The Physician Assistant 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 Assistant Studies.
Approximately 15 months of the program is didactic, or classroom work, including courses in human gross anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacotherapy, history and physical exam skills, research, and professional issues. In addition, the clinical practice seminar is a small-group, case-based course that offers the unique opportunity to integrate and apply material from each of the courses to real-world patient cases. There are also hands-on activities that promote the development of practical skills through the use of simulated patients, technical skills workshops and labs.
The clinical phase is completed in approximately 12 months. The clinical phase of the program is designed to effectively train students for practice by providing them with rotation experiences in different specialties and a variety of practice settings. To that end, each student will be required to complete rotations outside the metropolitan area. Each student will gain clinical experience in family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and various specialties. The clinical phase will culminate with a preceptorship that is designed to solidify the student’s skills. Clinical instructors include Physicians, PAs and other health care providers.
A student will be required to complete the clinical phase at site(s) determined by the Augsburg PA Program to provide the student with the best educational experience. Clinical rotation sites will be located throughout the state of MN, locations in the 5 state area, and beyond.
The Augsburg PA program includes time away from the program at varying times which may or may not differ from the traditional breaks at Augsburg University; these breaks contribute to the overall 27-month length of the program.
PA Program Sample Calendar
YEAR 1
Summer
PA 501 – Human Anatomy and Neuroanatomy
PA 503 – Human Pathophysiology
Fall
PA 511 – History and Physical Exam Skills I
PA 521 – Pharmacotherapy I
PA 531 – Clinical Medicine I
PA 542 – Professional Issues
PA 546 – Clinical Practice Seminar I
Spring
PA 512 – History and Physical Exam Skills II
PA 522 – Pharmacotherapy II
PA 532 – Clinical Medicine II
PA 547 – Clinical Practice Seminar II
PA 555 – Research Tools for the Physician Assistant
YEAR 2
Summer
PA 533 – Clinical Medicine III
PA 545 – Clinical Phase Transition
Master’s Project course, one of the following*:
- PA 599 – Directed Study
- ML 577 – International Experience
Clinical Phase (12 Months)
Fall (12 credits)
Spring (12 credits)
Summer (16 credits)
PA 600-622 (4-6 credits)
Over the course of the clinical year, every student is required to successfully complete 7 core clinical experiences* and additional electives or preceptorships that complement our primary care-focused curriculum. These include:
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Health*
- Emergency Medicine*
- Family Medicine*
- General Surgery*
- Internal Medicine*
- Pediatrics*
- Women’s Health*
- Electives/Preceptorships
Examples: urgent care, primary care, cardiology, pulmnonary, orthopeditcis, emergency mediciine, critical care, surgery, transgender care, pediatrics, infectious diseases, internal medicine, dermatology
PA 690 – Capstone Course (2 credits) – Required in the last semester of the program.