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The ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ PA program for matriculation in August 2025. 

Physician assistants/physician associates are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.

Alvernia offers two pathways to obtain a Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies: a Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track and a traditional post-baccalaureate track. ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥'s traditional post-baccalaureate program is designed for students who have obtained a baccalaureate degree. The ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Physician Associate Program will welcome its first class in August of 2024! Please refer to our updated accreditation status from the ARC-PA.

Getting Started

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Technical Standards for Admission

The technical standards for the ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Physician Associate Program have been established to ensure that candidates have the ability to demonstrate academic mastery, competence when performing clinical skills, and the ability to communicate clinical information. Those standards can be read here.

Application Instructions

• Complete .
• Complete your financial aid paperwork.
• For Bio-PA (3+2), submit your transcripts.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥â€™s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

• See the admission requirements for the post-baccalaureate track.
• See the admission requirements for the Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track. 

Post-Baccalaureate Curriculum

The post-baccalaureate physician associate program is 24 months in length and spans 6 semesters, including two summer semesters. The first 3 semesters will consist of didactic phase instruction, and the last 3 semesters will consist of clinical phase instruction. The curriculum is based on the most recent ARC-PA standards and NCCPA PANCE blueprint and aligns with the University and Program’s mission and goals.

The curriculum will include basic and clinical sciences, including an intensive anatomy course utilizing Anatomage tables. The second 12 months will consist of the clinical phase, during which students will participate in supervised clinical practice experiences which will allow them to meet program defined learning outcomes for the following:

• Family Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Reproductive Health
• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Elective

Supervised clinical practice experiences will occur in both the inpatient and outpatient settings as well as the emergency department and operating room.
 

Didactic Phase: Fall Semester (19 credits)

• PA 505: Fundamentals of Disease States: 5 credits
• PA 510: Professional Practice I: 2 credits
• PA 515: Professional Practice II: 1 credit
• PA 520: Fundamentals of Dermatology: 4 credits
• PA 525: Fundamentals of Hematology: 3 credits
• PA 530: Fundamentals of Neurology: 4 credits

Didactic Phase: Spring Semester (23 credits)

• PA 535: Fundamentals of Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Neck and Throat: 4 credits
• PA 540: Fundamentals of Pulmonology: 5 credits
• PA 545: Fundamentals of the Cardiovascular System: 5 credits
• PA 550: Fundamentals of Gastroenterology and Nutrition: 4 credits
• PA 555: Fundamentals of Endocrinology: 3 credits
• PA 560: Professional Practice III: 2 credits

Didactic Phase: Summer Semester (19 credits)

• PA 565: Fundamentals of Nephrology: 3 credits
• PA 570: Fundamentals of the Genitourinary System: 3 credits
• PA 575: Fundamentals of Reproductive Health: 4 credits
• PA 580: Fundamentals of Behavioral & Mental Health: 4 credits
• PA 585: Fundamentals of the Musculoskeletal System: 3 credits
• PA 595: Professional Practice IV: 2 credits

Clinical Phase: Fall Semester (14 credits)

• PA 605: Behavioral & Mental Health Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 610: Emergency Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 615: Family Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 620: Professional Practice V: 1 credit
• PA 625: Ethics and Moral Leadership I: 1 credit

Clinical Phase: Spring Semester (14 credits)

• PA 630: Pediatric Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 635: Reproductive Health Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 640: Surgery Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 645: Professional Practice VI: 1 credit
• PA 650: Ethics and Moral Leadership II: 1 credit

Clinical Phase: Summer Semester (11 credits)

• PA 655: Internal Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 660: Elective Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 665: Professional Practice VII: 2 credits
• PA 670: Ethics and Moral Leadership III: 1 credit

 

TOTAL CREDITS: 100

Bio-PA (3+2) Curriculum

Summer MOD 6 prior to Freshman Fall

• MAT 131 (if needed): 3 credits

    
Semester 1: 15 credits, 6 SEARCH credits

• Core (COM 101 Recommended): 3 credits
• SHR 101: 3 credits
• BIO 103: Principles of Biology I w/ Lab: 4 credits
• CHE 104: General Chemistry I: 3 credits
• CHE 110: General Chemistry Lab I: 1 credit
• CHE 107: Laboratory Safety: 1 credit

Semester 2: 18 credits, 6 SEARCH credits    

• PHI 105/THE 105: 3 credits
• PSY 101 (core): 3 credits
• BIO 104: Principles of Biology II w/ Lab: 4 credits
• CHE 105: General Chemistry II: 3 credits
• CHE 111: General Chemistry Lab II: 1 credit
• MAT 230 Calculus I: 4 credits

Semester 3: 18 credits, 6 SEARCH credits    

• PHI 105/THE 105: 3 credits
• CORE: 3 credits
• CHE 201: Organic Chemistry I: 3 credits
• CHE 210: Organic Chemistry Lab I: 1 credit
• MAT 209: Probability and Statistics: 3 credits
• MAT 220: Math/Statistics Computer Lab: 1 credit
• BIO 107 Human Anatomy & Physiology I: 3 credits
• BIO 117 Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab: 1 credit
   

Semester 4: 18 credits, 6 SEARCH credits    

• CORE: 3 credits
• CORE: 3 credits
• CHE 202: Organic Chemistry II: 3 credits
• CHE 211: Organic Chemistry Lab II: 1 credit
• BIO 221: General Microbiology w/ lab: 4 credits
• BIO 108 Human Anatomy & Physiology II: 3 credits
• BIO 118 Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab: 1 credit
   

Semester 5: 18 credits, 6 SEARCH credits

• CORE (Diversity): 3 credits
• CORE: 3 credits
• BIO 303: Genetics w/ Lab: 4 credits
• BIO 320: Ecology: 4 credits
• PHY 200: Physics I w/ Lab: 4 credits
   

Semester 6: 17 credits, 9 SEARCH credits

• CORE: 3 credits
• CORE: 3 credits
• CORE: 3 credits
• BIO 304: Cell Biology: 3 credits
• BIO 311: Cell Biology Lab: 1 credit
• PHY 201: Physics II w/ Lab: 4 credits

PA Curriculum

Didactic Phase: Fall Semester (19 credits)

• PA 505: Fundamentals of Disease States: 5 credits
• PA 510: Professional Practice I: 2 credits
• PA 515: Professional Practice II: 1 credit
• PA 520: Fundamentals of Dermatology: 4 credits
• PA 525: Fundamentals of Hematology: 3 credits
• PA 530: Fundamentals of Neurology: 4 credits

Didactic Phase: Spring Semester (23 credits)

• PA 535: Fundamentals of Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Neck and Throat: 4 credits
• PA 540: Fundamentals of Pulmonology: 5 credits
• PA 545: Fundamentals of the Cardiovascular System: 5 credits
• PA 550: Fundamentals of Gastroenterology and Nutrition: 4 credits
• PA 555: Fundamentals of Endocrinology: 3 credits
• PA 560: Professional Practice III: 2 credits

Didactic Phase: Summer Semester (19 credits)

• PA 565: Fundamentals of Nephrology: 3 credits
• PA 570: Fundamentals of the Genitourinary System: 3 credits
• PA 575: Fundamentals of Reproductive Health: 4 credits
• PA 580: Fundamentals of Behavioral & Mental Health: 4 credits
• PA 585: Fundamentals of the Musculoskeletal System: 3 credits
• PA 595: Professional Practice IV: 2 credits

Clinical Phase: Fall Semester (14 credits)

• PA 605: Behavioral & Mental Health Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 610: Emergency Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 615: Family Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 620: Professional Practice V: 1 credit
• PA 625: Ethics and Moral Leadership I: 1 credit

Clinical Phase: Spring Semester (14 credits)

• PA 630: Pediatric Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 635: Reproductive Health Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 640: Surgery Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 645: Professional Practice VI: 1 credit
• PA 650: Ethics and Moral Leadership II: 1 credit

Clinical Phase: Summer Semester (11 credits)

• PA 655: Internal Medicine Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 660: Elective Rotation: 4 credits
• PA 665: Professional Practice VII: 2 credits
• PA 670: Ethics and Moral Leadership III: 1 credit

 

TOTAL PA CREDITS: 100

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Utilization of the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, including Anatomage virtual dissection tables
• Standardized patients for assessment
• Participation in community service
• Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Career Outlook

The PA profession is one of the fastest growing in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job growth rate for 2021-2031 is 28%, which is much higher than the average growth rate of 5% for all professions. The median annual wage for physician associates was $121,530 in 2021. Obtaining a Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies will allow graduates to:
 

• Take medical histories
• Conduct physical exams
• Diagnose and treat illness
• Order and interpret tests
• Develop treatment plans
• Prescribe medication
• Counsel on preventive care
• Perform procedures
• Assist in surgery
• Make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
• Do clinical research