Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)
The Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Slippery Rock University offers a challenging curriculum leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. The program will be the second PA Program in the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education, having achieved Accreditation-Provisional status.
Accreditation Status
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Slippery Rock University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Slippery Rock University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2030 March. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-slippery-rock-university/.
Slippery Rock University is approved to offer programs that may lead to licensure/certification in Pennsylvania. SRU does not guarantee that programs which fulfill Pennsylvania licensing requirements will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states, as each jurisdiction has unique requirements for licensure/certification eligibility which are subject to change at any time and without notice.
We invite you to review the licensing board contact resource to seek guidance on the requirements of licensure/certification in your home state or where you would like to practice professionally.
The Physician Assistant Studies 24-month program is a combination of academic and clinical instruction, team instruction, and collaborative outreach taught in unique learning environments. Academically and professionally qualified faculty, clinicians, and experts will provide a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, direct patient/client management, and prevention and wellness services that focus on the life cycle needs of the U.S. population.
The program provides an emphasis on special populations interwoven throughout academic and clinical years, which makes SRU’s Physician Assistant Program unique. Successful graduates will be prepared to sit for the national exam. SRU graduates will learn to adapt to the ever-changing medical profession, while becoming gainfully employed as mid-level medical care providers and filling the medical needs of the region.
The program is delivered over six continuous terms (summer, fall, spring) and includes three semesters of academic work and then three semesters of clerkships (10 internships). Students will also participate in half-day clinical experiences during the academic year and educational experiences during the clinical year.
The overarching objective of the PA Program is to prepare future physician assistants; who demonstrate competencies or ability to acquire competencies in effective and appropriate application of medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, patient care, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice; to practice patient-centered care in a team environment, while advancing the profession and helping to meet the medical needs of the region, state, nation, and world.
NOTE to Slippery Rock University 3+2 Pre-PA Students Entering the Physician Assistant Program
Should 3+2 Physician Assistant students be unsuccessful in completing the MSPAS program and want to complete their original undergraduate degree, it is solely up to the discretion of their undergraduate department chairperson to determine which, if any, physician assistant courses will count toward the completion of their undergraduate degree. In addition, students must complete any unfulfilled requirements of his/her undergraduate major. Participation in the undergraduate commencement ceremony takes place after the first fall semester of the Physician Assistant Program is successfully completed.
* The graduating class of 2019 credit requirement is 111.5 credits.
* The graduating class of 2020 credit requirement is 105.9 credits due to curricular changes.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Apply basic science knowledge to the medical sciences. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate competency in clinical procedures performed by Physician Assistants. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2)
- Demonstrate ability to perform a complete history and physical examination. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate ability to diagnose disease and create an appropriate treatment plan. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate the use of Evidence-Based Medicine to effectively diagnose and treat patients. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate cross-cultural and socioeconomic sensitivity in clinical practice settings involving special patient populations. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate effective communication skills in a healthcare setting. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate within an interprofessional health care team. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Demonstrate ethical decision making in the practice of medicine. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
- Participate in professional societies the promote PA practice and advancement. (Graduate outcomes: 1, 2, 3)
Related Links
Physician Assistant Studies, MS Program Page
Curriculum Guide
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Didactic-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 601 | The Physician Assistant Profession | 1 |
| PHYA 612 | Clinical Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I | 3 |
| PHYA 616 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics I | 2 |
| PHYA 640 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab I | 4 |
| PHYA 651 | Clinical Medicine with Lab I | 5 |
| PHYA 654 | Special Populations I | 1 |
| Subtotal | 16 | |
| Fall Didactic-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 603 | Clinical Skills Lab I | 1 |
| PHYA 621 | Geriatrics | 1 |
| PHYA 622 | Clinical Anatomy & Physiology with Lab II | 3 |
| PHYA 626 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics II | 3 |
| PHYA 630 | Pediatrics | 1 |
| PHYA 642 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab II | 4 |
| PHYA 646 | Evidence Based Practice | 1.5 |
| PHYA 661 | Clinical Medicine with Lab II | 5 |
| PHYA 664 | Special Populations II | 1 |
| Subtotal | 20.5 | |
| Spring Didactic-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 604 | Emergency Medicine | 2 |
| PHYA 607 | Clinical Skills Lab II | 1 |
| PHYA 632 | Clinical Anatomy & Physiology with Lab III | 3 |
| PHYA 636 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics III | 3 |
| PHYA 644 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab III | 4 |
| PHYA 671 | Clinical Medicine with Lab III | 5 |
| PHYA 674 | Special Populations III | 1 |
| PHYA 677 | Clinical Exposure and Transition | 1 |
| Subtotal | 20 | |
| Summer Clinical-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 701 | From Theory to Practice I | 1 |
| PHYA 771 | Clinical Clerkships Experience I (Two 4.5-week rotations, and one 3-week rotation.) | 12.6 |
| Subtotal | 13.6 | |
| Fall Clinical-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 702 | From Theory to Practice II | 2 |
| PHYA 772 | Clinical Clerkships Experience II (Two 4.5-week rotations, and one 3-week rotation.) | 14.4 |
| Subtotal | 16.4 | |
| Winter Clinical-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 773 | Clinical Clerkship Experience III | 3 |
| Subtotal | 3 | |
| Spring Clinical-Year Requirements | ||
| PHYA 703 | From Theory to Practice III | 2 |
| PHYA 774 | Clinical Clerkships Experience IV (Three 4.5-week rotations.) | 14.4 |
| Subtotal | 16.4 | |
| Total Hours | 105.9 | |
Important Curriculum Guide Notes
This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.
PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions
Major Code: 9PAS
Revised 09.24.2025
UCC 02.13.2024
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| PHYA 601 | The Physician Assistant Profession | 1 |
| PHYA 612 | Clinical Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I | 3 |
| PHYA 616 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics I | 2 |
| PHYA 640 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab I | 4 |
| PHYA 646 | Evidence Based Practice | 1.5 |
| PHYA 651 | Clinical Medicine with Lab I | 5 |
| PHYA 654 | Special Populations I | 1 |
| Hours | 17.5 | |
| Fall | ||
| PHYA 603 | Clinical Skills Lab I | 1 |
| PHYA 621 | Geriatrics | 1 |
| PHYA 622 | Clinical Anatomy & Physiology with Lab II | 3 |
| PHYA 626 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics II | 3 |
| PHYA 630 | Pediatrics | 1 |
| PHYA 642 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab II | 4 |
| PHYA 661 | Clinical Medicine with Lab II | 5 |
| PHYA 664 | Special Populations II | 1 |
| Hours | 19 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYA 604 | Emergency Medicine | 2 |
| PHYA 607 | Clinical Skills Lab II | 1 |
| PHYA 632 | Clinical Anatomy & Physiology with Lab III | 3 |
| PHYA 636 | Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics III | 3 |
| PHYA 644 | Clinical History and Physical Diagnosis with Lab III | 4 |
| PHYA 671 | Clinical Medicine with Lab III | 5 |
| PHYA 674 | Special Populations III | 1 |
| PHYA 677 | Clinical Exposure and Transition | 1 |
| Hours | 20 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| PHYA 701 | From Theory to Practice I | 1 |
| PHYA 771 | Clinical Clerkships Experience I | 12.6 |
| Hours | 13.6 | |
| Fall | ||
| PHYA 702 | From Theory to Practice II | 2 |
| PHYA 772 | Clinical Clerkships Experience II | 14.4 |
| Hours | 16.4 | |
| Winter | ||
| PHYA 773 | Clinical Clerkship Experience III | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYA 703 | From Theory to Practice III | 2 |
| PHYA 774 | Clinical Clerkships Experience IV | 14.4 |
| Hours | 16.4 | |
| Total Hours** | 105.9 | |
** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year.
Major Code: 9PAS
Revised 09.24.2025