Graduate Physician Assistant Practice Curriculum and Program Information

About the Physician Assistant Graduate Program

OHIO's PA program begins annually in January (effective the 2020-2021 CASPA application cycle) and concludes 27 months later, with graduation in May.

The Ohio University physician assistant program curriculum is designed around seven distinct course series:

  1. Professional Development
  2. Foundational Sciences
  3. Clinical Nutrition
  4. Clinical Skills
  5. Clinical Medicine
  6. Clinical Practice
  7. Research

The series is fast-paced and systems-based, allowing the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a pathology to be taught within the same academic semester, while concomitantly integrating evidence-based medicine throughout the curriculum.

College course credit (i.e. advanced placement) cannot be applied toward the following courses. All courses required for fulfillment of the degree in physician assistant practice must be taken in the established sequence.


106 Credit Hours - 27 Months - 7 Semesters

Year 1

Spring Semester (1) - 18 Credit Hours
PA 5110Physician Assistant Practice I3 credit hours
PA 5200Radiologic Science1 credit hour
PA 5210 Clinical Gross Anatomy for the Physician Assistant 5 credit hours
PA 5221 Clinical Pathophysiology I for the Physician Assistant 2 credit hours
PA 5250 Pharmacology for the Physician Assistant I2 credit hours 
PA 5260 Clinical Science for the Physician Assistant 3 credit hours 
 PA 6210 Evidence-Based Research I2 credit hours
Summer Semester (2) - 18 Credit Hours
PA 5130 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Physician Assistant 2 credit hours 
PA 5231 Clinical Pathophysiology II for the Physician Assistant 2 credit hours 
PA 5251 Pharmacology for the Physician Assistant II 2 credit hours 
PA 5311Patient Assessment I3 credit hours 
PA 5410 Clinical Medicine I4 credit hours 
PA 5420 Clinical Medicine II 5 credit hours
Fall Semester (3) - 18 Credit Hours
PA 5241 Clinical Pathophysiology III for the Physician Assistant 2 credit hours 
PA 5252 Pharmacology for the Physician Assistant III 2 credit hours 
PA 5321 Patient Assessment II 3 credit hours 
PA 5430 Clinical Medicine III 5 credit hours 
PA 5440 Clinical Medicine IV 4 credit hours
PA 5553Womens Health2 credit hours

Year 2

Spring Semester (4) - 18 Credit Hours
PA 5330 Clinical Procedures for the Physician Assistant 2 credit hours 
PA 5550 Behavioral and Mental Health 2 credit hours 
PA 5551 Emergency Medicine 3 credit hours 
PA 5552Pediatric Medicine2 credit hours
PA 5554 General Surgery 3 credit hours 
PA 5555 Care of the Critically Ill and Hospitalized Patient 2 credit hours
PA 5560Transition to Clinical Practice 4 credit hours
Summer Semester (5) - 11 Credit Hours
PA 5150Professional Development: Certification and Practice for the PA 1 credit hour 
PA 6220 Evidence-Based Research II 1 credit hour 
Clinical Rotation 1  3 credit hours
Clinical Rotation 2  3 credit hours
Clinical Rotation 3  3 credit hours
Fall Semester (6) - 13 Credit Hours
PA 6230 Evidence-Based Research III 1 credit hour 
Clinical Rotation 4 3 credit hours 
Clinical Rotation 5 3 credit hours
Clinical Rotation 6  3 credit hours 
Clinical Rotation 7  3 credit hours

Year 3

Spring Semester (7) - 10 Credit Hours
PA 5140 Concepts of Leadership and Management for the PA 1 credit hour 
Clinical Rotation 8  3 credit hours 
Clinical Rotation 9  3 credit hours 
Clinical Rotation 10  3 credit hours
Clinical Rotations
Behavioral Health
Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
General Surgery
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Women's Health
Electives (3)

Course Listing by Series

Professional Development Series

  • Physician Assistant Practice I
  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Physician Assistant
  • Concepts of Leadership and Management for the Physician Assistant
  • Professional Development: Certification and Practice for the Physician Assistant

Foundational Sciences Series

  • Clinical Gross Anatomy for the Physician Assistant
  • Clinical Science for the Physician Assistant
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pathophysiology I for the Physician Assistant
  • Clinical Pathophysiology II for the Physician Assistant
  • Clinical Pathophysiology III for the Physician Assistant

Clinical Skills Series

  • Patient Assessment I
  • Patient Assessment II
  • Clinical Procedures for the Physician Assistant

Clinical Medicine Series

  • Clinical Medicine I
  • Clinical Medicine II
  • Clinical Medicine III
  • Clinical Medicine IV
  • Behavioral and Mental Health
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Women's Health
  • General Surgery
  • Transition to Clinical Practice

Research Series

  • Evidence-Based Research I
  • Evidence-Based Research II
  • Evidence-Based Research III

Graduate Project

The Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree will require each student to complete a graduate project as partial fulfillment of a graduate degree. The Evidence Based Research course series (I-III) is designed to prepare students with the skills to appraise evidence and to write scientifically.

Clinical Education Plan

Students will complete 15 months of didactic training prior to entering 12 months of supervised clinical experience in seven required clinical specialties, one specialty selective and two general selective rotations. The final semester of didactic training is designed to transition the PA student from the classroom to the clinical setting. Problem-based learning, scenarios, case studies and simulations will be strategically integrated throughout the second summer semester in order to prepare students for the critical thinking necessary for optimal patient care.

Clinical Rotations

In keeping with the mission of Ohio University, students enrolled in the OHIO PA program will complete a portion of their clinical training in medically underserved areas. In addition to the clinical specialties, OHIO PA students will experience rotations in large medical centers, small urban/rural clinics and specialty clinics, and will learn how to function in interprofessional health care teams.

The OHIO PA program's clinical rotations consist of in-state and out-of-state experiences. Students are responsible for all rotation-related expenses (e.g., housing, travel and food).

Rotations are identified, contacted, evaluated and assigned by the OHIO PA program. Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.