Combined B.S./M.S. P.A. Curriculum

The physician assistant department offers a 4-year combined B.S./M.S. degree. All students admitted to the department are expected to complete at least the last two years of the curriculum through full-time studies at D’Youville. Eligible students may enter directly into the 3^rd year of the program, pending previous coursework completed. Students who successfully complete all curriculum requirements will be awarded a B.S./M.S. in physician assistant studies, and will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), developed and administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

The physician assistant program has been approved and registered by the New York State Education Department, and is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).

Within the B.S./M.S. curriculum, the first two years (Phase I - Pre-professional phase) are devoted to the study of the arts, humanities and sciences, which satisfy general education core requirements of the university’s baccalaureate degree and other prerequisite requirements specified by the departmental curriculum. The third year begins the professional phase of study (Phase II). Here, students take coursework in advanced anatomy and physiology, as well as pathophysiology, and prepares students with a broad, comprehensive base in clinical medicine, pharmacology, physical diagnosis, clinical laboratory medicine, behavioral medicine, and preventive medicine. The professional phase also allows students to develop interpersonal, communication, and critical-thinking skills, which are essential to facilitate effective and empathetic relationships with patients, and effective collaboration with other health care professionals. The fourth year of the curriculum allows the student to apply and refine their critical thinking and clinical skills while working under the guidance and supervision of clinical preceptors. During the clinical phase, students will complete seven mandatory clinical rotations in the specialties of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Women's Health, Psychiatry, and Emergency Medicine. Students will also complete two elective clinical rotations in the specialty of their choosing. Students also complete a research project during this phase.

Addendum:

Those students who are currently enrolled in the professional phase of the program (classes of 2024 and 2025) and who are entering the professional phase of the program in Fall 2024 (class of 2026), will follow the curriculum listed under the “Physician Assistant M.S.” section of the catalog.

Those students entering the professional phase of the program in Summer 2025 (class of 2027), including any students who matriculate directly into the professional phase of the program as M.S. students, will follow the curriculum listed under the “Physician Assistant B.S./M.S.” section of the catalog.  

Curriculum Sequence

4-Year Combined BS/MS Degree Curriculum-First & Second Year (Pre-professional Phase)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CHE-101	General Chemistry I	3
CHE-101L	General Chemistry Laboratory	1
CHE-102	General Chemistry II	3
CHE-102L	General Chemistry Laboratory II	1
BIO-107	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	3
BIO-107L	Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory	1
BIO-108	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	3
BIO-108L	Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab	1
ENG-112	Humanities Seminar	3
or HIS-112	Humanities Seminar
MAT-201	Biostatistics	3
BIO-208	Microbiology	3
BIO-208L	Microbiology Lab	1
CHE-219 & 219L	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Lab	4
or CHE-209 & 209L	Principles of Organic Chemistry and Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab
HP-203	Medical Terminology	1
PSY-203	Lifespan Development 1	3
or PSY-101	General Psychology
PHI-214	Challenges of Death 1	3
or RS-214	Challenges of Death
PHI-312	Bioethics Seminar 1	3
or RS-312	Bioethics Seminar
Total Credits		40

¹

Fulfills departmental curriculum requirements and liberal arts and science requirements.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements		15
Free Elective Requirements		9
400-Level General Education Graduate Capstone		3
Total Credits		27

 Requirements subtotal: 75

Didactic Year Requirements - Third Year (Professional Phase)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIO-607	Pathophysiology	3
BIO-639	Human Gross Anatomy	6
BIO-639L	Human Gross Anatomy Lab	0
PA-506	Clinical Laboratory Medicine I	2
PA-507	Clinical Laboratory Medicine II	2
PA-508	Clinical Laboratory Medicine III	2
PA-510	Behavioral Medicine	2
PA-516	Clinical Medicine I	4
PA-517	Clinical Medicine II	4
PA-518	Physical Diagnosis I	3
PA-518L	Physical Diagnosis I Lab	2
PA-519	Physical Diagnosis II	3
PA-519L	Physical Diagnosis II Lab	2
PA-520	Pre-Pharmacology for PA	1
PA-521	Pharmacology I	3
PA-522	Pharmacology II	3
PA-523	Clinical Skills I	2
PA-524	Clinical Skills II	2
PA-525	Genetics for Physician Assistants	1
PA-526	Clinical Assessment and Planning I	1
PA-527	Clinical Assessment and Planning II	1
Total Credits		49

Clinical Year Requirements - Fourth Year (Professional Phase)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PA-500	Professional Issues	1
PA-504	Graduate Seminar I	1
PA-505	Graduate Seminar II	1
PA-513	Senior Seminar Clinical Enrichment A 1	3
or PA-514
PA-528	Clinical Assessment and Planning III	2
PA-529	Clinical Assessment and Planning IV	2
PA-603	Applied Research Methods	3
PA-604	Applied Project Seminar I	3
PA-605	Applied Project Seminar II	3
PA-606	Medical Epidemiology	3
PA-610	Summative Review	2
PA-611	Internal Medicine	3
PA-612	Family Medicine 2	3
PA-613	General Surgery	3
PA-614	General Pediatrics 2	3
PA-615	Obstetrics and Gynecology	3
PA-616	Psychiatry 2	3
PA-617	Emergency Medicine	3
PA-618	Elective Clinical Rotation I 2	3
PA-619	Elective Clinical Rotation II 2	3
Total Credits		51

¹

One credit course, taken every semester in clinical phase, for a total of 3 credits

²

Denotes Clinical Rotation

 Total of B.S./M.S. Degree: 175

Student Responsibilities

The physician assistant department is a demanding program in coursework, time commitment, and financial obligations. Students enrolled in the PA department must complete three summer sessions in addition to the eight regular full-time semesters, for a total of 175 credit hours. It is composed of two phases, which extend across four years:

• Phase I - Pre-professional phase
  • Years 1 & 2: Comprised of the prerequisites and core undergraduate curriculum.
• Phase II - Professional phase
  • Year 3: Didactic year: Includes core training in pathophysiology, clinical medicine, clinical laboratory sciences, physical diagnosis skills, and pharmacology.
  • Year 4: Clinical year: Includes didactic preparation, clinical rotations, and the research curriculum. 

All students are responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from clinical rotations, and extended daily travel distances may be required. It is required that each student have a valid driver’s license and his or her own vehicle. Due to the time commitment of the program, particularly in the professional phase, off-campus work is strongly discouraged while enrolled in the program. Students are encouraged to be a member of the D'Youville Student Physician Assistant Association. 

Academic Regulations

In addition to general university policies and regulations, which apply to all students, additional regulations of the physician assistant department include the following:

1. Physician assistant students must complete all required coursework and meet minimum academic standards.
2. Students must demonstrate the ability to meet all required technical standards.
3. Clinical rotations may require additional expenses for travel-related costs and room and board, which are the sole responsibility of the student. Extended daily travel distances may be required. Student housing is not provided.
4. It is required that each student have a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle. 
5. Due to the time commitment of the program, particularly in the professional phase of the curriculum, outside employment is strongly discouraged.
6. Each phase of the program is considered a prerequisite to the next phase and must be satisfactorily completed prior to advancement. In the professional phase, each semester is considered a prerequisite to the next and must be satisfactorily completed prior to advancement.
7. Students enrolled in the PA department are expected to demonstrate high standards of personal behavior and professional conduct in all academic and clinical environments.
   1. Dishonesty in any form, whether academic or professional, will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
   2. Professional misconduct may result in probation and/or dismissal from the program depending on the student's academic history and individual circumstances of the offense.
   3. Unprofessional behavior in the clinical setting will result in failure of the clinical rotation regardless of course mastery and may result in dismissal from the department.
8. PA students are not permitted to work for the program. Students may not substitute for or function as instructional faculty, regardless of prior training or qualifications.
9. Students must possess current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), child abuse recognition certification, HIPAA training, and New York State in-servicing on bloodborne pathogens prior to matriculation into the clinical phase of the program.
10. All students in the clinical and graduate phases will be required to have professional liability insurance as specified by the program.
11. Students must have current evidence of all required vaccinations/immunizations and annual history and physical examinations in compliance with CDC recommendations for health care professionals.
12. Students are required to pass the Clinical Rotation Readiness Assessment prior to registering for clinical rotations
13. Students who do not meet minimum criteria in any clinical rotation course, or who voluntarily withdraw from the clinical rotation, must receive formal approval from the departmental Student Progress Committee to repeat that course or to continue with subsequent rotations. 

Academic Standing 

Failure to meet minimum academic and professional standards may result in negative consequences, including assignment of remediation activities and/or additional assessments, placement on probationary status, deceleration to the next graduating class, repeating failed course(s) and/or coursework, and/or dismissal from the program. Despite meeting minimum academic standards, permission to progress into the clinical phase may be denied on the basis of demonstrated weakness or inability to meet the program's academic, technical, and/or professional standards. Students may be required to appear before the Student Progress Committee to discuss their academic status and identify contributing, mitigating, or extenuating circumstances that led to the academic performance issue.

Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, all PA students must meet the following minimum academic requirements:

Phase I - Pre-professional Phase:

1. Once students are matriculated and enrolled in the first two years of the curriculum, they must maintain a cumulative science grade point average (G.P.A.) of at least 3.00.
2. Once students are matriculated and enrolled in the first two years of the curriculum, they must maintain an overall semester and cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of at least 3.00.

3. A minimum grade of a B- for all science courses (C for all other coursework) specified as a Phase I prerequisite in the curriculum plan is required. However, students must be aware of the 3.0 minimum semester and cumulative G.P.A. requirements and 3.0 minimum cumulative science G.P.A.

Phase II - Professional Phase:

1. Minimum B- (80%) or better in all coursework.
2. Minimum 3.0 semester, science, and cumulative GPA.
3. Successful completion of all competency exams (technical assessments, OSCE exams, comprehensive exams, summative assessments, etc.).
4. All master's degree candidates must satisfactorily complete a research project with a corresponding presentation. This project must have prior approval of the department and the IRB and be overseen by a faculty advisor.

Remediation

Students who fail to meet minimum academic standards, or are otherwise unable to demonstrate proficiency in program assessments, competencies, or technical standards may be assigned additional educational enrichment activities. Successful completion of these activities is required for continued progression in the program. Students must pass any assigned remediation activities on the first attempt. Failure to successfully complete remediation may result in negative consequences, outlined above.

Academic Probation

Phase I (Pre-Professional Phase):

1. If the student fails to achieve a 3.00 (semester and cumulative) overall and science G.P.A. (cumulative), they will be placed on probation, will be required to retake courses at D'Youville in which they did not meet the minimum, and may also be decelerated. These are the minimum grade standards of all PA department curricular requirements.
2. If a student fails to achieve these standards in any department required course, they will be placed on probation.
3. Students who do not meet academic requirements for two science course requirements in the same semester will be reviewed by the Student Progress Committee. The student may then be placed on academic probation and decelerated into the next graduating class, or dismissed from the program. 
4. A student will be placed on academic probation when there is a failure to satisfy specific departmental academic standards or regulations.
5. Academic deficiencies that result in departmental academic probation must be corrected within the two full-time semesters that immediately follow the date of probation.
6. Probationary students on a decelerated or part-time schedule must continue to meet all conditions of the probation while on a part-time schedule.
7. Placement on probationary status is permanent for the remainder of the program.

Phase II (Professional Phase):

The following conditions may result in placement on probationary status regardless of prior academic standing:

1. Failure to maintain minimum grade and GPA standards outlined above.
2. Course failure.
3. Professionalism standard violations.
4. Academic misconduct.
5. The following additional criteria apply to the professional phase only:
   1. Failure of more than 3 exams in any single semester.
   2. Failure of more than 4 exams cumulatively over the course of the program.
   3. Failure of a clinical rotation.
   4. Failure of a clinical phase OSCE examination.
   5. Failure of a course final examination.
   6. Failure of an assigned remediation activity.

Placement on probationary status is permanent for the remainder of the program. 

Leave of Absence and Deceleration

Students may request a leave of absence for one or two consecutive semesters.  Any leave of absence for one or two consecutive semesters will result in deceleration in the PA program.  Students who need an additional one or two consecutive semesters of leave must receive approval from the departmental Student Progress Committee.

At the discretion of the Student Progress Committee, a student may be permitted to decelerate and repeat certain courses on a case-by-case basis. This determination may not be requested or initiated by the student. Any department-required course may be repeated only once, per university policy, and at the discretion of the departmental Student Progress Committee. Students who must repeat a professional phase course will be required demonstrate proficiency prior to progressing.

Dismissal

At the discretion of the departmental Student Progress Committee, the following events may result in immediate dismissal from the program on a first offense:

1. Failure to meet the conditions of probation.
2. Failure to meet academic standards while on probation.
3. A second failure of the same course.
4. Clinical rotation failures.
5. Academic dishonesty or misconduct in any form.
6. Violation of departmental professionalism standards.
7. Failure of two courses in the same semester.

Timeline for Program Completion

Students must complete the degree program within 2 years of starting the Clinical Phase of the curriculum.

Eligibility for Re-Entry

Students who are dismissed from the PA program for any reason will be ineligible for reapplication/re-entry.

Appeals

To appeal an adverse decision rendered by the Physician Assistant Department, students must follow the School of Health Professions appeal procedures. In addition to the procedures outlined in the School of Health Professions appeal procedures, the following policies also apply:

1. Students who plan to appeal a dismissal decision are expected to continue attending all courses and clinical rotations during all stages of the appeals process, unless expressly told otherwise by the department Chair, appeal officer, or other DYU academic official. Existing course policies on attendance, participation, assignments, and/or assessments (including but not limited to OSCEs, exams, and quizzes) will remain in full effect throughout the appeal process.
2. The PA department does not permit an informal resolution process at the Student Progress Committee level, or Department Chair level of review.

Admissions Criteria

For the 4-year B.S./M.S. track, traditional freshmen will be admitted directly into the freshman year, and transfer students may be admitted directly into the program at any point in Phase I of the curriculum. Class placement for transfer students will be dependent on successful completion of prerequisites and competitive availability of class seats. Qualified applicants are determined, via web-based application materials and a personal interview, on the basis of several criteria, including but not limited to: ability to master the rigorous academic content of the program, verbal and written communication skills, emotional maturity, and understanding of and motivation to enter the profession. 

Once accepted into the PA department, students are expected to complete all pre-professional requirements at D'Youville. If a transfer student has satisfactorily completed these specific courses with an earned grade of B- or better at another institution within 18 months prior to program matriculation, the course content will be reviewed independently by the PA Department Chair and Registrar to determine transferability. Courses accepted for University transfer credit are not necessarily guaranteed to be accepted for transfer credit toward the B.S./M.S. degree program. Documentation of direct patient interaction (DPI), either through volunteer activities or employment activities, is strongly encouraged. While there are no current minimum requirements, candidates who have completed higher numbers of DPI hours will be considered more competitive. 

Minimum Admission Academic Requirements

Incoming Freshmen

Admission to the Physician Assistant program is offered to a select group of students who meet the following criteria. Applications and all required documents must be submitted by November 1 for consideration.

• A minimum class average of 85 percent
• Three years of math, one year of Chemistry, and one year of Biology. Math and science subjects must have a minimum grade of at least 83 percent (B)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Admissions essay specifically addressing the topic of why the student wants to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant
• Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application
• Standardized SAT/ACT test scores are not required. They are utilized in a holistic review of the applicant if provided.

Transfer Students

Admission to the Physician Assistant program is offered to a select group of transfer students who meet the following criteria. Applications and all required documents must be submitted and verified by CASPA by October 1st. Please be aware that verification of applications can take up to 4 weeks.

• A minimum undergraduate overall and science GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Earned grade of B- or better in all science courses (which can only be transferred in for direct credit to the program if they are less than six years old at the time of acceptance into the department)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Admissions essay specifically addressing the topic of why the student wants to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant
• Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application

Application Process

Acceptance into the DYU PA Program is highly competitive. Following review of the application materials, a pool of applicants are selected for a formal interview. Not all applicants satisfying minimum admission requirements will be offered an interview. Interviews are scheduled between October and January of each year. All materials must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than October 1 for transfer applicants and November 1 for traditional freshman applicants. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the minimum requirements will not be reviewed. Candidates must also submit an essay and three references. All students are accepted on a space-available, first come first served basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply early in the application cycle. An offer of acceptance does not guarantee seat placement without submission of a tuition deposit. Cohort assignment is determined by the students' projected graduation year. 

The maximum size limit is 55 students per cohort as per accreditation rules and regulations.