Program Mission
Guided by the tradition of compassionate health care exemplified by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, the Physician Assistant Program will develop graduates who will provide evidence based, patient centered medical care in diverse settings, and who are committed to serving all God’s people.
Program Level Student Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
(PA Student Learning Outcomes and Competencies)
Upon completion of the program, the PA graduate will:
- Demonstrate a foundation of medical knowledge by applying biomedical, clinical and social sciences to patient care. (MK)
- Exhibit interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patient's families, and other healthcare professionals (IPC)
- Provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of health. (PC)
- Manifest professionalism as evidenced by commitment to carrying out professional and clinical responsibilities, ethical practice, sensitivity to diverse patient populations, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. (P)
- Demonstrate the ability to provide high quality team-based patient care that is safe, effective, and efficient (systems-based practice). (SBP)
- Develop self-directed practice-based learning techniques which include the review of medical literature, scientific evidence, and other medical and professional resources. (PBL)
- Demonstrate servant leadership by emulating Franciscan values in clinical practice and service to individuals and communities. (SLFV)
- Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited, U.S. college or university or equivalent prior to the time of matriculation (with exception of applicants from the University's 3+2 Accelerated Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies program)
- Meet the following GPA minimums:
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.0
- FranU Pre-Requisites: 3.0
- Cumulative undergraduate science: 3.0
- Complete all pre-requisite course within 7 years of application:
- Anatomy and Anatomy Lab for science or pre-health professions majors (2000 level or above)
- Physiology for science or pre-health professions majors (2000 level or above; a combined anatomy and physiology I and II with labs are acceptable alternatives) General Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry I (no lab required)
- Organic Chemistry II (2000 level or higher, no lab required) or Biochemistry (3000 level or higher, no lab required)
- General Psychology or related psychology course (3 credit hours) Statistics
- Genetics
- Medical Terminology (certificate or other courses acceptable)
- Please note:
- Applicants must make a minimum of C or higher in all pre-requisite coursework; B or higher in all pre-requisite coursework is preferred.
- "Survey courses generally do not meet admissions criteria and must be reviewed by the PA admissions committee for approval.
- Repeated coursework negatively impacts the applicant.
- No graduate, medical school, or other transfer credit will be awarded as advanced placement/PA program credit.
- While the program will not waive any pre-requisite requirements, in some circumstances, the PA admissions committee may allow substitutions for equivalent or more rigorous previous graduate, medical school course work or professional experience(s) as satisfying pre-requisite requirements ONLY. This may apply to pre- requisite courses taken beyond 7 years ago as well. Applicants requesting such substitutions should email pa@franu.edu to request a copy of the pre-requisite substitution form. The form must be completed by the applicant and submitted to the admissions committee for consideration. Applicants should include detailed descriptions of coursework, professional experiences, a copy of the undergraduate transcript, and any additional materials as requested by the committee. The committee will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis and all decisions made will be final.
- Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- Achieve a minimum of a combined 290 on the verbal reasoning and quantitative sections
- Achieve a minimum of 3.5 on the analytic writing section
- GRE scores must be submitted directly to CASPA (FranU CASPA GRE code: (7348) Note: The GRE can be taken at home.
- Submit three letters of recommendation:
- Letters should be from individuals who know the applicant well; former professors, employers, healthcare/professional colleagues are good choses.
- Recommenders should consider, and attest to the applicants academic success, work ethic, maturity, professionalism, interest int he healthcare field, etc.
- Letters must be submitted directly from the recommender through the CASPA portal (not mailed or emailed to program faculty or University administration).
- While it may be tempting to ask "high-profile" community members to provide a letter of recommendation, these are not generally helpful unless the above criteria are met. No extra consideration is provided for such letters.
- Submit a personal statement summarizing why the individual desires to be a Physician Assistant, and what they personally can contribute to the profession.
- Complete a third-party situational judgement assessment (Casper).
The Casper assessment helps the program evaluate behavioral attributes necessary to succeed as a PA student. Applicants are responsible for scheduling their Casper assessment from available test dates (vary by application cycle) and are responsible for the testing fee. Applicants must complete the Casper assessment each year they apply by the due date published in the program's CASPA portal. Failure to complete the Casper assessment prior to the published deadline will result in ineligibility for an interview.
- Attend a personal interview; After initial application review, top applicants will be further screened via personal interview.
- Meet and maintain all technical standards in order to be enrolled in, and progress through the PA program; Technical standards are posted on the web page.
Additional Admissions Considerations
The PA program strives to transform enrolled students into competent entry level PAs as well as mission-centered servant leaders. As such, other factors such as diversity, maturity, professionalism, compassion and service to community are also important criteria for acceptance. Therefore, in addition to excellence in academics, the admissions committee considers other individual factors when considering each applicant:
- Applicants from the University's 3+2 Accelerated Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies; 3+2 students must meet all minimum admissions requirements as outlined above
- Hands on patient care experience (a minimum of 80 hours to be considered competitive)
- Licensed healthcare worker
- Shadowing one or more PAs
- Military service
- Work/professional experience
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University graduate
- Applicants from medically underserved areas
- Mission work/community Service
- Graduates from Catholic universities
Year 1 - Spring
Year 1 - Summer
| PHAS 5731 | Pharmacotherapeutics I | 4 |
| PHAS 5750 | Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery I | 5 |
| PHAS 5751 | Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery II | 5 |
| PHAS 5755 | Clinical Laboratory Medicine | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Year 1 - Fall
| PHAS 5732 | Pharmacotherapeutics II | 3 |
| PHAS 5752 | Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery III | 5 |
| PHAS 5728 | Clinical Medical Skills | 2 |
| PHAS 5728L | Clinical Medical Skills Lab | 3 |
| IPGC 6320 | Research Methods in the Health Sciences | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 2 - Spring
| PHAS 5753 | Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery IV | 5 |
| PHAS 5754 | Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery V | 3 |
| PHAS 5726 | PA History and Professional Issues | 2 |
| PHAS 5762 | Psychosocial Dynamics in Healthcare | 3 |
| IPGC 6125 | Bioethics | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Year 2 - Summer
Year 2 - Fall
Year 3 - Spring
Total credit hours for the Master of Medical Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies = 108
Table of Educational Blocks for Foundation Course I-V
Sequence of topics within foundation courses may vary by semester
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Topics |
PHAS 5750
|
Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery I
|
Genetics |
| Gastroenterology |
| Endocrinology |
PHAS 5751
|
Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery II
|
Urology |
| Nephrology |
| Infectious Disease |
| Orthopedics |
PHAS 5752
|
Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery III
|
Hematology/Oncology |
| Rheumatology |
| Cardiology |
| Pulmonology |
PHAS 5753
|
Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery IV
|
Ophthalmology |
| Otolaryngology |
| Neurology/Neuroscience |
| Emergency Medicine |
| Dermatology |
PHAS 5754
|
Foundations of Clinical Medicine and Surgery IV
|
OB/GYN |
| Pediatrics |
| Comprehensive Medicine |
The following are the clinical rotation courses as listed in the curriculum plan:
The sequence of clinical rotations may vary by semester
Total credit hours for the Master of Medical Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies = 108
- Successful completion of all coursework and clinical rotations
- Satisfactory grade on the summative examinations
- Successful completion of the master’s project
- Minimum overall average GPA of 3.0 in the Program courses
- Progress and Promotion Committee approval
- Resolution of all indebtedness to the University, including the return of all materials borrowed from the University library
- Submission of an Intent to Graduate Form to the office of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline
Licensure
Requirements for professional licensure and certification can vary by state and can change without notice. All students should consult the state licensing body in the state in which they reside or seek to be licensed to ensure that the degree they earn will meet requirements for licensure in that state.
https://franu.edu/offices-services/distance-education/licensure-disclosures
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2023. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.