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Degree Offered

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree

Length of Program

The program requires 28 continuous months of instruction divided into two phases.

Phase I, the Didactic Phase, consists of 13 months of basic medical sciences, pre-clinical sciences and professional studies course work. The basic medical and pre-clinical science courses introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific and clinical medicine. The professional studies courses are designed to provide understanding of professionalism, legal aspects of practice, medical ethics, practice-based learning and improvement and systems-based practice.

Phase II, the Clinical Education phase, consists of 10 months of Required clerkships and 5 months of Elective clerkships. The required clerkships are in specific areas of clinical medicine, designed to provide a broad foundation for primary care clinical practice. Elective clerkships may be selected from specialty or primary care areas.

Clerkships are scheduled after mutual collaboration and agreement between the student and the Clinical Coordinator. Assignments to clerkship sites are made after careful consideration of the individual student's educational needs, site availability and the Program's goal for clinical education. These sites are located throughout the state of Nebraska and within many other states in the U.S. Required and elective clerkships may be assigned at any of these affiliated sites. Because of the location of clinical education sites, all applicants accepted into the Program must agree to spend at least three, and up to fifteen months in clerkship sites outside the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan areas if required to do so by the Program.

Degree Requirements

Students must receive a passing grade of “C” or better or “Pass” in all courses and maintain an overall quality grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.0 scale) or above. Grades of less than “C” are considered as failing within the physician assistant program. Physician assistant education requires the student to demonstrate skills of observation, communication, sensory, intellectual-conceptual, integrative and qualitative abilities, and professionalism. As such, students must successfully meet all of the program’s performance standards by passing all laboratory practical examinations and clinical education experiences, in addition to successful completion of didactic work. The standing of a student in any course is determined by the instructor of the course by examinations, laboratory and clinical performance, class participation, written assignments, personal observation, and other methods of evaluation.

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Admissions and Program Requirements

The mission of admissions in the College of Allied Health Professions is to advance evidence-based recruitment and admissions practices that are inclusive, equitable and balanced with respect to experiences, attributes and metrics to recruit and admit applicants for the purpose of preparing highly competent, collaborative and compassionate professionals dedicated to improving the health and healthcare of all individuals and communities. 

For specific PA admissions, application, and timelines, visit: Physician Assistant Admissions.

Phase I - Academic

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
GCBA 571 STRUCT OF HUMAN BODY 9
CIP 606 INTERMEDIATE PHYSIOLOGY 6
PHAS 620 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 1
PAMM 690 BIOLOGY OF DISEASE 5
 Credit Hours21
Spring
MLS 500 APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF CLINICAL LABORATORY DATA 2
PHAR 507 PHARMACOLOGY 5
PHAS 631 APPLIED & INTEGRATED MEDICINE I 6
PHAS 650 ADULT AND PEDIATRIC MEDICINE I 8
 Credit Hours21
Summer
PHAS 636 APPLIED AND INTEGRATED MEDICINE II 4
PHAS 645 BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE 3
PHAS 655 ADULT AND PEDIATRIC MEDICINE II 9
PHAS 670 RESEARCH APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE 1
 Credit Hours17
Second Year
Fall
PHAS 656 ADULT AND PEDIATRIC MEDICINE III 3
PHAS 660 MEDICAL ETHICS 1
PHAS 665 SYSTEMS IN HEALTH CARE AND MANAGEMENT 1
 Credit Hours5
 Total Credit Hours64


Phase II - Clinical 

Plan of Study Grid
Second Year
FallCredit Hours
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION (see course offerings below) 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
 Credit Hours12
Spring
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION (see course offerings below) 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
 Credit Hours16
Summer
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION (see course offerings below) 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
 Credit Hours16
Third Year
Fall
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION (see course offerings below) 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 700 CLINICAL EDUCATION 4
PHAS 799 ADVANCED CLINICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICUM 4
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours60

Phase II, The clinical education phase, consists of 10 months of Required clerkships and 5 months of Elective clerkships. The required clerkships are in specific areas of clinical medicine, designed to provide a broad foundation for primary care clinical practice. Elective clerkships will be selected from specialty and primary care areas.

Required Clerkships

PHAS 702PSYCHIATRY CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 703INTERNAL MEDICINE CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 704PEDIATRIC CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 705WOMEN'S HEALTH CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 706SURGERY CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 707AFAMILY MEDICINE A CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 707BFAMILY MEDICINE B CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 707CPRIMARY CARE CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 708EMERGENCY MEDICINE CLERKSHIP4

 Elective Clerkships

PHAS 721CARDIOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 722ENDOCRINOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 723GASTROENTEROLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 724INFECTIOUS DISEASE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 725NEPHROLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 726ONCOLOGY / HEMATOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 727PULMONARY MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 728RHEUMATOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 729CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 731NEUROSURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 732ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 733ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 734SURGERY SUBSPECIALTY CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 735ORTHOPEDIC SPINE SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 736PLASTIC SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 737UROLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 739ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 740PAIN MANAGEMENT ELECTIVE CLERKSHIP4
PHAS 741COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 742DERMATOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 743INFERTILITY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 744INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ELECTIVE4
PHAS 745NEONATAL ELECTIVE4
PHAS 746NEUROLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 748OPHTHALMOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 749OTOLARYNGOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 751REHABILITATION ELECTIVE4
PHAS 754RADIOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 755PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 757PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC ELECTIVE4
PHAS 758HOSPITAL MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 759TRAUMA SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 771PRIMARY CARE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 772PSYCHIATRY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 773INTERNAL MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 774PEDIATRIC ELECTIVE4
PHAS 775OB/GYN ELECTIVE4
PHAS 776SURGERY ELECTIVE4
PHAS 777FAMILY MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 778EMERGENCY MEDICINE ELECTIVE4
PHAS 779GERIATRICS ELECTIVE4

Total Program Semester  Hours - 123 

Total Number of Months - 28

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