Program Details
The Weber State University (WSU) Physician Assistant Program is a two-year, full-time, intensive graduate-level program that trains individuals with clinical experience and a strong academic background to become physician assistants and leaders in the field of medicine.
The curriculum is integrated and experiential, providing an innovative structure that helps students move from learning, understanding and applying the science of medicine to analyzing and integrating medical information in the context of complex patients with multiple comorbidities. Students who complete 92 credit hours, as well as a Master’s Project and Summative Competency Assessments, are eligible for graduation.
Why the WSU PA Program?
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Our small cohort of 20 students fosters a sense of community and enhances opportunities for classroom participation and collaborative learning. A small faculty-to-student ratio creates a strong rapport and provides students with personalized attention.
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The program has a dual emphasis on primary care and inpatient hospital internal medicine. As part of their clinical training, students complete a 3-month primary care rotation and a 3-month inpatient hospital medicine rotation.
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The program is housed in a beautiful facility featuring an abundance of natural light and stunning views of the Wasatch mountains.
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Our building houses two dedicated classrooms, a lounge area to decompress, and a state-of-the art clinical skills space, available 24/7, where students hone their clinical skills and practice solving challenging medical cases.
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Our passionate and dedicated faculty and staff are committed to student success. With over 60 years of combined clinical experience, our faculty has the expertise to provide students within valuable insights and knowledge for a comprehensive medical education.
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A 24-month program equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge for a faster transition from education to employment, expediting entry into the workforce.
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From the first semester, students engage in weekly simulated medical training scenarios that facilitate the transition from learning and understanding the science of medicine to analyzing, interpreting, and applying medical information within the context of complex patients with multiple comorbidities and social issues. By working in small groups, students improve interpersonal and communication skills and learn to work as compassionate members of the healthcare team.
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End-of-semester comprehensive summative exams help students solidify knowledge and acquisition of program competencies, and enhance readiness for clinical training and the PANCE exam.
- Affordable tuition and fees
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The program employs cooperative learning and instructional methods to amplify student engagement and the overall quality of learning. Teaching strategies include:
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Inquiry-based learning
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Team-based learning
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Problem-based case studies
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PA Program Goals
Curriculum
Didactic courses are taught using a systems-based approach that helps students achieve clinical acumen by creating meaningful applications between biomedical science, clinical science, pharmacotherapy and professional practice.
The content integrates various teaching methods, including lectures, labs, problem-, team- and inquiry-based learning, simulation, interprofessional activities, evidence-based practice and community engagement.
After successfully completing didactic training, students begin Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) in their second year. This involves various clinical settings in multiple medical disciplines under the supervision of a clinical preceptor. In direct patient care environments, students expand and apply basic medical knowledge, practice clinical and technical skills, and participate in the team-based practice of medicine.
Only students admitted to the WSU PA Program can take courses within the department. The curriculum is sequential, meaning students must complete the program by passing each exam and course before progressing to subsequent classes and semesters.
Before you apply, understand what our program looks like over the 24-month duration:
Catalog: Full Program Curriculum
Year One
- Semester 1 (20 total credit hours)
- Semester 2 (15 total credit hours)
- Semester 3 (17 total credit hours)
Year Two
Entrustable Professional Activities
Entrustable Professional Activities are the observable and measurable professional activities a PA must be competent to perform upon entry into professional clinical practice. Upon completion of the program, WSU physician assistant students can be entrusted to:
EPA 1
Interview a patient/family to obtain a medical history.
EPA 2
Perform technically proficient physical and mental status exams.
EPA 3
Prioritize a differential diagnosis following the collection of medical history and exam data.
EPA 4
Recommend, order, and interpret diagnostic and screening tests.
Perform clinical and technical procedures when indicated during the course of patient care.
EPA 6
Identify patients requiring a higher level of care and initiate appropriate evaluation and management.
EPA 7
Develop and implement treatment plans that include clinical and/or pharmacologic interventions, referrals to members of the healthcare team and patient counseling/education.
EPA 8
Document and present a clinical encounter.
EPA 9
Collaborate as a member of an interprofessional team.
EPA 10
Contribute to a culture of safety and quality.
Upon Graduation
Upon graduation, students become eligible for board certification by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and can sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). Once certified, Physician Assistants can apply for a medical license in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.