Physician Assistant Studies Main Campus, M.S.

Program Vision

University of the Cumberlands Physician Assistant Programs at both the Williamsburg and Northern Kentucky campuses, as well as their students, aspire to be recognized for the quality of care they render through academic and professional excellence, moral character, integrity, empathy, team effort, and service to those in their communities.

Program Goals

In pursuit of this mission, the Program has established these goals:

1. To recruit students from medically underserved regions - in Appalachia and across the country - who have demonstrated commitment to academic and professional excellence.
2. Provide the graduate with the requisite fund of medical knowledge, in accordance with the NCCPA Blueprint, in order to provide evidence-based medical care in all settings.
3. Provide the graduate with the clinical and technical skills necessary to provide competent medical care.
4. Provide the graduate with the interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and other health professionals.
5. Provide the graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to work collaboratively in interprofessional patient-centered teams.
6. Provide the graduate with the knowledge and skills to provide medical care regarding issues that affect diverse populations.

Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies Program- Main Campus

All applicants must submit the following information:

• Completed CASPA application
• Completed PA Supplemental application
• An earned bachelor’s degree with an overall minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
• Main Campus: A minimum average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in required pre-requisite courses with a minimum of a C in all prerequisite courses.
• Main Campus: A minimum of 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale in the sciences as figured by Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
• Main Campus: A minimum of 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale in the combined prerequisite courses below as figured by Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
• Ability to fulfill any university admission requirements.
• Successful completion, with a minimum letter grade of “C” or better, within ten years prior to admission of the following undergraduate or graduate prerequisite courses:
• Anatomy with lab (Human required at NKY campus; Human preferred at Main campus) - 3 semester hours or more.
• Physiology with lab (Human required at NKY campus; Human preferred at Main campus) -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 (Acceptable references: MD, DO, PA, or NP as well as academic advisors)
• Successful completion of an interview with and positive recommendation from program faculty

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 not normally accepted toward degree requirements. The Physician Assistant Program-Main Campus does not award or grant advanced placement.

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.