COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Physician Associate (MPA) program at Wichita State University is a 93-credit-hour, clinically intensive graduate program designed to prepare students for medical practice as physician associates through a structured combination of foundational medical science coursework, clinical skills training, and supervised clinical rotations across multiple healthcare specialties. The curriculum begins with summer coursework in clinical anatomy, professional issues, and foundational laboratory training, followed by a rigorous first-year didactic phase that includes clinical practice, advanced pharmacotherapy, preventive medicine, behavioral medicine, clinical laboratory work, and system-based clinical medicine courses covering cardiology, dermatology, ENT, and other core medical areas. In the second year, students transition into immersive clinical education with required rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, internal medicine, behavioral health, surgery, and emergency medicine, supplemented by directed research study courses that strengthen evidence-based practice and clinical inquiry skills. The final year continues with elective clinical rotations that allow students to tailor their training toward specific interests while gaining additional real-world experience in diverse healthcare environments. The program emphasizes applied learning through its extensive sequence of clinical rotations, ensuring that students develop hands-on diagnostic, treatment, and patient management skills under physician supervision in real clinical settings. This applied learning requirement is fulfilled through successful completion of all major clinical rotation courses, reinforcing competency-based medical education standards. The curriculum also integrates interprofessional collaboration, research methodology, and professional development to prepare graduates for collaborative healthcare environments and evidence-based practice. Overall, the MPA program at Wichita State is designed to produce highly competent physician associates who are fully prepared for entry into clinical practice, with strong foundations in medical knowledge, patient care skills, clinical reasoning, and professional responsibility across a wide range of healthcare specialties.