Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Application Cycle

Physician Assistant Studies Program Application Cycle

• November - January - Admissions Committee reviews applications.
• January - March - Applicant Interviews are conducted.
• January 15- FGCU program deadline for the receipt of VERIFIED CASPA applications. All program prerequisites must be completed and submitted.
• March - Offers of Admission are made.
• April - August - Offers of Admission are made from the waitlist.

Admission to the MPAS program is highly competitive. All applicants must complete the FGCU PA program application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Advanced Placement

The MPAS program does not offer advanced placement for students with prior graduate or doctoral-level work. All incoming students will take all the courses outlined in the program curriculum.

Experiential Learning - Prior Work Experience

The MPAS program does not give credit for prior student experience working in the field.

Transfer Credit

The MPAS program does not accept transfer credit from other institutions.

POST-ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Non-Refundable Seat Deposit

Candidates who accept a seat are required to pay a seat deposit. This deposit must be made within 2 weeks of the offer.The deposit is non-refundable but will be applied toward the cost of tuition for the first semester of the program. Candidates who pay the seat deposit and then rescind their acceptance will not receive a refund.

Student Immunizations

All admitted students must initiate or demonstrate completion of the following immunizations and provide documentation before matriculation into the program:

• MPAS Health Requirements and Immunizations. Vaccines and schedules listed in Student Health Policy
• Up-to-date State University System immunization requirements, Student Health Services immunizations.
• All students are required to have personal health insurance at the time of matriculation and maintain their health insurance throughout their training.

For immunizations, the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers. All students must provide documentation that immunizations and Tb testing have been completed before matriculation, maintain immunizations, and complete annual Tb testing throughout their training.

Most immunizations are available from the Florida Gulf Coast University Student Health Services. For further information, view the Student Health Services immunizations.

Health Insurance

Students enrolled in the MPAS Program are required to have continuous Health Insurance coverage while enrolled in the MPAS Program. Proof of health insurance coverage must be submitted to the Program. Many of our clinical sites require that students carry health insurance and our contract with many clinical sites notes that students placed in that facility must have Health Insurance Coverage.

The cost of emergency and medical care or health insurance is always the responsibility of the student (or the student’s insurance provider). Failure to provide proof of health insurance coverage will result in students not being allowed to begin their clinical internships. Get updated FGCU student health insurance plan information: Florida Gulf Coast University | Home (myahpcare.com)

Curriculum outline

Year 1 Didactic

Fall (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 16

Spring (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 16

Summer A & B (12 weeks)

Total credit hours: 9

Fall (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 12

Total Didactic Year credit hours: 53

Year 2 Clinical Rotations        

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE)/ Clinical Rotations 

The following clinical rotations will be scheduled as permitted during the spring, summer C semester, and fall semesters (year 3).

The following course will take place in the 7th semester. 

PAS 6935 Seminar            1 credit 

Total Clinical year credit hours:                    37                   

TOTAL PROGRAM CREDIT HOURS:                90

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

MPAS Student Competencies

The MPAS program has adopted and integrated the graduate competencies for entry-level practice into its curriculum representing the knowledge, interpersonal, clinical and technical skills, professionalism, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.

Medical Knowledge
Physician assistant students must demonstrate core knowledge about establishing and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic sciences and clinical medicine and the ability to apply this knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
2. Differentiate between normal and abnormal signs, symptoms, and diagnostic studies results.
3. Identify the appropriate interventions for treatment and prevention of medical and mental health conditions as seen in emergent, acute and chronic presentations and various clinical practice settings.
4. Demonstrate the ability to make informed, evidence-based, culturally sensitive decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment.
5. Identify and promote health prevention of diseases and healthy lifestyles through patient education and counseling.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Physician assistant students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the healthcare system. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with patients, their families, and other health care providers.
2. Demonstrate interpersonal skills promoting ethically sound and therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.

Patient Care
Patient care includes patient-specific and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician assistant students must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Obtain and document a complete and detailed accurate patient history.
2. Perform a thorough physical examination, basic diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic clinical procedures on patients across the lifespan.
3. Demonstrate the need and ability to effectively order and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies resulting in the management of common medical and behavioral conditions.
4. Identify and propose initial therapy for acute life-threatening situations and management plans for chronic disease.
5. Demonstrate safe and effective medical and surgical procedures common to primary care and appropriate to a PA entering the profession.

Professionalism
Physician assistant students must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. Physician assistants must be reflective practitioners who place their patients’ needs above their own. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Interact effectively as part of interprofessional teams to address the health care needs of patients.
2. Describe the role of the PA including professional, ethical, legal, and regulatory standards regarding the PA profession.
3. Demonstrate sensitivity to a diverse patient population by identifying the cultural, familial, gender, psychological, economic, environmental, and spiritual factors impacting health care and health care delivery; and responding to these factors by planning and advocating the appropriate course of action at both the individual and the community level.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Physician assistant students must engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purpose of self-improvement and enhancement of the practice.  Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the medical literature in order to use current practice guidelines and apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care.
2. Demonstrate self-reflection to recognize and appropriately address personal biases, gaps in medical knowledge and limitations in themselves and others and its potential impact on patient care

Systems-Based Practice
Physician assistant students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care and to provide patient care that balances the quality and cost, while maintaining the concern of the individual patient. Physician assistants should work to improve the healthcare system of which their practices are a part.  Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Provide advocacy and support to assist patients in obtaining quality care and in dealing with the complexities of health care delivery systems.
2. Identify and abide by the systems-level processes that support continuous quality improvement and patient safety, and use standard precautions in the health care setting.
3. Provide appropriate patient-centered counseling techniques to improve the utilization of health care resources, prevention, and patient satisfaction.

Marieb College of Health & Human Services Learning Outcomes 

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning which is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. Upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant Studies program, graduates will be able to:

1. Use clinical reasoning skills to determine appropriate assessments for a given patient, order and interpret diagnostic testing, and establish a differential diagnosis consistent with best medical practices.
2. Integrate content knowledge and clinical reasoning to determine appropriate treatment plans consistent with best medical practices.
3. Collaborate and interact with healthcare providers in a professional and ethical manner.
4. Using principles of research and inquiry, investigate common medical conditions, offer plausible solutions, and discuss findings.
5. Accurately document and record patient information for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees, and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available at Financing Graduate Studies.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Program Specific Information

Tuition, Fees, and Medical Equipment Requirements

Cost of Attendance
Estimated costs for attending the PA Program are the total of the tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, commuting expenses, and personal expenses such as food, clothing, and insurance. “Cost of Attendance” only covers the months that a student is enrolled in classes. 

Estimated Cost of Attending Program

Direct costs - Tuition and Fees

Graduate tuition and fees*

Refunds

Students shall be entitled to refunds in the following circumstances:

1. 100% of tuition and course-related fees will be refunded if notice of complete withdrawal or course withdrawal from the University occurs before the end of drop/add period.
2. 25% of tuition and course-related fees will be refunded if notice of withdrawal from ALL courses from the University occurs before the deadlines as designated by the University or in the Academic Calendar for each term.
3. Students who receive financial aid and subsequently change their enrollment status and this action results in a refund may have all or a portion of their refund returned to the University's Financial Aid Office in accordance with the terms of their financial aid agreement.
4. 100% of tuition and course-related fees if a student withdraws or drops a course due to circumstances that are exceptional and beyond the control of the student.

The University Policy on Tuition and Fees:

https://www.fgcu.edu/generalcounsel/regulations/approved/regulation7.001.pdf

Technical Standards for Program Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation

Applicants for and students enrolled in Physician Assistant programs must have abilities and skills in the areas of observation, communication, motor, intellectual/critical thinking, interpersonal, and behavioral/social attributes. The MPAS Program has determined technical standards that are essential for successful progression and completion of all aspects of the curriculum, as well as entry into the profession. These technical standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment in the program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will be subject to dismissal.

Candidates for and students of the program must have somatic sensation and the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing. Candidates’ and students’ diagnostic skills will also be lessened without the functional use of the senses of equilibrium, smell, and taste. Additionally, they must have sufficient external sense (touch, pain, and temperature), sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and sufficient motor function to permit them to carry out the activities described in the section above. They must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed, and they must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. Students wishing to request accommodations for disabilities should contact the Office of Adaptive Services, at 239-590-7956 (voice), 239-590-7975 (fax), 239-243-9453 (videophone) or by email at adaptive@fgcu.edu.

• Observation
  • Candidates and students must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
  • Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision, hearing, smell, and somatic sensation.
• Communication
  • Candidates and students must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
  • Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients.
  • Candidates and students must be able to communicate (verbal, nonverbal, and written) effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the healthcare team.
  • Candidates and students must possess reading skills at a level to be able to independently accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients.
• Motor Coordination and Function
  • Candidates and students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers.
  • Candidates and students should be able to do basic laboratory tests, carry out diagnostic procedures, and read EKGs and X-rays.
  • Candidates and students should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients.
    • Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of Physician Assistants are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds, and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.
    • Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
• Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities
  • Candidates and students must exhibit the following intellectual abilities:
    • Measurement
    • Calculation
    • Reasoning
    • Analysis
    • Synthesis
    • Comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships
    • The above-listed abilities are necessary skills in order to perform problem-solving tasks quickly and efficiently.
• Behavioral and Social Attributes
  • Candidates and students must possess the behavioral emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients.
  • Candidates and students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively when under stress.
  • Candidates and students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.
  • Candidates and students must demonstrate empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, motivation, and the ability to interact with people at all levels in a culturally diverse society.