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)
- CDS 505 - Professional Development (1 hour)
- PA 601 - Human Gross Anatomy and Lab (4 hours)
- PA 602 - Medical Physiology (4 hours)
- PA 605 - Clinical Pathology (4 hours)
- PA 610 - Clinical Laboratory Medicine (3 hours)
- PA 615 - Introduction to the Profession (1 hour)
- GC 535 - Medical Genetics Across the Lifespan (1 hour)
-
First Year - Spring (16 hours)
- PA 603 - Pharmacology I (3 hours)
- PA 606 - Clinical Medicine I (6 hours)
- PA 608 - Surgical Disease I (3 hours)
- PA 611 - History & Physical Examination (3 hours)
- PA 616 - Electrocardiography (1 hour)
-
First Year - Summer (18 hours)
- PA 604 - Pharmacology II (3 hours)
- PA 607 - Clinical Medicine II (6 hours)
- PA 609 - Surgical Disease II (3 hours)
- PA 613 - Surgical Techniques (3 hours)
- PA 618 - Risk Management (1 hour)
- PA 619 - Fundamentals of Clinical Research (2 hours)
-
Second Year - Fall (13 hours)
- PA 614 - Operating Room Techniques (2 hours)
- PA 617 - Applied Behavioral Medicine (3 hours)
- PA 620 - Analysis of Professional Literature (2 hours)
- PA 633 - Navigating Healthcare Delivery and Reimbursement Systems for Physician Assistants (2 hours)
- PA 634 - Simulated Clinical Concepts (2 hours)
- PA 635 - Special Populations in Medicine (2 hours)
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 |
|---|---|
| PA 604 Pharmacology II | PA 603 Pharmacology I |
| PA 606 Clinical Medicine I | PA 601, PA 602, PA 605, PA 610 |
| PA 607 Clinical Medicine II | PA 606 Clinical Medicine I |
| PA 608 Surgical Disease I | PA 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
| PA 609 Surgical Disease II | PA 608 Surgical Disease I |
| PA 613 Surgical Techniques I | PA 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
| PA 614 Operating Room Techniques | PA 613 Surgical Techniques |
| PA 620 Literature Evaluation | PA 619 Fundamentals of Clinical Research |
| PA 698 Presentation of Research Project | PA 620 Literature Evaluation |
Clinical Phase
-
Spring (17 Hours)
- PA 621 - Clinical Service I (4 hours)
- PA 622 - Clinical Service II (4 hours)
- PA 623 - Clinical Service III (4 hours)
- PA 624 - Clinical Service IV (4 hours)
- PA 643 - Senior Seminar I (1 hour)
-
Summer (18 Hours)
- PA 625 - Clinical Service V (4 hours)
- PA 626 - Clinical Service VI (4 hours)
- PA 627 - Clinical Service VII (4 hours)
- PA 629 - Clinical Service IX (4 hours)
- PA 698 - Presentation of Research Project (1 hour)
- PA 644 - Senior Seminar II (1 hour)
-
Fall (15 Hours)
- PA 630 - Clinical Service X (4 hours)
- PA 631 - Clinical Service XI (4 hours)
- PA 632 - Clinical Service XII (4 hours)
- PA 645 - Senior Seminar III (3 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.