UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 1
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
Degree Requirements
The Program
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
Degree Earned: Master of Health Science
Length of Program: 27 months
Matriculation Date: Annually in mid-May
Class Type: On site, no online classes
Curriculum: 121 Credit Hours
Class Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Advanced Placement, Deceleration, Dismissal
The program does not offer advanced placement or deceleration. Transfer credits, or credit for experiential learning cannot be
substituted for any course in the program, and no transfer credit is accepted from other PA programs. In addition, any grade
of D or lower will result in academic dismissal from the program, and withdrawal from any course will automatically result in
dismissal from the program.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations take place in Mobile, with other locations in Pensacola and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Elective rotations may be
considered in other locations. Rural rotations for Primary Care and Pediatrics are required. Other core rotations in rural Alabama
and our service area are also considered commutable.
Employment
Program policies strictly prohibit the program and all its academic and clinical affiliates and preceptors from employing any PA
students, or utilizing them in lieu of administrative office, or clinical staff, while attending the program. PA students are also
strongly discouraged from accepting any other employment while attending the program. Employment while in the program has
the potential to negatively impact the student's rigorous PA training curriculum.
Measures Of Success
Please visit our web site for information about the program's success at
www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/files/MeasuresOfSuccess.pdf
Mandatory Remediation
Mandatory remediation will be required of any student(s) who are in
danger of not meeting the educational goals of the program as stated in student handbooks. The criteria for remediation are set
in the "Goal" section below. The student's progress will be subsequently monitored to assure improvement in deficient areas
and future remediation will be arranged as needed.
The goal of the didactic remediation policy of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to remediate students who are not
performing at the optimal level which is defined as any student who has an average of <80% on two consecutive examinations
or a single score of <75%, student cited for lack of professionalism, student receives an end of term grade of less than 80% or
fails the Clinical Skills Practicum. The goal of the clinical remediation policy of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is
to remediate students who are not performing at the optimal level during the clinical year, which is defined in three areas:
1. Individual "Average," or less, score on mid-rotation evaluation
2. End-of-rotations exam scores less than 60%
3. A grade of "C" on a final clinical rotation grade.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 2
4. Lack of professionalism
Residency:
Instate Students who reside in Alabama and the service areas are automatically considered residents and pay in-state tuition.
The service areas consist of counties in (1) Mississippi: George, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Perry and Stone, and (2) Florida:
Escambia and Santa Rosa. Out-of-State: For details on establishing residency,
visit http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/registrar/residency.html.
Tuition And Expenses
In addition to USA tuition and fees, students can expect expenses associated with textbooks, food and lodging. Students will
also be required to purchase uniforms, laboratory coats, stethoscopes, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, sphygmomanometers and
blood pressure cuffs, soft reflex hammers, and tuning forks. Also, students should anticipate extra expenses, particularly related
to housing, transportation, and the patient logging system (Typhon) during the clinical year.
Estimated tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year are:
• In-State: $58,029
• Out-of-State: $107,397
For a detailed list of tuition and expenses related to the program, please visit our web site at
www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/tuition.html.
For a list of university tuition rates and fees, please visit
http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/financialaffairs/studentaccounting/tuition.html.
For payment and refund policies, visit
http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/financialaffairs/studentaccounting/feepaymentfall.html.
The University reserves the right to change tuition and fees, as deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees, without prior notice.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted AccreditationContinued status to the University of South Alabama Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of South
Alabama. 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 September 2021. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards
and ARC-PA policy.
Competencies For The Physician Assistant Profession
Graduates are expected to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, be able to provide excellent comprehensive patient
care and have the highest level of medical knowledge and communication skills as outlined at
www.nccpa.net/pac/competencies_home.aspx
Matriculation Requirements
1. Acknowledgement of acceptance within two weeks of notification, and submission of a signed Statement of Intent Form
and a nonrefundable $500 matriculation deposit which will be applied toward the first semester's tuition to guarantee a
seat in the class.
2. Completion of outstanding required prerequisite course work with a grade of "C" or higher prior to matriculation into
the program. Failure to make a grade of "C" or higher in any required prerequisite course will result in nullification of
acceptance into the PA program. Updated transcripts will be required.
3. Submission to criminal background checks and urine drug screens before matriculation and prior to beginning clinical
rotations. The fees are the student's responsibility. Failure to submit to and satisfactorily pass both screenings can result
in dismissal from the program.
4. Completion of immunizations and a physical exam upon acceptance and prior to entering clinical rotations. Forms will be
provided with the letter of acceptance.
5. Maintenance of the American Heart Association Health Care Providers BLS Certification throughout the program.
6. Maintenance of adequate health insurance throughout the program. Information regarding health insurance will be
provided upon acceptance, and the fees are the student's responsibility.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 3
7. Understanding of duties as stated in the Technical Standards for Physician Assistants. (See below.)
Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Pass Rates
Please visit our web site at
www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/accreditation.html
Program Completion Requirements
The program consists of preclinical and clinical components. The preclinical component is designed to provide a solid foundation
for the clinical component. During the clinical component the student refines the medical knowledge and clinical skills needed
for professional practice.
Successful completion of the program requires that the student be able to:
1. Complete 121 hours of graduate course work consisting of 70 credit hours of didactic course work and 51 credit hours of
clinical course work.
2. Obtain an accurate and detailed patient history.
3. Perform complete and focused physical examinations
4. Establish working and differential diagnosis
5. Order and interpret diagnostic evaluations to include: laboratory tests (blood, urine, spinal fluids, cultures); imaging
studies (plain film radiography, radiographic contrast studies, ultrasound studies, computerized tomography studies, MRI
studies & electrocardiogram.
6. Develop and manage a treatment plan.
7. Record patient data: (a) Written notes and charting, and (b)Electronic medical record.
8. Order and/or administer therapeutic medications (a) in hospitals and clinics and (b) via written or electronic prescription.
9. Perform therapeutic medical interventions and procedures.
10.Council and educate patients regarding medical, therapeutic, and behavioral problems.
11.Interact with patients and the medical community in a professional manner.
12.Make appropriate referrals.
Technical Standards
Students in the USA Physician Assistant program must be able to fulfill the program's Technical Standards, which include
General,
Observational, Communication, Motor, Critical Thinking, and
Interpersonal abilities as well as possessing certain Behavioral and
Social Attributes.
To evaluate whether you meet the criteria, please visit our web site at www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/technical.html
for details.
Admissions
The deadline for receipt of all materials is November 1.
Minimum Requirements
The following requirements are necessary to be considered for admission, and no requirement can be waived. As the selection
of students is very competitive, please note that accepted students typically exceed the minimum requirements.
1. Completion of a Baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution prior to the starting date of
the program is required. Applicants may have courses in progress through the spring semester prior to matriculation as
long as they are completed when the program begins in mid-May.
2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA (includes postbaccalaureate work).
3. Completion of prerequisite course work completed with a grade of "C" or higher from a regionally accredited
institution, with one semester of at least 3 credits for each course below. Applicants may have courses in progress
through the spring semester prior to matriculation as long as they are completed when the program begins in mid-May.
• General Biology plus lab
• General Chemistry I and II plus lab
• Human Anatomy and Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology I and II
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 4
• Microbiology
• Organic Chemistry
• Mathematics (College Algebra minimum)
• Statistics
• General Psychology
• Medical Terminology (2 credit)
4.
For guidelines on courses accepted, please visit www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/admissions.html.
5. Completion of the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past five (5) years. The department
accepts:
• A minimum of 145 in each in Verbal and Quantitative, and a 3.5 in Analytical Writing OR
• Old combined score of 1000 in the Verbal and Quantitative and a 3.5 in Analytical Writing.
About the GRE: visit www.ets.org for more information.
• The highest complete exam score is used in the ranking of applicants: We do not mix and match scores
from different attempts.
• The GRE should be taken at least 14 days prior to the application deadline to ensure that official test scores
are received by the deadline. Please contact the testing service for score reporting timelines.
• Official scores should be sent to Institution Code 1880.
6. Completion of at least 500 hours direct patient contact experience is required. Applicants should document these
hours and contact information on their CASPA application. Please see website (http://southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/)
for definition, details and examples.
7. Submission of three (3) reference letters, one of which must be from a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of
Osteopathy (DO) or Physician Assistant (PA) submitted to CASPA and included with your CASPA application.
Reference letters sent directly to our office will not be accepted.
8. Submission of completed and verified application materials by November 1. The program will not review applications that
are incomplete, received after the deadline, or do not meet the minimum standards.
Application Screening Criteria And Interviews
Please see our website for more detailed information: http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/
Applicants are selected for interviews based on a holistic evaluation. Many factors are taken into consideration:
•
•
•
•
•
GPA
GRE
Direct Patient Contact/Health Care/Shadowing Experience
Community Service
Academic Score – Academic Scores consist of cumulative undergraduate GPA, science undergraduate GPA. Last 64hour GPA (both undergraduate and master's level work), GRE scores and any extra application points.
Extra Application Points
Bonus Courses: Points will be added to the Academic Score for course work completed in Immunology, Genetics,
Biochemistry, Physics, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.
• Background and Experience: Points will be awarded for four areas of background and experience, as documented on
the CASPA application.
• Rural/Underserved: born in, graduated high school from, or resided in any rural county as referenced on ftp://
ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/Eligibility2005.pdf
• Additional Degree or Training: additional degree (Master's or Doctorate), or three or more current basic health
training certifications or registrations, e.g., CPR, EMT, CNA, MA.
• Military or Government Service: includes all branches of service, AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, U.S. Public Health
Service.
• Disadvantaged Background:
• Overcame significant adversities and struggles as detailed in the CASPA Personal Statement.
• Economically and/or environmentally disadvantaged, as defined by HRSA and detailed on the CASPA application.
• Please see website for more details, http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 5
Residency Preference
Preference is shown to Alabama residents, however, highly qualified Service Area and out-of-state applicants whose academics
and experiences indicate that they may be a success in both the program and the PA profession will be given the same
consideration as residents. Non-residents will be required to pay the non-resident tuition and fees as set by the University.
For information on residency please contact the Office of the Registrar at http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/registrar/
residency.html .
Interviews
Approximately 120 applicants will be selected to interview, 40 will be invited for the matriculate class.
The applicant will attend one of three interview sessions to be held in November, December and January. The applicant will
have three (3) one-on-one interviews. Each interview will last approximately sixty (60) minutes. Notification of applicant status
may be emailed at any time during the interview cycle until the class positions are filled. All applicants should know their status
by the end of January.
Currently the program reserves 10 seats for qualified Veteran applicants for the 2016 matriculate class.
How To Apply
All application materials must be received by the deadline. The program will not review applications that are incomplete, received
after the deadline, or do not meet the minimum standards.
The application cycle begins annually on May 1, and those who meet the minimum requirements can apply by completing the
following three-step process:
1. Apply through the Centralized Application Service of Physician Assistants (CASPA) at www.caspaonline.org. Official
transcripts and three references, one of which must be from a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or a Physician
Assistant, are considered part of the CASPA application must be sent directly to them. The CASPA application must
be e-submitted, completed and verified by November 1. Please allow up to 4 weeks for the CASPA applications to be
verified.
2. Mail the completed Supplemental Application, downloadable on our web site at www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/
pa/files/ApplicationGuide.pdf, along with a check or money order for $110.00. All fees are nonrefundable.
3. Submit the Graduate Record Examination Score directly and electronically to Institution Code 1880. For details,
visit www.ets.org.
International Students
If an international student, the applicant must also:
1. Have international degree evaluated by the USA Office of International Services to verify that it meets the USA
equivalency of a Baccalaureate degree.
2. Contact the Office of International Services at time of application to verify needed documents for admission to the
University of South Alabama. Proof of having required documentation must be presented to the Department of PA
Studies by the November 1 deadline to have your application considered for admittance into the program. Application
to USA through the Office of International Services is required in addition to completing the Department of Physician
Assistant Studies requirements to be admitted into the program.
3. Take all prerequisites in the U.S. to establish a USA GPA. Applicants may have only one (1) prerequisite course in
progress at time of application.
4. Have all international coursework and degrees evaluated by World Education Services for submission with CASPA
application.
5. TOEFL –International Students, whose native language is not English, must submit a score of 100 or above on the Test
of English as a Second Language (TOEFL-IBT) for admission.
Students who are U.S. Citizens with international coursework will follow the same procedures as international students
if applicable (steps 1, 3 and 4 only), the applicant should consult CASPA instructions for clarification on evaluations and
submission: CASPA Instructions and FAQs. Coursework as part of a regionally accredited institution study abroad program that
appears on the transcript as credit granted by that university will not require further evaluation.
It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the delivery of all materials to the program office and to CASPA and to
address any issues with them. For convenience, CASPA now offers a smartphone app for monitoring your application at
portal.caspaonline.org.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 6
Graduation Plan
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
Credit Hours
Preclinical Component
Summer
17
PA 510
4 hrs
PA 511
4 hrs
PA 512
6 hrs
PA 513
2 hrs
PA 514
1 hr
Fall
19
PA 520
9 hrs
PA 521
4 hrs
PA 522
4 hrs
PA 525
2 hrs
Spring
19
PA 530
9 hrs
PA 531
4 hrs
PA 532
4 hrs
PA 534
2 hrs
Summer
15
PA 540
9 hrs
PA 541
2 hrs
PA 542
2 hrs
PA 543
2 hrs
Clinical Component
Fall, Spring and Summer
51
PA 550 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 555 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 560 (8 wks)
8 hrs
PA 570 (8 wks)
8 hrs
PA 580 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 590 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 591 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 592 (4 wks)
4 hrs
PA 593 (4 wks)
8 hrs
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PA 595
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 7
3 hrs
At least 16 weeks of the clinical rotations must serve rural/urban under served populations. The USA PA program is a
participant with Alabama Statewide Area Health Education Center Program (AHEC) to assist with rural/MUA rotation placement.
Department Information
Physician Assistant Studies Administrative Staff
(251) 445-9334
Chair
Diane D. Abercrombie, PA.C, Ph.D.
Medical Director
Shannon Tyler, M.D.
Associate Professor
Abercrombie, Vetrosky
Assistant Professor
Hagmaier, Kestler, Risling-de Jong
Department of Physician Assistant Studies web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/
Physician Assistant Program Master Of Health Science Degree
What Is A Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistants (PAs) are highly skilled nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals who practice medicine
on healthcare teams with physicians and other members of the health professions. The quality and value of the services they
provide is well recognized in virtually all medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties to include: physicians practices
(private and group, institutional settings, correctional institutions, rural and urban community health centers, the uniformed
services and other federal government agencies, nursing homes, schools and other university-based facilities and retail clinics.
Physician Assistants take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and analyze diagnostic data(i.e. laboratory
and imaging studies), and perform major and minor therapeutic procedures. The Physician Assistant develops and implements a
patient-centered treatment plan, to include appropriate decisions regarding referral and interprofessional collaborative with other
members of the healthcare team. Physician Assistants prescribe medications in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all
U.S. territories, with the exception of Puerto Rico; to include scheduled pharmaceuticals per State law.
Culturally appropriate patient education and counseling are important aspects of a physician assistant's daily activities. Physician
Assistants advise patients concerning health promotion and disease prevention, with special emphasis on social determinants
of health, health screenings, health disparities and health risk behaviors.
To perform at this level of responsibility, the education of Physician Assistants is provided by physicians and highly skilled
physician assistants to assure patient-care functions provided by the Physician Assistant are equivalent in quality to those of
the physician who delegates them.
Mission, Vision, And Goals
Mission
The mission of the University of South Alabama Physician Assistant Program is to educate compassionate and competent
individuals from diverse backgrounds to become highly qualified physician assistants in accordance with the highest professional
standards to provide a broad spectrum of preventative and curative health care to patients in various communities and clinical
settings with physician supervision including underserved populations in Alabama both rural and urban. The emphasis of the
program is one of primary care, including a broad foundation in the medical and surgical specialties.
Vision
The Physician Assistant Studies program curriculum is closely related to the goals of the University of South Alabama as well as
to the degree. The program fosters an environment that promotes the acquisition and application of culturally sensitive, patientoriented clinical knowledge and skills to produce a diverse workforce of primary care physician assistants who practice medicine
with competence, professionalism, and compassion, driven by academic excellence and a spirit of service to the community.
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MS) 8
Goals
The goals of the program are to:
1. Emphasize primary care and a desire among physician assistants toward service in rural and medically underserved
communities;
2. Promote excellence in health care by preparing competent physician assistants to practice evidence-based medicine in
all clinical settings;
3. Ensure opportunities for placement of qualified military veterans through participation as a PAEA Member Program
offering assistance for veteran entry into physician assistant programs;
4. To recruit, select, and educate a highly qualified diverse student body, (i.e., underrepresented minorities), and provide fair
and equitable admission criteria;
5. Prepare physician assistant students to provide patient-centered health care services as part of an inter-professional,
collaborative team in a variety of clinical settings;
6. Charge physician assistant students to become graduates who reflect high standards of legal, ethical, and moral conduct;
7. Foster the growth and development of PA education by preparing physician assistant graduates who possess depth of
knowledge, clinical skills and abilities for excellence in practice;
8. Promote in our physician assistant students the importance of lifelong learning skills and ongoing professional
development to meet and/or exceed contemporary standards within their area(s) of clinical practice.
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