Masters in Physician Assistant Studies

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Didactic Courses

Fall Semester I | 5 Courses | 15 Credits

PAS 501 - Anatomy (3)
PAS 502 - Patient Evaluation and Clinical Reasoning I (3)
PAS 504 - Physiology/Pathophysiology (3)
PAS 506 - Clinical Medicine I (4)
PAS 514 - Behavior Medicine I (2)

Winter Semester | 2 Courses | 4 Credits

PAS 515 - Evidence Based Medicine/Research Methods (2)
PAS 500 - Medical Law, Ethics, PA History (2)

Spring Semester | 5 Courses | 15 Credits

PAS 512 - Clinical Medicine II (6)
PAS 507 - Patient Evaluation and Clinical Reasoning II (2)
PAS 509 - Pharmacology I (3)
PAS 510 - Clinical Lab Medicine/Diagnostic Skills (2)
PAS 519 - Behavior Medicine II (2)

Summer Semester | 5 Courses | 10 Credits

PAS 503 - Public Health (2)
PAS 513 - Clinical Skills - Procedures/Emergency Room (2)
PAS 517 - Clinical Specialty - Surgery/ICU (2)
PAS 530 - Clinical Specialty - Geriatrics (2)
PAS 531 - Clinical Specialty - Pediatrics (2)

Fall Semester II | 5 Courses | 15 Credits

PAS 511 - Pharmacology II (3)
PAS 516 - Clinical Medicine III (6)
PAS 532 - Patient Evaluation and Clinical Reasoning III (2)
PAS 533 - Transition to Clinical Year (1)
PAS 528 - Clinical Specialty - Reproductive-Male, Female/Genetics (3)

Clinical Year Courses

Spring Semester | 3 Courses | 18 Credits

PAS 522 - Family Medicine Rotation (6)
PAS 520 - Internal Medicine Rotation (6)
PAS 521 - Surgery Rotation (6)

Summer Semester | 3 Courses | 13 Credits

PAS 527 - Capstone I (1)
PAS 524 - Emergency Medicine Rotation (6)
PAS 523 - Women's Health Rotation (6)

Fall Semester | 6 Courses | 21 Credits

PAS 526 - Pediatric Rotation (6)
PAS 525 - Behavioral Health Rotation (6)
PAS 536 - Elective Rotation (6)
PAS 529 - Capstone II (1)
PAS 534 - Professional Seminar and Summative Evaluation (1)
PAS 535 - Transition to PA Practice (1)

NDMU PA Studies Credits

Total Didactic Year Credits = 59
Total Clinical Year Credits = 52
Total NDMU PA Program Credits = 111

Successful Completion of all required curricular and administrative components of the NDMU PA Studies Program will lead to the granting of a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree.

Medical Knowledge & Clinical/Technical Skills

Demonstrate knowledge of medical sciences and recognize the difference between normal and abnormal health states across the lifespan, including prenatal, infant, children, adolescents, adults, and elderly.

• Apply a fund of medical knowledge to the medical and surgical care of patients.
• Implement interventions for the prevention of disease, health promotion, and health maintenance
• Competently perform medical and surgical procedures expected of a practicing primary care Physician Assistant and educate patient regarding procedure, complications, and follow-up care.
• Distinguish among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states.
• Develop a problem-focused and comprehensive history and physical examination.
• Develop treatment plans to include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.

Interpersonal Skills & Communication

• Provide effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication to patients, families, and health care team members in a clear and concise manner.
• Communicate effectively with patients and families by utilizing patient-centered interpersonal skills that demonstrate mutual respect for each patient.
• Develop respectful, working relationships that support effective interactions with all members of the health care team.

Professionalism

Demonstrate sincerity, honesty, and compassion while embracing a diverse patient population.

• Incorporate ethical principles pertaining to confidentiality, patient autonomy, informed consent, and legal compliance.
• Critique ongoing practice experience through self-reflection with a commitment to excellence, continued learning, and professional development.

Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

Appropriately collaborate with other health discipline professionals to optimize the quality of patient care.

• Engage the professional expertise of appropriate healthcare providers while coordinating patient care.
• Effectively present patient information to collaborating physicians and other health care providers.

Clinical Reasoning & Problem-Solving Skills

• Compile information acquired during patient encounters (history and physical exam findings) to formulate a differential diagnosis for acute and chronic disease.
• Select, order, and interpret appropriate lab and diagnostic studies to aid in decision-making.
• Formulate a diagnosis integrating clinical encounter (history and physical examination), results of diagnostic tests, social, and cultural aspects.
• Engage in critical thinking, demonstrating problem-solving in clinical practice.

Patient-Centered Care

• Incorporate patient safety strategies to reduce medical errors.
• Present healthcare information in an organized and logical manner to guide patients in making informed decisions.
• Support the unique needs of each patient, incorporating their individual preferences and cultural sensitivity in healthcare decisions.

Society & Population Health

• Integrate knowledge of population and community health needs and disparities into clinical practice.
• Describe how components of a complex health care system can impact patient care.

References

AAPA, PAEA, ARC-PA, NCCPA. Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession; 2005, rev. 2012. https://www.aapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PA-Competencies-updated.pdf. Accessed April 2022.

Facione, P. A. (2015). Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts. (Research Report). Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press. 

Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC). Core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice; 2016 update. https://ipec.memberclicks.net/assets/2016-Update.pdf. Accessed April 2022.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Competencies for the physician assistant profession. Revised 2021.

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). Core competencies for new physician assistant graduates. 2018. https://paeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/core_competencies-new-pa-graduates-092018.pdf. Accessed April 2022.

PA Program Tuition*

Cost Per Credit: $730.59
Total Credits: 111
Total Program Tuition = $81,095

PA Program Student Fees*

The following program fees support clinical and technical skills:

• Standardized Patient Activities - $252
• Professional Organization Memberships - $125
• Mandatory Training Modules/In-Services - $440
• Clinical Year LMS Fees (CORE/MyRT) - $286
• Instructional Technology Resources - $1,024
• Clinical Experience Fees - $400
• PA Technology Support Fees - $150
• Transition Course (Didactic to Clinical) - $99
• PA Technical Skills Lab Fee - $150
• Summative Assessment Fee - $80

Total Program Fees = $3,000

The estimated total program cost for Physician Assistant Studies including tuition and fees is $84,095*

*Total values are estimates based on current tuition and fee rates which are subject to change annually. See https://www.ndm.edu/business-office/tuition-fees for the current tuition and fee rates.

Additional Student Expenses – Equipment & Other Materials

Room & Board Expenses

PA students who wish to live on campus should plan for additional expenses for room and board. Please note, access to campus housing is on a first-come, first served basis, with preference given to undergraduate students.

Estimated Annual Room & Board Costs

NDMU Room & Board (Double Occupancy): $8200
Meal Plan: $6500
Total Room & Board: 14,700

Total NDMU PA Studies Program Costs Including Room and Board = $105,370* (as of May 1, 2025

Refund Information

Please Note:  Fees paid by applicants to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) are not included in NDMU’s refund policy.

The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant Studies Program will follow all Notre Dame of Maryland University policies and procedures regarding refunds.

Physical Capacities

The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant student must possess the following physical capacities, with or without accommodations:

General Abilities

Adequate functioning of the senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste, and/or touch.  Each candidate’s and student’s senses must be keen enough to allow for gathering, integrating and analyzing data obtained during physical examinations, and in a consistent and reproducible manner.

Additionally, candidates and students must possess the ability to feel temperature differences, pain, pressure, vibration and movement.  The ability to gather and analyze such information must be accurate when compared to accepted physical examination standards, and physical findings confirmed by experienced clinicians.

Finally, sufficient emotional health and stability is required for exercising good judgment and promptly completing all academic and patient care responsibilities.

Perform Motor Tasks

Students must possess sufficient fine and gross motor control to effectively conduct inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation activities, all of which are required to complete a physical examination.

Additionally, all students must possess stable equilibrium, postural control, good motor function, and sound motor coordination, as is necessary for satisfactory performance in patient care and classroom or laboratory settings, including handling surgical instruments and providing routine and emergent medical procedures.

Students must also possess sufficient mental and physical stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, lifting, and physical exertion required for satisfactory performance in patient care, clinical education,  and classroom or laboratory settings..  

Cognitive Capacities

The Physician Assistant student must possess the following cognitive capacities:

Communicate

Communicate coherently and effectively with persons of any cultural and social background using appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills with faculty, peers, other members of the health care team, and patients/clients/caregivers.

Read, write, and interpret written and nonverbal communication in a timely manner at a competency level that allows one to safely function in the academic or clinical setting.

Answer calls, make calls, and communicate needs on a telephone.

Maintain Safety

Maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, patients, and colleagues. Recognize and respond appropriately and in a timely manner to a medical emergency. 

Observation

Students must be able to accurately observe, through vision, hearing, tactile sensation, and/or smell, a patient’s physical and emotional condition, as a means to differentiate between states of good health, acute illness or injury, and chronic illness.

Cognitively Process

Receive, remember, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information from multiple sources, in a timely fashion.

Attend to multiple tasks throughout the day of scheduled classes and clinical education experiences.

Organize and prioritize information to make safe, appropriate, and timely decisions regarding patients for the purpose of further examination, intervention, or referral.

Problem solve, recognize deviations from a norm, formulate evaluations, and derive clinical judgments from information collected, in a timely fashion.

Observe and accurately interpret patient responses and adjust examination and/or intervention as indicated by the patient response. 

Demonstrate Professional & Social Behavior

Students must demonstrate the emotional health and stability that is required to persevere in spite of longs hours of classroom instruction, challenging laboratory settings, unsettling patient care experiences, differences of opinion with peers and instructors, and personal sacrifice.  They must demonstrate the flexibility and personal resolve that is necessary to endure long hours of physical and intellectual stress, without demonstration of adverse behavior, while working with multiple patients/families and colleagues at the same time.

Students must be able to engage with lab partners, patients, families, and others under stressful conditions, including but not limited to medically or emotionally unstable individuals, situations requiring rapid adaptations, the provision of CPR, or other emergency interventions.

Organization and prioritization of multiple tasks, integrating information, and making intuitive decisions will be required. PA students are expected to adherence to the “Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession (PDF)”, established by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Applicants & Students with Disabilities

Notre Dame of Maryland University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and equal access to its programs and services for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Refer to the NDMU Office of Accessibility & Health Promotion for more information.

HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION DOCUMENTATION & STUDENT RECORDS

ARC-PA STANDARD A3.07(a,b) The program must define, publish, make readily available and consistently apply:

a) a policy on immunization and health screening of students. Such policy must be based on then current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for health professionals and state specific mandates.

And

b) written travel health policies based on then current CDC recommendations for international travel for programs offering elective international curricular components. (Please Note: As the NDMU PA Studies Program does not offer or support any curricular components that involve international travel, the program does not have a travel health policy.) 

        a.) Student Health and Immunization Policy

The Notre Dame of Maryland Physician Assistant Studies Program is committed to the safety, health, and welfare of our faculty, staff, PA students, and the community we serve. Students, faculty, and staff in the health sciences discipline are vulnerable to communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and polio. Those faculty and students also have the potential of being infected with hepatitis, HIV, or other viruses. These diseases are susceptible to control by appropriate immunizations.  Therefore, based on the Centers for Disease Control Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers most recent guidelines; the NDMU PA program has developed the following policy to ensure everyone’s health, safety, and welfare.

Required Immunizations:

Immunization requirements are based on the most current standards set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for healthcare workers.

DEFINITIONS:

Immunization – A process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation.

•             Influenza-Dose of influenza vaccination all matriculated students MUST present evidence of the following on an annual basis between October 1-October 16 during their tenure with the program.

•             Hepatitis B If you don’t have documented evidence of a complete hep B vaccine series, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to hepatitis B (i.e., no longer evidence of immunity or prior vaccination) then you should

•             Get a 3-dose series of Recombivax HB or Energix-B (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2) or a 2-dose series of Heplisav-B, with the doses separated by at least 4 weeks.

•             Get an anti-HBs serologic test 1-2 months after the final dose.

•             MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) If you were born in 1957 or later and have not had the MMR vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to measles or mumps (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination), get 2 doses of MMR (1 dose now and the 2nd dose at least 28 days later). If you were born in 1957 or later and have not had the MMR vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to rubella, only one dose of MMR is recommended. However, you may end up receiving 2 doses, because the rubella component is in the combination vaccine with measles and mumps.

•             Varicella (Chicken Pox) If you have not had chickenpox (varicella), if you haven’t had varicella vaccine, or if you don’t have a blood test that shows you are immune to varicella (i.e., no serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination) get 2 doses of varicella vaccine, 4 weeks apart.

•             Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis) Get a one-time dose of Tdap as soon as possible if you have not received Tdap previously (regardless of when the previous dose of Td was received). Get either a Td or Tdap booster shot every 10 years thereafter.

Pregnant students need to get Tdap during pregnancy.

•             Meningococcal Vaccination Recommended for those who are routinely exposed to isolates of N. meningitidis per CDC recommendations. Not required by the program but may be required at some clinical sites.

•             Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Documented evidence from a medical practitioner of negative two-step PPD testing and, if needed, negative Chest X-ray results if PPD positive, or evidence of contraindication.* Following the initial two-step PPD, one-step PPD is required annually.

•             COVID-19 Vaccination Documented evidence of two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), or a single shot of the Johnson and Johnson is required. 

•             Tuberculin skin testing and influenza (flu) vaccination is required annually for matriculated students

•             Vaccines are mandatory (with exceptions only for medical reasons) before matriculation with documentation provided.

*Contraindications to the above will be considered on a case-by-case basis, only with documentation from a medical provider, and must be discussed prior to matriculation. Personal/religious reasons for declining immunizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be discussed prior to matriculation.  It is important to understand that participating in some clinical experiences may be prohibited from some institutions/practices without the completion of immunization requirements.  

Health Requirements:

Required Drug Screen and background check:

                All students who have been offered conditional acceptance must successfully pass a chain of custody drug screen and national background check within one month of matriculating into the program.

                All matriculated students must complete and successfully pass the second chain of custody drug screen upon completion of the didactic phase prior to entering the clinical phase of the program.

                Some clinical sites may require the completion of additional background checks, fingerprinting, and drug screens to participate in the clinical rotation.

                Background checks and drug screens must be completed via the program-identified vender.

Students are responsible for all expenses related to background checks, fingerprinting, and drug screens.              

Required Physical Examination:

                 A comprehensive physical examination by a licensed medical provider (DO, MD, PA, or NP) must be completed indicating that the conditionally accepted applicant is appropriately screened for TB, current on all immunization requirements, and has been medically cleared for admission.

Students are financially responsible for the cost of all health care services they may require while enrolled in the program, including any health care services required as a result of their participation in scheduled program activities (TB testing, treatment of injuries, pathogen exposure evaluation and treatment).

Facilities and hospitals often require additional immunizations and titers which students must obtain prior to starting rotations at those sites. Information regarding these additional requirements will be given to students prior to starting rotations and they will be financially responsible.

Failure to comply with the Immunization Policy for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies or any additional immunizations and titers for SCPE’s will result in the inability to enter, continue with, or complete the program.

The program will maintain the immunization records of all matriculated students through a HIPAA-compliant secure cloud-based management system. The Director of Clinical Medicine will review the records upon admission into the program and annually. The Director of Clinical Medicine will also continually review the Centers for Disease Control Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers guidelines and recommendations for updates.

*Policy subject to change at any time in order to comply with ARC-PA standards, NDMU, and Hospital policies.  The NDMU Department of PA Studies will make every attempt to notify its students of these changes in a timely manner

b.) (As the NDMU PAS Program does not offer or support any curricular components that involve international travel, the program does not possess a travel health policy.)

References

1 CDC. Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 2011; 60(RR-7).

2 CDC. Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR, 2018; 67(RR1):1–30.

3 IAC. Pre-exposure Management for Healthcare Personnel with a Documented Hepatitis B Vaccine Series Who Have Not Had Post-vaccination Serologic Testing. Accessed at www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2108.pdf.

GOAL I : Educate and mentor Physician Assistant students to value and demonstrate inclusive behaviors in the delivery of healthcare.

GOAL II: Prepare PA graduates who possess the medical knowledge and skills necessary for entry into clinical practice.

GOAL III: Promote a culture of social responsibility within each cohort by serving local communities.

GOAL IV: Retain and graduate at least 94% of all matriculated students in each cohort.

GOAL V: Each NDMU PA Studies cohort will achieve a first-time taker PANCE Passage rate equal to or greater than the first-time taker PANCE National first-time taker passage rate for the same cohort year.

GOAL VI: The NDMU PA Program strives to create a welcoming culture with the goal of advancing the retention of faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds; the NDMU PAS team will initiate a mentorship program for new faculty and staff members, thereby demonstrating value for each new PAS team member.

ARC-PA Student Attrition TEMPLATE 

Comments: The program has not yet graduated its first class/cohort of students

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort (decelerated+ withdrawals+ dismissals) divided by the (entering class size+ number joining class cohort).

**Graduation rate calculation: Number of cohort graduates divided by the (entering class size+ number joining class cohort). 

NDMU PA GOALS (Results)

The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant program will post its NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 Years annually starting Spring 2028