course (5 credits)
    2. MPA 620 Emergency Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    3. MPA 630 Pediatric Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    4. MPA 640 Internal Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    5. MPA 650 Women’s Health SCPE Course (5 credits)
    6. MPA 660 Surgical Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    7. MPA 670 Behavioral & Mental Health SCPE Course (5 credits) 


Spring 2

  1. MPA 605 Transition to Practice Course (Spring 2) (2-0-2)
  2. Take three of the following (cannot duplicate from Fall 2):
    1. MPA 610 Family Medicine Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Course (5 credits)
    2. MPA 620 Emergency Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    3. MPA 630 Pediatric Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    4. MPA 640 Internal Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    5. MPA 650 Women’s Health SCPE Course (5 credits)
    6. MPA 660 Surgical Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    7. MPA 670 Behavioral & Mental Health SCPE Course (5 credits) 


Summer 2

  1. Take the remaining course not taken in Fall 2 or Spring 2:
    1. MPA 610 Family Medicine Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Course (5 credits)
    2. MPA 620 Emergency Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    3. MPA 630 Pediatric Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    4. MPA 640 Internal Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    5. MPA 650 Women’s Health SCPE Course (5 credits)
    6. MPA 660 Surgical Medicine SCPE Course (5 credits)
    7. MPA 670 Behavioral & Mental Health SCPE Course (5 credits)
  2. MPA 680 Elective SCPE Course
  3. MPA 690 Summative Course  
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