Physician assistants (PA) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with physicians. Physician assistants are qualified by graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program and certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.  The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings.  Physician assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities.

Upon successful completion of the fifth year, students will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) and will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Graduates must pass the PANCE in order to obtain a license. Licensure/registration requirements and costs vary from state-to-state.  Graduates should contact their specific State Board of Medical Licensure and State Society of Physician Assistants to identify specific requirements for obtaining practicing privileges and understanding particular scope of practice in that state.

Program Outcomes

  1. Prepares the student with the necessary knowledge and skills to reliably, safely and competently perform the role of a physician assistant.
  2. Promotes a lifelong responsibility for ongoing learning and active participation in a changing health care environment.
  3. Instills a professional identity in each student based on the education for the Mind, Heart and Spirit that is achieved at Duquesne University.
  4. Prepares students to provide quality primary health care among rural, urban and minority populations.

Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences- 139 Credits

Pre-Professional Phase

Bridges Common Learning Experience- 22 Credits

  • IPE Health Research Skills (BRDG 103) 1 cr.
  •  Writing & Analysis (BRDG 101) 3 cr.
  • Writing & Literature (BRDG 102) 3 cr.
  • Intro to Ethical Reasoning (BRDG 105) 3 cr.
  • Essential Questions (EQ XXX) 3 cr.
  • Cultural Fluency and Responsiveness 3 cr.
  • Ethical Reasoning and Moral Responsibility: Healthcare Ethics (PHIL 252 or THEO 253) 3 cr.
  • Philosophy or Theology Requirement 3 cr.

Science, Math & Humanities- 43 Credits

  • Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Development/Lab (BIOL 111/111L) 4 cr.
  • Biology II: Diversity, Ecology, Evolution/Lab (BIOL 112/112L) 4 cr.
  • Clinical Microbiology (BIOL 205/205L) 3/1 cr.
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry I/Lab (CHEM 131/131L) 5 cr.
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry II/Lab (CHEM 132/132L) 5 cr.
  • Communication & Professional Civility (COMM 203W) 3 cr.
  • Elements of Computer Science (COSC 100) 2 cr.
  • Introduction to Biostatistics (MATH 225) 3 cr.
  • Physics for Life Sciences I/Lab (PHYS 201/L) 4 cr.
  • Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101) 3 cr.
  • Psychological Disorders (PSYC 252W) 3 cr.
  • Health Sciences-related Elective 3 cr.

RSHS Courses- 26 Credits

  • Preparing for Clinical Practice (PHYA 101) 1 cr.
  • Disparities in Healthcare (HLTS 200) 3 cr.
  • Anatomy I/Lab (HLTS 320/320L) 4 cr.
  • Anatomy II/Lab (HLTS 321/321L) 4 cr.
  • Physiology I (HLTS 330) 3 cr.
  • Physiology II (HLTS 331) 4 cr.
  • Histology (HLTS 335) 1 cr.
  • Medical Sciences I (HLTS 441) 3 cr.
  • Medical Sciences II (HLTS 442) 3 cr.

Accredited Phase

Summer of 3rd Year- 13 Credits

  • Introduction to PA Profession (PHYA 400W) 1 cr.
  • History & Physical Examination I/Lab (PHYA 403W/403L)  3 cr.
  • Clinical Lab Methods (PHYA 404) 3 cr.
  • Pathophysiology I (PHYA 414) 4 cr.
  • Introduction to Patient Counseling & Education (PHYA 416) 2 cr.

Fall of 4th Year- 17 Credits

  • Clinical Medicine I/Lab (PHYA 401/401L) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Pharmacology (PHYA 409) 4 cr.
  • Applied Clinical Methods I/Lab (PHYA 410/410L) 3 cr.
  • History & Physical Examination II/Lab (PHYA 412W/412L) 3 cr.
  • Pathophysiology II (PHYA 417) 3 cr.
  • Seminar in Diagnostic Test Interpretation (PHYA 422) 1 cr.

Spring of 4th Year- 18 Credits

  • Principles of Research (HLTS 430) 2 cr.
  • Clinical Medicine II/Lab (PHYA 402/402L) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Encounters (Service Learning) (PHYA 405) 0 cr.
  • Clinical Seminar I (PHYA 408) 3 cr.
  • Applied Clinical Methods II/Lab (PHYA 411/411L) 3 cr.
  • Fundamentals of Pediatrics/Lab (PHYA 418/418L) 2 cr.
  • History & Physical Examination III/Lab (PHYA 421W/421L) 3 cr.
  • Health Policy (PHYA 425) 2 cr.

Summer of 4th Year- 11 Credits

  • Clinical Seminar II (PHYA 505) 3 cr.
  • Fundamentals of Surgery/Lab (PHYA 515/515L) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Medicine III/Lab (PHYA 520/520L) 3 cr.
  • Applied Pharmacology (PHYA 545) 2 cr.

Fall of 5th Year- 12 credits

  • Clinical Seminar III (PHYA 506) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship I (PHYA 529) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship II (PHYA 530) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship III (PHYA 531) 3 cr.

Spring of 5th Year- 9 Credits

  • Clinical Externship IV (PHYA 532) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship V (PHYA 533) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship VI (PHYA 534) 3 cr.

Summer of 5th Year- 9 Credits

  • Clinical Externship VII (PHYA 535) 3 cr.
  • Clinical Externship VIII (PHYA 536) 3 cr.
  • Master's Independent Research/Study (PHYA 540) 3 cr.

Graduation Requirements

Entry-Level Master's Degree Program

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

An undergraduate student in the entry-level master’s degree program who has completed all requirements with the minimum 3.0 cumulative Duquesne University GPA will receive a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

A student who has completed all requirements with a minimum 3.0 cumulative accredited phase GPA and successfully completed all clinical education requirements will receive a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.

Certification & Licensure

In order to practice in all states, a physician assistant must first be certified on a national level, and may then apply for licensure or registration on a state level, as required by individual states. Upon graduation from an accredited physician assistant program students are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). This examination is offered at any Pearson Vue Testing Center 50 weeks of the year. The registration fee for the certification examination is $550.00.

Licensure/registration requirements and costs vary from state-to-state. Graduates should contact their specific State Boards of Medicine to identify specific requirements for obtaining practicing privileges and understanding particular practice scope in that state.