Physician Assistant Studies

The pre-professional component consists of 91 credits of humanities, basic sciences and medical sciences. This educational component is completed in three academic calendar years. The accredited component is completed over 27 months, consisting of 89 credits, and is divided into two phases:

• Phase 1 is composed of 14 months of didactic and case-based courses in clinical and behavioral sciences, clinical laboratory science, and applied clinical skills.
• Phase 2 consists of 12 months of Supervised Clinical Practice, in which students participate in the evaluation and management of patients in a wide variety of clinical areas. Students also participate in case-based coursework, as well as complete an evidence-based medicine Master's project, suitable for publishing.

• BRDG 103 IPE Health Research Skills (1 credit)

• BRDG 101 Writing & Analysis (3 credits)

• BIOL 111/111L Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Dev/Lab (4 credits)

• CHEM 131/131L Fundamentals of Chemistry I/Lab (5 credits)

• BRDG 105 Intro to Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)

• COSC 100 Elements of Computer Science (2 credits)

• PHYA 101 Preparing for Clinical Practice (1 credit)

• BRDG 102 Writing & Literature (3 credits)

• BIOL 112/112L Biology II: Diversity, Eco, Evo/Lab (4 credits)

• CHEM 132/132L Fundamentals of Chemistry II/Lab (5 credits)

• BIOL 205/L Clinical Microbiology/Lab (3/1 credits)

• HLTS 200 Disparities in Healthcare (3 credits)

• PHYS 201/L/R Physics for Life Sci I/Lab/Rec (3/1 credits)
  
• PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)

• PHIL/THEO Health Care Ethics (3 credits)

• EQ  Essential Questions Seminar (3 credits)

• Cultural Fluency competency (3 credits)

• PHIL/THEO elective (3 credits)

• Health Science elective (3 credits)

• MATH 225 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)

• COMM 203W Communication & Professional Civility (3 credits)

• HLTS 320/L Anatomy I/Lab (4 credits)

• HLTS 330 Physiology I (3 credits)

• HLTS 335 Histology (1 credit)

• HLTS 441 Medical Sciences I (3 credits)

• PSYC 251 Psychological Disorders Applied (3 credits)

• HLTS 321/L Anatomy II/Lab (4 credits)

• HLTS 331 Physiology II (4 credits)

• HLTS 442 Medical Sciences II (3 credits)

• PHYA 403W History & Physical Examination I (3 credits)

• PHYA 403L History & Physical Examination Lab (0 credits)

• PHYA 404 Clinical Lab Methods (3 credits)

• PHYA 414 Pathophysiology I (3 credits)

• PHYA 416 Intro to Patient Counseling & Educ (1 credit)

• PHYA 423 Introduction to PA Profession (2 credits)

• PHYA 424 Intro to Concepts in Pharmacology (1 credit)

• PHYA 401/L Clinical Medicine I / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 409 Clinical Pharmacology (4 credits)

• PHYA 410/L Applied Clinical Methods I / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 412W/L History & Physical Examination II / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 417 Pathophysiology II (3 credits)

• PHYA 422 Seminar in Diagnostic Test Interpretation (1 credit)

• PHYA 402L Clinical Medicine II / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 405 Clinical Encounters (0 credits)

• PHYA 408 Clinical Seminar I (3 credits)

• PHYA 411/L Applied Clinical Methods II / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 418/L Fundamentals of Pediatrics / Lab (2 credits)

• PHYA 421W/L History & Physical Examination III / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 425 Health Policy (2 credits)

• HLTS 430 Principles of Research (2 credits)

• PHYA 505 Clinical Seminar II (3 credits)

• PHYA 515/L Fundamentals of Surgery / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 520/L Clinical Medicine III / Lab (3 credits)

• PHYA 545 Applied Pharmacology (2 credits)

• PHYA 506 Clinical Seminar III  (3 credits)

• PHYA 529 Clinical Externship I (Emergency Medicine)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 530 Clinical Externship II (Behavioral Health)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 531 Clinical Externship III (General Surgery)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 513 Essentials in Clinical Practice  (0 credits)

• PHYA 532 Clinical Externship IV (Pediatric)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 533 Clinical Externship V (Primary Care - Family Medicine)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 534 Clinical Externship VI (Primary Care - Internal Medicine I) (3 credits)

• PHYA 535 Clinical Externship VII (Primary Care Internal Medicine II Specialty/Women's Health)      (3 credits)

• PHYA 536 Clinical Externship VIII (Elective)  (3 credits)

• PHYA 540W Master's Independent Research / Study  (3 credits)

• New Student Fee: ~$316 (one-time).
• Housing & Food: Resident -  Annual Cost: ~ $17,070  Total Cost for 5 Years: ~ $85,350
• Housing &Food: Commuter - Annual Cost: ~ $10,090  Total Cost for 5 Years: ~ 50,450
• Books & Supplies: ~$1,440 annually; $4,320 for first 3 years (pre-accredited phase)

• Pennsylvania Criminal Record History Check - current cost $22.00 (Subject to change)  
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance - current cost $15.00 (Subject to change) FBI
  Criminal History Check - current cost $25.75 (Subject to change)
• All students are required to take the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge and Rating
• Assessment Tool exam (PACKRAT), after completion of the 4th year and, again, before graduation, each $45.00 (current cost).
• All students are required to take an ACLS training course (approximate cost of $135).
• All students are required to prepare a research poster for the Master of Independent Research course (approximate cost of $50.00).                    
• All students are required to purchase medical equipment - starting at $500.00  
• All students are required to purchase a lab coat and name tag (approximate cost of $35.00).
• All students are required to utilize the Student Tracking System by EXXAT during their 5th year (approximate cost $246.00).
• All students are required to have a Laptop or iPad with webcam functionality for electronic exam/testing                
• All students are required to purchase textbooks and software (approximate cost of $2,000)
• Urine drug screens during the clinical year - approximately $100.00-$250.00, depending on where students are assigned.
• Physical Examination - Proof of immunization and all other health requirements vary depending on where they are completed. Current cost through Duquesne University Health
  Services - Physical Exam - $50.00, 2-Step PPD - $40.00, and Annual PPD - $20.00, Quantiferon Gold Blood Test- $60.00. They do not provide flu shots.
• CPR Certification - approximate $25.00-$40.00 depending upon location.

• Resident ~ $429,069.75
• Commuter ~ $394,169.75

• We strongly encourage membership in PSPA. (Cost $30/year or $50/2 years)
• We strongly encourage membership in AAPA. New student membership: $75. This is a one-time fee that expires after your graduation.

• Potential additional living expenses during the clinical year. (approximate cost $2,500)
• Registration fee for taking Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) after graduation (Current cost $550.00)

Note: We recognize the cost of an education at Duquesne University; however, there are other anticipated expenses in your education. These have all been deemed integral to your professional development. With advance notice, you can plan and budget for these additional expenses.

Due to capacity constraints, we are not accepting transfer or second-degree applications to the PA program. Any student with more than 12 post-secondary credits is considered a transfer student.

In the accredited phase, there are no provisions for advanced placement credit. The accredited phase must be completed in its entirety.

The PA program is completed only as a full-time cohort program. Regularly scheduled classes occur only during daytime hours  The Accredited Phase begins in the summer, and students graduate 2 years later in August after successfully completing all academic requirements.

The rigorous, intense nature of the accelerated curriculum requires students to remain extremely focused and dedicated to their studies. In addition, the time demands of the class schedule may require occasional attendance on evenings or weekends. Most classes during the accredited phase are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday). During rotations, hours are variable depending upon the clinical rotation assignment.  As such, it is highly recommended that students limit outside distractions.

Students in the PA program at Duquesne University complete their clinical rotations in various settings, including in-patient facilities, outpatient facilities, long-term care, and office settings. Rotations may occur at large teaching institutions or small, rural facilities under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Many clinical sites are located in the Pittsburgh area, while others may be located across the country. Students complete a total of eight rotations (each of which is approximately six weeks in duration). Required specialties include emergency medicine, family practice, internal medicine, internal medicine specialty, surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry/behavioral medicine. All students will complete a 2-week women's health clinical experience. Students select one additional elective rotation to gain additional experience in a specialty of interest. Some examples of elective rotations include overseas opportunities, cardiovascular surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, dermatology, research, and burn unit.

The tuition at Duquesne is in addition to fees and expenditures that students should expect at the time they enter the accredited phase.

These expenses, such as medical equipment and white lab coats, are integral to the student's professional development. 

• Typical costs for all the equipment range from $300-$900, depending on the quality of the equipment.
• Hospitals and other facilities require students to undergo criminal record history checks and child abuse clearances, approximately $20 each.
• Students are also required to take an Advanced Cardiac Life Support training course, which costs approximately $135.
• Students are also required to take the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge and Rating Assessment Tool exam (PACKRAT) each year of the accredited phase. This exam currently costs $45.
• Travel, parking, and living expenses throughout the clinical year may approximate up to $2,000 depending upon site placements.
• The current cost of the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE), which is completed after graduation, is $550.

Students may also voluntarily choose to join PA professional organizations, including the PSPA and AAPA. Student membership in these professional organizations provides many advantages, including educational conferences, networking, and scholarship opportunities. Professional liability insurance for students during the accredited phase of their education is provided by Duquesne University at no additional cost.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of PAs is expected to grow through 2022 and beyond. The job market is the best that it has ever been and is expected to continue due to a variety of factors affecting the healthcare industry. Because of the flexibility of the role of Physician Assistants, PAs can fulfill vital roles in a variety of settings. Graduates of the Duquesne University PA program are employed in satisfying, rewarding positions throughout the country and as a rule, have had no difficulty in obtaining employment. For more information about the national employment trends, check out U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.