Physician Assistant Studies Curriculum

Curriculum

The TTUHSC PA Program is a 27-month program consisting of 125 semester equivalent credit hours of academic and clinical education. Students will spend 15 months completing didactic coursework at the Midland campus. Students will then enter the clinical phase, completing 8 supervised clinical practice experiences in various medical disciplines. Students will learn applied medical; behavioral and social sciences; patient assessment; clinical medicine; health systems and policy; evidence-based medicine; and professional practice issues consistent with the program mission and goals. The program is competency-based. Each student must be able to demonstrate competency in the following domains:

Medical Knowledge
Clinical & Technical Skills
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Professionalism
Community Consciousness & Societal Health
Clinical Reasoning & Problem Solving

Please refer to the detailed description of the competencies. 

Upon completion of the program, students are awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Degree and eligible for the National Commission for Certification of the Physician Assistant (NCCPA) PANCE examination.

The PA student must be prepared for long hours of study and clinical training; therefore, holding a job while in the program is discouraged. Students should be prepared for travel by personal vehicle. During the clinical year, clinical rotation sites may be away from the Midland-Odessa or home regional campus area. Students must plan for the arrangements and expenses of rotations away from their home.

Accommodations and Disabilities

It is the policy of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professions to conduct educational programs in a place and manner accessible to individuals with disabilities and to make reasonable modifications and accommodations necessary to achieve this purpose. Persons with disabilities in need of special assistance should notify the course instructor or contact the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Office of Student Affairs at (806) 743-2300 for information and assistance.