Physician Assistant Program Curriculum Requirements

Program Overview

Start Date

The MUPAP begins once per year with a single cohort of 40 students in mid-August.

Program Length

27 months (7 semesters)

Format

The MUPAP is a full-time, in-person program. The program is not offered online, part-time, or in a hybrid format.

Total Credit Hours

134 credit hours

Curriculum Structure

The MUPAP curriculum is divided into two phases:

Didactic Phase

The Didactic Phase is 4 semesters of classroom instruction, which is held in-person and on the campus of Methodist University.

Clinical Phase

The Clinical Phase is the final three semesters and consists of supervised, off-campus clinical instruction. In the Clinical Year, clinical rotations are assigned by the MUPAP and are primarily in Fayetteville, NC or within 75 miles from campus. One rotation may be assigned outside of the 75-mile radius and require housing expenses (AHEC housing is available for $20/night). International rotations are available for students who would like to complete a rotation abroad, but all expenses are the responsibility of the student and approval is required.

Due to the complexity and availability of preceptors, the schedule is determined by the clinical team and not at the students’ discretion. Prospective students must be aware that should one elect to commute to campus or have family obligations, the program is unable to schedule rotations within the proximity of one’s home to accommodate individual needs. Prospective students must be aware that training sites are subject to change. Students must provide their own transportation and room and board (if applicable) for clinical sites to which they are assigned.

Policy for Soliciting Sites and Preceptors: Methodist University PA students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. Students may make suggestions or requests to the clinical department for sites and preceptors but are not required to do so. If the student wishes to rotate at a site or with a preceptor with which the program does not currently have an affiliation agreement, the student can submit a Preceptor Interest Form that includes the desired clinical site name or preceptor name to the clinical team. The clinical team will contact the clinical site and/or preceptor for further evaluation.

Didactic: Fall I Semester

 Didactic: Spring Semester

 Didactic: Summer Semester

 Didactic: Fall II Semester

 Clinical Year

For additional information regarding academic programs, academic policies, and program completion requirements, please refer to the Policies & Procedures page.