The PA program is a self-contained graduate program that follows the UAB academic schedule. The final schedule for each class will be posted in the course syllabus, found in the course shell, on the first day of class for the semester.
Students attend classes on the UAB campus during the first four semesters of enrollment. This didactic phase of the curriculum consists of both biological sciences and clinically related courses. All courses are required and must be successfully completed with a minimum grade of a “C” (70%) in all PA didactic courses AND an overall cumulative 3.0 GPA in all PA program course work prior to beginning the clinical phase of training.
Please check the Graduate Catalog for the course descriptions.
Didactic Phase
-
First Year - Fall (18 hours)
- PAS 601 - Human Gross Anatomy (4 hours)
- PAS 602 - Physiology (4 hours)
- PAS 605 - Clinical Pathology (4 hours)
- PAS 610 - Clinical Lab Medicine (3 hours)
- PAS 615 - Introduction to the Profession (1 hour)
- CDS 505 - Professional Skills Development (1 hour)
- GC 535 - Medical Genetics Across the Lifespan (1 hour)
-
First Year - Spring (16 hours)
- PAS 603 - Pharmacotherapeutics I (3 hours)
- PAS 606 - Clinical Medicine I (6 hours)
- PAS 608 - Surgical Disease I (3 hours)
- PAS 611 - History and Physical Examination (3 hours)
- PAS 616 - Electrocardiography (1 hour)
-
First Year - Summer (18 hours)
- PAS 604 - Pharmacotherapeutics II (3 hours)
- PAS 607 - Clinical Medicine II (6 hours)
- PAS 609 - Surgical Disease II (3 hours)
- PAS 613 - Surgical Techniques (3 hours)
- PAS 618 - Risk Management (1 hour)
- PAS 619 - Fundamentals of Clinical Research (2 hours)
-
Second Year - Fall (14 hours)
- PAS 614 - Applied Clinical and Technical Skills (2 hours)
- PAS 617 - Applied Behavioral Medicine (3 hours)
- PAS 620 - Analysis of Professional Literature (2 hours)
- PAS 633 - Navigating Healthcare Delivery and Reimbursement Systems for Physician Associates (2 hours)
- PAS 634 - Simulated Clinical Concepts (2 hours)
- PAS 635 - Population-Based Approaches to Patient Care (2 hours)
- NTR 645 - Advanced Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals (1 hour)
Prerequisites
Students should be aware that the PA program has a set (lock step) course schedule for each semester. This means that enrollment in each semester’s PA courses requires successful completion of the preceding semester’s courses.
| Course | Prerequisite Course Completion |
|---|---|
| PAS 604 Pharmacotherapeutics II | PAS 603 Pharmacotherapeutics I |
| PAS 606 Clinical Medicine I | PAS 601, PAS 602, PAS 605, PAS 610 |
| PAS 607 Clinical Medicine II | PAS 606 Clinical Medicine I |
| PAS 608 Surgical Disease I | PAS 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
| PAS 609 Surgical Disease II | PAS 608 Surgical Disease I |
| PAS 613 Surgical Techniques | PAS 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
| PAS 614 Applied Clinical and Technical Skills | PAS 613 Surgical Techniques |
| PAS 620 Analysis of Professional Literature | PAS 619 Fundamentals of Clinical Research |
| PAS 698 Presentation of Research Project | PAS 620 Analysis of Professional Literature |
Clinical Phase
-
Spring (17 Hours)
- PAS 621 - Clinical Service I (4 hours)
- PAS 622 - Clinical Service II (4 hours)
- PAS 623 - Clinical Service III (4 hours)
- PAS 624 - Clinical Service IV (4 hours)
- PAS 643 - Senior Seminar I (1 hour)
-
Summer (18 Hours)
- PAS 625 - Clinical Service V (4 hours)
- PAS 626 - Clinical Service VI (4 hours)
- PAS 627 - Clinical Service VII (4 hours)
- PAS 628 - Clinical Service VIII (4 hours)
- PAS 644 - Senior Seminar II (1 hour)
- PAS 698 - Presentation of Research Project (1 hour)
-
Fall (14 Hours)
- PAS 629 - Clinical Service IX (4 hours)
- PAS 630 - Clinical Service X (4 hours)
- PAS 631 - Clinical Service XI (4 hours)
- PAS 645 - Senior Seminar III (2 hours)
Clinical Rotations
Students are required to complete eleven, 4-week clinical rotations, which includes 7 core rotations and 4 elective rotations.
- Required Core Rotations – Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Behavioral Medicine, General Surgery, and Women’s Health.
- Elective Rotations – Surgical subspecialties, medicine subspecialties, trauma subspecialties, etc.
Prerequisites
To enter the clinical year, students must have obtained the following:
- A minimum grade of a “C” in all PA didactic courses AND an overall 3.0 GPA in all PA program course work. No graduate school course work other than that obtained in the PA program will be considered and factored into the GPA.
- Students will not be able to enter the clinical year on academic probation.
- Maintain enrollment in a comprehensive health insurance program while matriculating through the PA program.
- Complete all required immunizations and testing for rubeola, diphtheria, tetanus, and Hepatitis B. A negative test for TB must be documented – either a negative PPD or a negative chest x-ray.
- Must have a current BLS and ACLS certification that does not expire until after graduation.