Physician Assistant Studies Northern Kentucky, M.S.

Program Mission

The mission of the Physician Assistant Programs at both the Williamsburg and Northern Kentucky campuses is to educate and prepare competent, compassionate, and committed Physician Assistant leaders who, as integral members of the modern professional healthcare team, are driven by academic excellence and will be servant leaders in their communities. The faculty and staff of the Physician Assistant Programs will provide academic and clinical excellence in an environment of compassion and team cooperation, seeking to prepare clinicians for a lifelong commitment to continuing education, leadership, and medical service.

Program Goals

1. Demonstrate ethical behavior and integrity in medical practice.
2. Exhibit attributes of engaged citizenship and philanthropy.
3. Support effective and sensitive communication skills with patients and members of the health care team.
4. Perform a complete physical exam and organize, integrate, interpret and present clinical data in a clear, concise manner.
5. Apply knowledge of basic science concepts to facilitate understanding of medical sciences.
6. Illustrate a comprehensive approach to normal human health and development, both physical and mental.
7. Integrate diagnostic assessment skills with knowledge of patient presentation and pharmacology to formulate appropriate treatment plans.
8. Demonstrate mastery of basic clinical procedures performed by a PA entering into clinical practice.
9. Demonstrate refined critical thinking skills and intellectual inquiry to evaluate sources of information and generate new and evolving medical knowledge.
10. Incorporate skills involving the teaching of colleagues, the community, patients and their families.
11. Collaborate effectively as a member of an interprofessional health care team.
12. Promote commitment to provide effective, accessible, continuous, comprehensive and personalized primary and specialized medical care to all populations.
13. Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems.
14. Demonstrate the ability to participate as PA leaders at the local, regional, state and national levels, shaping future policy and legislation to advance the PA profession.
15. Enter the workforce as a gainfully employed PA with job selection skills and knowledge to obtain and maintain PA state licensure.

Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies Program- Northern Kentucky

All applicants must submit the following information:

• Completed CASPA application
• Completed PA Supplemental Application
• Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution.
• An earned bachelor’s degree with an overall minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• A minimum Biology-Chemistry-Physics (BCP) GPA average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale calculated by Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
• Ability to fulfill any university admission requirements.
• A minimum letter grade of “C” or better, within ten years prior to admission of the following undergraduate or graduate courses:
• Human Anatomy with lab - 3 semester hours or more
• Human Physiology with lab - 3 semester hours or more
• Microbiology with lab - 3 semester hours or more
• Medical Terminology
• Biology electives - 6 credit hours (Must be upper-level Biology courses; highly recommend Genetics, Molecular Biology, Histology, Immunology)
• General Chemistry 1 and 2 with labs - 3 semester hours or more
• Organic 1 or Biochemistry
• Psychology (Abnormal or Developmental preferred) - 3 semester hours or more
• Statistics - 3 semester hours or more
• Direct Patient Contact Hours (minimum of 500 hours of paid employment or volunteer hours; must include a minimum of 50 hours PA shadowing)
• Submission of 3 letters of recommendation with at least one from a physician (MD/DO) or PA
• Successful completion of an interview with and positive recommendation from program faculty

Physician Assistant Studies, M.S. - Northern Kentucky
Program Hours 113

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Degree (MSPAS) is earned through the continuous twenty-sevenmonth program of studies consisting of 113 Masters level credit hours. These hours are divided into sixty-eight credit hours of classroom-focused instruction and forty-five credit hours of clinical rotations and professional courses. A complete list of courses with course descriptions are located in the curriculum section. Transfer credits are normally not accepted toward degree requirements.

Professional Phase Curriculum

The courses offered by the MSPAS program have been specifically designed and sequenced to prepare students to administer health care to patients. Students are expected to complete all course assignments as outlined in the individual course syllabus and to meet the university’s academic standards as outlined in this manual. Students will be given updates to these standards as they occur.