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Curriculum

All didactic courses must be completed in the sequence listed. Clinical rotation courses will be completed in the order assigned to the individual PA student by the program.

Individual course requirements and deadlines for assignments are included on the course syllabus available on Blackboard for the enrolled PA student.

This is a graduate program consisting of 112 semester hours. The program is delivered over 24 months leading to the conferment of the degree: Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant (MMS-PA).

The Professional Curriculum

The schedule of a physician assistant student is rigorous. Because of the time required for attending lectures, laboratories and clinical assignments, plus the time necessary for study and practice, students are encouraged to minimize outside work commitments during the time they are enrolled in the program.

The following is a summary of the required courses included in the Master of Medical Science- Physician Assistant professional curriculum. Required courses are offered annually in the terms indicated. The courses offered during year 1- didactic year must be completed in sequence and are only offered in the terms indicated.

Credit hours determined by the following:

  • 15 Lecture Hours = 1 Credit Hour
  • 45 Lab Hours = 1 Credit Hour

Program Structure

The UTHSC Physician Assistant Program is based in Memphis, Tennessee. All students are required to complete the entire didactic (first) year of the curriculum on the UTHSC campus in Memphis, TN. This is done in person and classes are not offered online or at other locations. 
 
For the clinical year, students are assigned to one of four regional clinical education sites: Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga, Tennessee. Students are generally assigned to a single region for the duration of the clinical year and complete all required clinical rotations within that region.
 
Students may indicate a preference for a clinical region; however, final regional assignments are made at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Education and are based on preceptor and site availability, rotation requirements, and overall program needs. Student preference is considered but is not guaranteed. The number of students assigned to each region varies from year to year depending on available clinical training capacity. Students should be prepared to relocate, at their own expense, to any of the four regions for the duration of the clinical year. Students are encouraged to not sign a lease for more than one (1) year to prevent any undue financial hardships.
Sep 3, 2026