Physician Assistant (M.M.S.)
Attend an Information Session!
An Information Session for Physician Assistant (M.M.S.) program will be held on Monday, Nov. 30 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Arcadia's Christiana Campus in Delaware. Click here to register online or call 1-877-ARCADIA (1-877-272-2342).
1 Program, 2 Campuses!
Arcadia University has opened a campus in Christiana, Del., providing the state's first degree program for Physician Assistants. More.
About the Physician Assistant Program
- Two campuses: Glenside, Pa., and Christiana, Del.
- Nearly 100 percent certification pass rate for graduates
- Dual Degree program with Public Health
- Seven required clinical rotations plus clinical electives
- Strong ties with regional medical communities
- International pro bono experiences
- Attendance at National PA Conference included in tuition
- Capstone experience with research case study
Mission
Arcadia University's Physician Assistant (PA) program prepares graduate students from across the country for careers in today’s rapidly changing medical environment. Utilizing the resources of campuses in Glenside, Pa., and Christiana, Del., and the region’s medical communities, the program provides students with the foundation for professional growth through personal attention, diverse clinical experience, and a commitment to excellence.
The two-year master's degree program in Medical Science (M.M.S.) at Arcadia University is designed to produce graduates who are well-equipped to deliver high-quality, cost-effective primary healthcare in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and other community settings.
Physician Assistant Class of 2008 and faculty.
Accreditation
The Arcadia University PA program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission of Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Arcadia’s PA program continues to enjoy a nearly 100 percent pass rate on the National Commission on the Certification of PAs (NCCPA) board examinations.
Coursework
The first three semesters of the program consist of didactic and laboratory coursework in the basic and clinical sciences. First-year students are introduced into clinical settings as part of the Physical Diagnosis course in the fall semester. Students make the transition into the clinical phase of the program by attending the National PA Conference. The costs associated with attending the conference (airfare, hotel, registration) are included in the tuition. The transitional phase also includes an intensive course in Medical Spanish.
Clinical Rotations
The clinical phase consists of seven required rotations including Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, Geriatrics/Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Surgery. In addition, there are 12 weeks of clinical electives.
During the clinical rotations, the students are visited by a faculty member to ensure that they are getting an appropriate learning experience. Every 12 weeks, the students return to campus for exams and professional practice lectures. For each required rotation, the students complete a researched case study. One of these case studies is presented as part of the Senior Colloquium at the end of the clinical phase.
Personal Attention and Diverse Clinical Experiences
Arcadia’s Physician Assistant (PA) program provides students from across the country with the foundation for professional growth through personal attention, diverse clinical experience, and a commitment to excellence. With quality instruction and clinical opportunities, the program continues to enjoy an overall 100 percent pass rate on the National Commission on the Certification of PAs board examinations.
The Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) degree produces graduates well-equipped to deliver high-quality, cost-effective healthcare in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices and other community settings. Arcadia’s program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission of Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The Profession
In the last decade, the number of programs designed to educate physician assistants (PAs) has grown substantially. This profession began in the 1960s with the formal training of medical corpsmen who wished to use the experience they gained in the military to further their careers in civilian life. According to the 1994 National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) reports on programs, the number of certified physician assistants reached 1,998 by 1975, and today there are greater than 70,000 PAs in the United States. Many of these positions are found in rural or urban communities.
The physician assistant is trained to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, diagnose common illnesses, order laboratory tests and determine treatment including prescribing appropriate medication, as well as counseling and educating patients concerning their medical problems.
