PA Curriculum

The Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) degree is granted after completion of the two-year program, which prepares students for a physician assistant (PA) career. The curriculum emphasizes a strong foundation in medicine, development of organizational and critical-thinking skills, and utilization of evidence-based medicine. Successful completion of all courses listed below is required to both receive the MSHS degree and to be eligible to take the NCCPA PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Year 1 Academic Phase

During the first year, students learn foundational medical sciences, clinical medicine, clinical skills (medical interviewing, physical exam and clinical procedures), population health and justice, PA professional practice and evidence-based medicine. The curriculum is taught by expert professors in the classroom via lecture, basic science and clinical laboratories, small group seminar sessions and blended learning (hybrid online and in-person sessions). Students are evaluated on their development of clinical acumen and competence using multiple-choice exams, practical lab sessions/simulation (Anatomy and Clinical Skills and Assessment courses), oral case presentations, written assignments, and standardized patient clinical encounters (OSCE exams).

Semester 1 

Semester 2

Semester 3 

*The program offers advanced standing for the PA 6110, Evidence-Based Practice for PA Students course to select students who graduated from a CEPH-accredited Master in Public Health degree program prior to PA school, if the student received a minimum grade of B in biostatistics and epidemiology courses. Students must request advanced standing in writing to the Program Director per instructions listed in the Student Handbook. If granted, the student will complete the 1-credit PA 6111 Evidence-Based Practice for PA/MPH course as a substitute for the 3-credits PA 6110 course. 

Year 2 Clinical Phase

In the second year, students apply their knowledge and practice their new skills in the clinical environment in the 8 clinical rotations (7-mandatory Clinical Practicums and 1-elective Clinical Practicum). The Introduction to Clinical Education prepares students to transition from classroom learning to bedside learning. Students rotate through a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient (hospital), outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and operating rooms. Students work as part of a supervised medical team, comprised of physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners, that care for the patients. Students are expected to elicit medical histories, complete physical exams, suggest diagnostic tests, and treatment plans to the medical team. Students practice presenting the patients to the team and documenting the patient encounter in the medical record. The Introduction to Professional Practice course provides instruction about Licensure, certification, credentialing, and the scope of practice laws. In addition to rotating through the specialties listed below, all students will care for patients of all ages, ranging from newborns to geriatric patients. Evaluation of student competence consists of preceptor evaluations, end-of-rotation exams, presentations, and clinical course-specific assignments.

Students are required to have available transportation to clinical sites. If the clinical site is outside a 65-mile radius of the GW campus, housing is also provided. The program permits "Self ID" rotations in which students may suggest possible rotation sites outside the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Please note that several of our sites serve Spanish-speaking patients; if your application indicates proficiency in Spanish, you are likely to be placed at one of these sites.

Sites are vetted by the clinical faculty through a rigorous approval process before a student is permitted to rotate through a "Self ID" site. Consistent with the ARC-PA accreditation Standards, students are not required to provide or solicit clinical preceptors or sites. The specific order of clinical courses varies by student, but all students must successfully complete all rotations in order to be eligible for graduation and the PA national certification exam. 

International Students 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Requirements for Clinical Phase Participation  

To complete the clinical phase of the PA program, students on F-1 visas must complete the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application Process with the International Services Office (ISO) a month before the start of the relevant semester. CPT authorizes F-1 students to participate in off-campus training experiences—such as employment, internships, externships, practicums, or co-ops—that are directly related to their field of study and completed before graduation. The Program will provide students with an academic support letter and a placement offer letter to include with their application. If you need more information on this process, please email the ISO at iso [at] gwu [dot] edu (iso[at]gwu[dot]edu) or make an appointment with your dedicated ISO advisor.

Semesters 4 - 6 

Complete Course Descriptions