Augsburg PA Curriculum
The Physician Associate Program at Augsburg is approximately 27 months long with studies beginning each year in the summer semester. The program accepts up to 33 students for each new class. Graduates will receive a Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies.
Didactic Phase: Integrated, Hands-on Community PA Medicine (15 months)
Beginning each May, the 15 month didactic phase combines immersive community health experiences with rigorous, systems based coursework. The curriculum is intentionally aligned by organ system, allowing students to integrate pathophysiology, clinical medicine, physical examination, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical management in a cohesive and clinically relevant way.
Students complete foundational and advanced coursework in human gross anatomy with cadaver lab, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacotherapy, history and physical examination, and evidence based professional practice. The Clinical Practice Seminar series anchors the curriculum through small group, case based learning that integrates content across courses and applies it to real world patient scenarios.
Throughout the didactic year, disease processes are examined not only from a biomedical perspective, but also through the lens of social and political determinants of health, preparing students to deliver equitable, community responsive care to all populations. Hands on training is woven throughout the year and includes high fidelity simulation, live standardized patients, technical skills workshops, Point of Care Ultrasound training, interprofessional training through the School of Health and procedural labs.
The result is a deeply integrated learning experience designed to build clinical competence, confidence, and professional identity from day one.
DIDACTIC PHASE COURSE SEQUENCE
Summer 1 (14 credits)
PA 500 – Community Health and Evidence-Based Professional Practice I (1 credit)
PA 501 – Human Anatomy and Neuroanatomy (8 credits)
PA 503 – Human Pathophysiology (5 credits)
Fall (23 credits)
PA 510 – Community Health and Evidence-Based Professional Practice II (1 credit)
PA 511 – History and Physical Exam Skills I (6 credits)
PA 521 – Pharmacotherapy I (4 credits)
PA 531 – Clinical Medicine I (9 credits)
PA 546 – Clinical Practice Seminar I (3 credits)
Spring (23 credits)
PA 512 – History and Physical Exam Skills II (6 credits)
PA 520 – Community Health and Evidence-Based Professional Practice III (1 credit)
PA 522 – Pharmacotherapy II (4 credits)
PA 532 – Clinical Medicine II (9 credits)
PA 547 – Clinical Practice Seminar II (3 credits)
Summer 2 (11-12 credits)
PA 530 – Community Health and Evidence-Based Professional Practice IV (1 credit)
PA 533 – Clinical Medicine III (5 credits)
PA 545 – Clinical Phase Transition (2 credits)
PA 599 – Master’s Project Self-Directed Study or Global Experience Course (3-4 credits)
Clinical Phase: Broad, Immersive, and Practice Ready (12 months)
The clinical phase spans approximately 12 months and is designed to prepare students for confident, independent practice through immersive, supervised clinical training across multiple specialties and practice settings.
Students complete required rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health, surgery, emergency medicine, reproductive health, pediatrics, and elective specialties. Clinical placements are coordinated by the Augsburg University PA Program to ensure high quality educational experiences and strong preceptor support. Students do not arrange their own clinical sites.
Training occurs throughout Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and select national locations. To ensure a well rounded experience, each student completes rotations outside the Minneapolis Saint Paul metropolitan area and gains exposure to both urban and rural healthcare environments.
By the completion of the clinical phase, students have developed the diagnostic reasoning, procedural competence, and professional adaptability required to serve diverse communities across practice settings.
CLINICAL PHASE COURSE SEQUENCE
Fall 2 (12 credits)
3 Clinical Rotations (~5 weeks each)
Spring 2 (12 credits)
3 Clinical Rotations (~5 weeks each)
Summer 3 (16 credits)
3 Clinical Rotations (~5 weeks each)
PA 690 – Capstone Course (4 credits)
Over the course of the clinical year, every student is required to successfully complete 7 core clinical experiences, 2 additional electives, and a capstone course that all align with our primary care-focused curriculum. These include:
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- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health*
- Emergency Medicine*
- Family Medicine*
- Surgery*
- Internal Medicine*
- Pediatrics*
- Women’s Health*
- Electives/Preceptorships
* denotes required, core clinical experience
Examples of Elective Experiences: Urgent care, primary care, cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, pediatrics, infectious diseases, internal medicine, dermatology, community and public health, telemedicine, and PA education.
The Augsburg PA program includes breaks in the curriculum which may differ from the traditional academic calendar breaks at Augsburg University. Our program does not offer a hybrid option.
PA Program Handbook
Program policies apply to all students, faculty, and the program director. A copy of the Augsburg PA Program policies can be found in the Program Handbook.
Discrimination, Bias, and Sexual Harassment Policies
UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND Course Descriptions
For graduate program policies and a full list of course descriptions for all departments, visit the Academic Catalog page.