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

The physician assistant department offers a 4 1/2 year combined B.S./M.S. degree. All students admitted to the department are expected to complete at least the last three years of the curriculum through full-time studies at D’Youville. 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, developed and administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

The physician assistant department 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) are devoted to the study of the arts, humanities and sciences, which satisfy general education core requirements of the college’s baccalaureate degree and other prerequisite requirements specified by the departmental curriculum. The third year begins the professional phase of study (Phase II), 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 ten mandatory clinical rotations and the choice of two elective clinical rotations. The students also complete a research project during this phase.

Curriculum Sequence

4 1/2 Year BS/MS Degree Curriculum-First & Second Year

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
BIO-107	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	3
BIO-107L	Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory	1
CHE-101	General Chemistry I	3
CHE-101L	General Chemistry Laboratory	1
PSY-203	Lifespan Development 1	3
BIO-108	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	3
BIO-108L	Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab	1
CHE-102	General Chemistry II	3
CHE-102L	General Chemistry Laboratory II	1
MAT-123	Introduction to Applied Statistics 1	4
CHE-219 & 219L	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Lab	4
or CHE-209 & 209L	Principles of Organic Chemistry and Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab
BIO-208	Microbiology	3
BIO-208L	Microbiology Lab	1
BIO-303	Biochemistry 2	3
BIO-639	Human Gross Anatomy 2	6
BIO-639L	Human Gross Anatomy Lab 2	0
HP-203	Medical Terminology	1
PHI-214	Challenges of Death 1	3
PHI-312	Bioethics Seminar 1	3
BIO-307	Pathophysiology 2	3
Total Credits		50

¹

Fulfills departmental curriculum requirements and liberal arts and science requirements.

²

Courses must be taken at D'Youville unless successfully completed within 18 months prior to matriculation.

Courses Challenges of Death (PHI-214) can be replaced by Challenges of Death (RS-214) and Bioethics Seminar (PHI-312) can be replaced by Bioethics Seminar (RS-312).

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements		30
Free Elective Requirements		9
Total Credits		39

 Requirements subtotal: 89

Didactic Year Requirements - Third Year

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PA-303	Clinical Medicine I	5
PA-305	Behavioral Medicine	2
PA-309	Clinical Laboratory Medicine I	2
PA-311	Clinical Skills	3
PA-312	Physical Diagnosis I	2
PA-312L	Physical Diag Lab	0
PA-335	Pharmacology I	3
PA-304	Clinical Medicine II	5
PA-310	Clinical Laboratory Medicine II	2
PA-313	Physical Diagnosis II	2
PA-313L	Physical Diagnosis Lab	0
PA-336	Pharmacology II	3
Total Credits		29

Clinical Year Requirements - Fourth Year

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PA-401B	Internal Medicine 1	3
PA-401C	Family Medicine 1	3
PA-402	General Surgery 1	3
PA-403	General Pediatrics 1	5
PA-404	Obstetrics and Gynecology 1	3
PA-405	Psychiatry 1	3
PA-406	Emergency Medicine 1	3
PA-407	Geriatrics 1	1
PA-408	Orthopaedics 1	3
PA-412	Senior Seminar Clinical Enrichment A	0
PA-413	Senior Seminar Clinical Enrichment B	0
Total Credits		27

¹

Denotes Clinical Rotation

Masters Level

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PA-500	Professional Issues	1
PA-501	Elective Clinical Rotation I 1	3
PA-502	Elective Clinical Rotation II 1	3
PA-503	Primary Medicine Core Practicum 1	6
PA-504	Graduate Seminar I	1
PA-505	Graduate Seminar II	1
PA-603	Applied Research Methods	3
PA-604	Applied Project Seminar I	3
PA-605	Applied Project Seminar II	3
Select two of the following:		6
PA-509	Neuroanatomy
PA-511	Medical Microbiology
PA-512	Alternative Medicine
PA-606	Medical Epidemiology
Total Credits		30

¹

Denotes Clinical Rotation

Total of B.S./M.S. Degree: 175

Course Requirements

Course Requirements for the Major

In the Specific Areas of Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PA-303	Clinical Medicine I	5
PA-304	Clinical Medicine II	5
PA-305	Behavioral Medicine	2
PA-309	Clinical Laboratory Medicine I	2
PA-310	Clinical Laboratory Medicine II	2
PA-311	Clinical Skills	3
PA-312	Physical Diagnosis I	2
PA-313	Physical Diagnosis II	2
PA-335	Pharmacology I	3
PA-336	Pharmacology II	3
PA-401B	Internal Medicine	3
PA-401C	Family Medicine	3
PA-402	General Surgery	3
PA-403	General Pediatrics	5
PA-404	Obstetrics and Gynecology	3
PA-405	Psychiatry	3
PA-406	Emergency Medicine	3
PA-407	Geriatrics	1
PA-408	Orthopaedics	3
PA-500	Professional Issues	1
PA-501	Elective Clinical Rotation I	3
PA-502	Elective Clinical Rotation II	3
PA-503	Primary Medicine Core Practicum	6
PA-504	Graduate Seminar I	1
PA-505	Graduate Seminar II	1
PA-603	Applied Research Methods	3
PA-604	Applied Project Seminar I	3
PA-605	Applied Project Seminar II	3
Select two of the following:		6
PA-509	Neuroanatomy
PA-511	Medical Microbiology
PA-512	Alternative Medicine
PA-606	Medical Epidemiology
Total Credits		86

In Other Academic Areas Required for this Major

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
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
BIO-208	Microbiology	3
BIO-208L	Microbiology Lab	1
BIO-303	Biochemistry 1	3
BIO-307	Pathophysiology 1	3
BIO-639	Human Gross Anatomy 1	6
BIO-639L	Human Gross Anatomy Lab 1	0
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
CHE-219	Organic Chemistry	3
CHE-219L	Organic Chemistry Lab	1
MAT-123	Introduction to Applied Statistics	4
PHI-214	Challenges of Death	3
PHI-312	Bioethics Seminar	3
PSY-203	Lifespan Development	3
HP-203	Medical Terminology	1
Total Credits		50

¹

Courses must be taken at D'Youville College. No transfer credit will be given for courses completed over 18 months prior to the beginning of professional phase courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Remaining Liberal Arts and Science Electives		39
Total Credits		39

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 four summer sessions in addition to the nine regular full-time semesters, for a total of 175 credit hours. Clinical rotations will require additional expenses for travel and room and board. All students are responsible for their own 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 not recommended.

Students are encouraged to be a member of the D'Youville Student Physician Assistant Association. PA students must not be required to work for the program. Students must not substitute for or function as instructional faculty.

Academic Regulations

The 4 1/2-year B.S./M.S. curriculum is composed of two phases, which extend across five years. Phase I, the pre-professional phase, includes the first two years of study, which is comprised of the prerequisites and core curriculum. Phase II is the third, fourth, and fifth year, which is the professional phase, and includes the didactic preparation for practice and clinical rotations, and the master's curriculum. Each phase of the program is considered a prerequisite to the next phase and must be satisfactorily completed prior to advancement. In addition to general college policies and regulations, which apply to all students, academic regulations of the physician assistant department are applicable to both full- and part-time students. They include the following:

Program Contents and Requirements 4 1/2-Year B.S./M.S.

1. The physician assistant curriculum is demanding in coursework, time, commitment and financial obligations. Students enrolled in the 4 1/2-year B.S./M.S. curriculum must complete four summer sessions in addition to the nine regular full-time semesters. Clinical rotations will require additional expenses for travel and room and board. Due to the time commitment to the program, particularly in the professional phase of the curriculum, off-campus work is not recommended.
2. As noted above, the physician assistant curriculum is composed of two distinct academic phases. Each phase of the program is considered a prerequisite to the next phase and must be satisfactorily completed prior to advancement.
3. Student Conduct: Students enrolled in the D’Youville physician assistant department are expected to demonstrate high standards of personal behavior and professional conduct in all academic and clinical environments. Dishonesty or misconduct, whether academic or professional, in any form will not be tolerated. University policy regarding academic dishonesty will be followed with the possible recommendation that the offender be dismissed from the physician assistant department. Professional misconduct will be reviewed by the progress committee and may result in probation and/or dismissal from the department. Unprofessional behavior in the clinical setting will result in failure of the rotation regardless of course mastery and may result in immediate dismissal from the department.

Other Specific Requirements Include the Following 

Phase I: Good Academic Standing

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 I: Academic Probation

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 automatically decelerated into the next graduating class, and at the very least, placed on probation.
4. A student will be placed on academic probation when there is a failure to satisfy specific departmental academic standards or regulations. The period of probation extends until completion of the two full-time semesters immediately following conferral of probation status and includes any coursework completed during summer term while on probation.
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 and will remain on probation until the completion of their next two full-time semesters.

Phase I: Dismissal

1. Failure to meet the conditions of probation will result in dismissal from the department.
2. To appeal a decision rendered by the School of Health Professions faculty/administration that has academic consequences, the student must follow the appeal procedures which are available at www.dyc.edu/appeals.
3. Dishonesty or misconduct, whether academic or professional in any form, will not be tolerated. College policy regarding academic dishonesty will be followed with the recommendation that the offender be dismissed from the physician assistant department.

Phase II: Good Academic Standing

1. A minimum grade of B- (80 percent) is required for all courses included during the didactic year of curriculum (Phase II) with the exceptions of Clinical Skills (PA-311) and Behavioral Medicine (PA-305) Medicine, in which the minimum passing grade is 73 percent.
2. Students are required to obtain permission of the department faculty prior to registration in clinical rotations included in Phase II of the program.
3. All 400-level clinical rotations must be completed with a minimum grade of C (73 percent). All 500-level clinical rotations must be completed with a minimum grade of B (83 percent). Formal or informal remediation may be required prior to returning to the clinical experiences. All clinical rotations must be completed within 21 months of completion of didactic academic coursework or repetition of academic courses may be required.
4. A student must possess current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), child abuse recognition certification, HIPAA and New York State in-servicing on bloodborne pathogens, prior to matriculation into the clinical phase of the program. All students in the clinical and graduate phase will be required to have professional liability insurance specified by the program. Students must also have evidence of vaccinations/ immunizations and annual history and physical examinations in compliance with CDC recommendations for health care professionals.
5. During the final year of study in the 4 1/2-year B.S./M.S. degree program, as a requirement of the primary care rotation, all senior level students must satisfactorily complete a community service project with a corresponding poster presentation. This project must have prior approval of the department and the IRB and be overseen by a faculty advisor.
6. A minimum passing grade for all masters-level courses will be a B (83 percent). Achieving and maintaining a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 is a requirement for completion of the program.
7. 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.

Phase II: Academic Probation

1. Students who fail to obtain the required grades in any Phase II course during the didactic year will not be permitted to progress in the professional curriculum without review by the progress committee, which may entail probation, deceleration and possible remediation. Students may be permitted to decelerate and repeat 300-level courses on a case-by case basis, depending on their past academic history and next available class seat. Any department-required course may be repeated only once. Students who must repeat a 300-level course will be required to repeat and demonstrate continued proficiency in any or all other 300-level courses prior to enrollment in 400-level courses.
2. 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 academic and/or professional standards.
3. Students who do not meet these minimum criteria in any 400- or 500-level clinical rotation course, or who voluntarily withdraw from the clinical rotation, must receive formal approval by the faculty to repeat that course or to continue with subsequent rotations. A student will not be allowed to repeat more than one 400- or 500-level clinical course required in the major.
4. If a students fails to obtain the minimum passing grade for any course in the clinical phase of the curriculum, the student will be placed on academic probation. Failure to meet the conditions of probation will result in dismissal from the department.
5. To appeal a decision rendered by the School of Health Professions faculty/administration that has academic consequences, the student must follow the appeal procedures which are available at www.dyc.edu/appeals.
6. Dishonesty or misconduct, whether academic or professional in any form, will not be tolerated. University policy regarding academic dishonesty will be followed with the recommendation that the offender be dismissed from the physician assistant department.

Phase II: Dismissal

1. Second failure of the same 300-level course will result in automatic dismissal from the physician assistant department. Any student who fails more than one 300-level course in the same semester will be automatically dismissed from the department.
2. Failure of a second 400- or 500-level course will result in dismissal from the department.
3. Failure to meet the academic standards or conditions of probation will result in dismissal from the department.
4. Failure to meet the conditions of probation will result in dismissal from the department.

Appeals

To appeal a decision rendered by the School of Health Professions faculty/administration that has academic consequences, you must follow the appeal procedures which are available at www.dyc.edu/appeals.

Admissions Criteria

For the 4 1/2-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 personal interview, on the basis of several criteria: 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 preprofessional requirements at D'Youville. The following preprofessional courses must be taken at D’Youville College: Biochemistry (BIO-303), Human Gross Anatomy (BIO-639), and Pathophysiology (BIO-307). 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
• Official documentation of at least 80 completed hours of direct patient interaction either through volunteer activities or employment activities must be submitted prior to the start of the didactic year of the program (year 3)
• 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
• Documentation of at least 80 completed hours of direct patient interaction either through volunteer activities or employment activities must be submitted prior to the didactic year of the program (year 3)
• Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application

Application Process

All students are accepted on a competitive, space-available basis, based upon the above criteria. Maximum accreditation size limit is 55 students per cohort.

Following review of the written application materials, a pool of applicants are selected for a formal interview. Not all applicants satisfying minimum admission requirements will be selected for an interview. Interviews are scheduled between October and January. All materials must be received by the office of admissions by October 1 for transfer applicants and November 1 for traditional freshman applicants. Placements are made on a competitive, space available basis. Should students qualify, acceleration may be possible into an earlier graduation class. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Candidates must also submit an essay and three references, as specified on the PA department website.