Requirements for the Master of Medical Science Degree (Physician Assistant)

The Master of Medical Science degree is awarded after completion of the following requirements:

  1. The program’s curriculum with a minimum GPA of 2.70 maintained throughout the program.
  2. All courses and clinical rotations with a grade of “C” or higher.
  3. Successful completion of core competency exams, comprehensive written and practical exams.
  4. Meet technical standards for admission, continuation and graduation. (Technical standards are available at www.arcadia.edu/pa.)

Master of Medical Science Degree Requirements and Program Design

(116 credits)

Didactic Year

(68 credits)

Summer (16 credits)

  • PA 509A Professional Practice I (1 credit)
  • PA 517 Human Gross Anatomy (5 credits)
  • PA 522 Microbiology and Immunology (3 credits)
  • PA 524 Mechanisms of Disease (6 credits)
  • PA 526A Pharmacology and Therapeutics I (1 credit)

Fall (25 credits)

  • PA 504 Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
  • PA 509B Professional Practice II (1 credit)
  • PA 514 Physical Diagnosis I (5 credits)
  • PA 526B Pharmacology and Therapeutics II (3 credits)
  • PA 532 Clinical Diagnostics (4 credits)
  • PA 536A Medicine I (8 credits)
  • PA 544 Community Health and Wellness (2 credits)

Spring (27credits)

  • PA 505 Mental Health (3 credits)
  • PA 509C Professional Practice III (1 credit)
  • PA 526C Pharmacology and Therapeutics III (3 credits)
  • PA 530 Physical Diagnosis II (5 credits)
  • PA 536B Medicine II (2 credits)
  • PA 538 Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pediatrics (4 credits)
  • PA 540 Emergency Medicine (3 credits)
  • PA 541 Surgery (3 credits)
  • PA 542 Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)

Transitional Phase

  • Clinical Skills and Simulations
  • National PA Conference

Clinical Year

(48 credits)

(Summer, Fall, Spring)

Core Rotations: (1 week = 1 credit)

Clinical Year (36 weeks of required rotations, 36 credits)

  • PA 561 Emergency Medicine (8 weeks)
  • PA 562 Family Medicine (8 weeks)
  • PA 563 Psychiatry (4 weeks)
  • PA 564 Internal Medicine (4 weeks)
  • PA 565 Women’s Health (4 weeks)
  • PA 566 Pediatrics (4 weeks)
  • PA 567 Surgery (4 weeks)
  • PA 577-579 Electives (total of 12 weeks)

Elective Clinical Rotations from the following: (12 weeks, 12 credits)

  • Cardiology 
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Dermatology
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Public Health
  • Radiology
  • Rehabilitation
  • Trauma Surgery

Other medical and surgical subspecialties may be arranged. With approval of the program, students may suggest as many as two of their own rotation sites. Curriculum is subject to change.