Didactic Phase Curriculum Components & Credit Hours

Fall I

PAP601 – Foundations in Medicine I (3 credit hours)
PAP611 – Clinical Medicine I (8 credit hours)
PAP621 – Clinical Skills I (2 credit hours)
PAP622 – Clinical Skills I Lab ( (1 credit hour)
PAP631 – PAs in Health Care (1 credit hour)
PAP641 – PA Clinical Reasoning Workshop I (1 credit hour)
PAP651 – Evidence Based Medicine (1 credit hour)
SPAN661 – Medical Spanish I (2 credit hours) 
SPAN662 – Medical Spanish I Workshop (1 credit hour)

Spring 1 

PAP602 – Foundations in Medicine II (3 credit hours) 
PAP612 – Clinical Medicine II (8 credit hours) 
PAP623 – Clinical Skills II (2 credit hours) 
PAP624 – Clinical Skills II Lab (1 credit hour)   
PAP632 – Ethics & Professionalism for PA (1 credit hour)
PAP642 – PA Clinical Reasoning Workshop II (1 credit hour)
PAP652 – Health, Justice, & Society I (1 credit hour)
SPAN663 – Medical Spanish II (2 credit hours)   
SPAN664 – Medical Spanish II Workshop (1 credit hour)

Fall 2 

PAP603 – Foundations in Medicine III (3 credit hours). 
PAP613 – Clinical Medicine III (8 credit hours)
PAP625 – Clinical Skills III (2 credit hours)   
PAP626 – Clinical Skills III Lab (1 credit hour)   
PAP633 – Health Systems (1 credit hour) 
PAP643 – PA Clinical Reasoning Workshop III (1 credit hour)
PAP653 – Health, Justice, & Society II (1 credit hour) 
SPAN665 – Medical Spanish III (2 credit hours)  
SPAN667 – Medical Spanish III Workshop (1 credit hour)
 

Clinical Phase Curriculum Components & Credit Hours

The clinical phase of the University of Arizona Physician Assistant program offers immersive, hands-on training through a variety of core rotations designed to provide students with comprehensive exposure to the health care field. Under the guidance of experienced preceptors, students apply their knowledge while gaining proficiency in diagnosing and managing patient care across the lifespan and in diverse clinical settings.

Each rotation is four weeks in length with the exception of the two-week behavioral health rotation. This critical phase of the curriculum fosters the development of clinical skills, professional competency and confidence, ensuring graduates are well prepared to excel in their roles as compassionate and capable health care providers.

Required core rotations:

• PAP687-Behavioral Medicine – 3 Credit Hours
• PAP681-Emergency Medicine – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP682-Family Medicine – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP683-Internal Medicine – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP685-Pediatrics – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP686-Surgery – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP688-Women’s Health – 6 Credit Hours

Students will also explore personal clinical interests through ‘selective’ rotation experiences.  Selective rotations are elective specialties that have been preapproved by the PA program to support our mission.

• PAP689-Selective Rotation – 6 Credit Hours
• PAP692-PA Directed Research (Capstone) – 2 Credit Hours
• PAP690-Transition to Practice – 1 Credit Hour
• PAP699-Independent Study – 1 Credit Hour

Securing clinical sites or preceptors is not a requirement of the U of A PA program.  The program abides by the Standard A3.03 of the ARC-PA, which states prospective and enrolled students must not be required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.