Program Details, Handbooks and Manuals
Handbooks and Manuals
The information below is for prospective students. It will apply to all matriculated students (didactic phase and clinical phase) starting with the Fall 2024 semester. Current students should continue to utilize the current handbook until then."
Please visit links below to access our past handbooks and manuals:
Program Details
Curriculum & Coursework Requirements
During your first three semesters (Fall I, Spring I, Summer I), your didactic education will focus on clinical medicine for every system of the body. During the last three semesters (Fall II, Spring II, and Summer II) your supervised clinical practice experiences will put what you learn into practice. Saint Joseph’s graduate program offers 45 weeks of nine clinical rotations. These five-week rotations encompass:
- Family medicine (2 consecutive rotations)
- Internal medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Pediatrics
- Women’s health
- Behavioral medicine
- Surgery
- Elective
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
PHA 501 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
PHA 502 | Human Physiology | 3 |
PHA 503 | History/Physical I | 3 |
PHA 504 | Pharmacology I | 3 |
PHA 505 | PA History | 1 |
PHA 506 | Genetics for PAs | 1 |
PHA 507 | Psychosocial Medicine | 2 |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
PHA 521 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
PHA 522 | Hist/Phys II & Clinical Skills | 3 |
PHA 523 | Clinical Medicine I | 4 |
PHA 524 | Pharmacology II | 3 |
PHA 525 | Diagnostics I | 2 |
PHA 526 | Intro Rsrch/Evidence-Based Med | 2 |
Hours | 17 | |
Summer | ||
PHA 541 | Clinical Medicine II | 4 |
PHA 542 | Diagnostics II | 2 |
PHA 543 | Research Methods, Design & Imp | 3 |
PHA 544 | Pediatrics | 2 |
PHA 545 | Emergency Medicine | 2 |
PHA 546 | Surgery | 2 |
PHA 547 | Women's Health | 2 |
Hours | 17 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
PHA 601 | Professional Practice Issues I | 1 |
PHA 651 | Family Medicine Rotation I | 5 |
PHA 652 | Family Medicine Rotation II | 5 |
PHA 653 | Internal Med ClinicalRotation | 5 |
PHA 655 | Women's Health Rotation | 5 |
Hours | 21 | |
Spring | ||
PHA 602 | Issues in Geriatrics I | 1 |
PHA 603 | Prof Practice Issues II | 1 |
PHA 654 | Pediatrics Clinical Rotation | 5 |
PHA 656 | Behav/Mental Health Rotation | 5 |
PHA 657 | Surgery Rotation | 5 |
Hours | 17 | |
Summer | ||
PHA 604 | Capstone | 2 |
PHA 605 | Issues in Geriatrics II | 1 |
PHA 606 | Prof Practice Issues III | 1 |
PHA 658 | Emergency Medicine Rotation | 5 |
PHA 660 | Elective Rotation | 5 |
Hours | 14 | |
Total Hours | 103 |
Academic Standards
Reflecting the level of professionalism and expertise needed to practice as a physician assistant, Program students are held to the high academic standards needed to satisfy the Program Competencies.
At all times while enrolled in the Program, students must meet the following academic standards (“Academic Standards”):
- 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester;
- Passing each and every course, meaning:
- Obtaining a grade of 70.00%; and
- Completing any other criteria required for passing, as outlined in each individual course syllabus.
Failure to meet the above Academic Standards will result in the following:
- At the end of any semester, a student who does not achieve a cumulative 3.00 GPA or does not pass a course will be put on Academic Probation.
- A student who fails to achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA and fails a course in the same semester will be dismissed from the Program.
- A student who fails more than one course in the same semester will be dismissed from the Program.
- A student already on Academic Probation who does not achieve a cumulative 3.00 or does not pass a course will be dismissed from the program.
In addition, as further described below, to complete and graduate from the Program, students must:
- Complete the Curricular Requirements in succession;
- Meet the Progression Requirements for each of the Didactic and Clinical Phases of the Program; and
- Complete all Graduation Requirements
Curricular Requirements
The Program uses a cohort-based curriculum. Students who enter the Program at the same time progress through the academic curriculum together – taking the same classes at the same time – and finish their degree together. Students are expected to take a total of 103 credits and must register for all courses listed above. Classes must be taken in the appropriate semester for their cohort. Failure to do so may impact progression in the Program (see Deceleration Policy for more information).
Grading Policy
All assessments and course grades are recorded to the hundredths decimal point (2 decimal points) Example: 69.77656 will be recorded as a 69.78 and a 3.456 GPA will be recorded as a 3.46. There is no rounding of grades involving whole numbers (ones, tens, and hundreds digits). Therefore, students will need to achieve a whole number grade which equals or surpasses the benchmark listed. For example, a 69.987, recorded as a 69.99 is a final grade of an “F”.
The Course Director will make all final decisions regarding student grades. Failure to comply with all aspects of the course goals, learning objectives, and other attributes described in the course syllabus may adversely affect the student’s grade.
- A = 90 and above
- B+ = 87-89.99
- B = 80-86.99
- C+ = 77-79.99
- C = 70-76.99
- F = 0-69.99
- I = Incomplete