Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Physician Assistant Studies, B.S. Major in


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Administered by the Department of Biology

Professor Seagull, Chairperson
Theresa Horvath, Director

Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants perform a wide array of medical duties and work in a variety of medical settings, ranging from basic primary care to sub-specialties. Physician assistants are qualified to first assist in surgery, attend medical emergencies, or care for their own patients in outpatient internal medicine, pediatrics or family medicine.

Hofstra’s program is designed to accommodate students who are working toward their undergraduate degree and those who are post-baccalaureate. Undergraduate students first complete the pre-professional phase, consisting of two years of collegiate instruction including all  prerequisite courses. Students apply to the program during the second year of the pre-professional phase, and if successful in gaining admission, enroll in the 28-month professional phase. The professional phase is divided into four semesters of didactic instruction and three semesters of clinical clerkships. Students follow a defined curriculum, progressing from basic science to the study of clinical medicine and its application. During the clinical phase students rotate through clinical clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, long-term care, and pediatric services within healthcare settings such as hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinics. The clinical phase may require students to attend during nights (on-call) and weekends.  Due to the rigor of the program, even part-time work is not possible in most cases.

During the clinical year of the program, students are assigned to clinical clerkships at affiliated hospitals, private physicians’ offices and community clinics.  Located in a variety of medical settings, these clinical campuses offer training in all disciplines of medicine and provide the opportunity for exposure to a wide variety of patient populations.

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).  Students who have already been awarded a bachelor’s degree receive a certificate of completion. Those students having completed all Hofstra University degree requirements as a component of prerequisite course work will receive both a certificate of completion and a bachelor of science degree in physician assistant studies.  Students have the option to continue their studies in a 30-s.h. master’s degree program to earn a master of science in physician assistant studies.

All students interested in entering the program are expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their science courses. A personal essay, two letters of recommendation, and documentation of 100 hours of health-care experience are required as well.

Students must apply to the physician assistant studies program through the Centralized Application Service. Applications are submitted on-line through the Central Admission Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), or by mail: CASPA, Post Office Box 9108, Watertown, MA 02471. Phone: (617) 612-2080. E-mail using this link. Deadline for applications: March 1 of each year for the following fall semester.

Students should be aware that a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in science courses do not guarantee entry into the program. The PA program is competitive and only the strongest applicants will be selected for a personal interview with the physician assistant studies program admissions committee prior to acceptance into the program. 

Program Requirements


Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Total Semester Hours: 147


The successful completion of at least 147 semester hours. All students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA throughout both the pre-professional and the professional phases of the program.

2. Liberal Arts


At least 65 semester hours in liberal arts courses must be completed before beginning the professional phase (didactic year) of the physician assistant studies program.

3. For Transfer Students


20 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours must both be completed in residence at Hofstra University. The 20 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours.

4. General Requirements


  • and or placement examination
  • Distribution course requirement: (for listing of distribution courses, see )
    • 6 semester hours in humanities: 3 semester hours in appreciation and analysis (literature); 3 semester hours in creative participation ( or )
    • 6 semester hours in social sciences
    • 3 semester hours in behavioral social sciences
    • 3 semester hours in history and philosophy.

NOTE: Students who matriculate at Hofstra with advanced standing, must complete at least 3 semester hours in humanities distribution courses and 3 semester hours in social science distribution courses in residence. In no case may distribution course requirements be taken elsewhere after matriculation at Hofstra.

5. Major and Additional Requirements


The following major and additional requirements must be fulfilled:

Suggested Four-Year Sequence - Total Semester Hours: 147


For Full-Time Students

First Year (Pre-Physician)

  Fall Spring Summer I, II and III
WSC 1  and WSC 2   3 3 -
MATH 50  or MATH 71   4  -  -
BIO 11 , BIO 12   4  4  -
CHEM 3A , CHEM 3B ; CHEM 4A , CHEM 4B    4  4  -
Any behavioral social science distribution course  -  3  -
PSY 1  or  PSY 7  (not counted toward the behavioral social science distribution course above  -  3  -
   1  -  -
Total s.h.
 16  17  0

 

Second Year

   Fall  Spring Summer I, II, III
BIO 103 , BIO 105    3  3  -
BIO 25   -  4  -
CHEM 71  or CHEM 131A /CHEM 131B  or  /    4  -  -
MATH 8   3  -  -
Distribution : Appreciation and Analysis  3  -  -
Distribution :History/Philosophy  -  3  -
CSC 5   3  -  -
SPCM 1  or SPCM 7   -  3  -
Liberal Arts Elective -  3  -
Total s.h.  16  16  0

 

Professional Phase, Third Year (Didactic Year)

  Fall
Spring Summer I, II, III
BIO 123 ; PHA 2 , PHA 119  4 2 2
 ; PHA 116 , PHA 121  2 2 3
PHA 112 , PHA 117 , PHA 122  3 3 2
PHA 114 , PHA 120 , PHA 123  3 3 2
PHA 115 , PHA 124 , PHA 125 , PHA 130  3 3 5
Total s.h. 15 13 14

 

Fourth Year (Clinical Year)

  Fall Spring Summer I, II, III
PHA 118  2 - -
PHA 127  3 - -
PHA 129  2 - -
PHA 131  2 - -
PHA 132  2 - -
PHA 133  2 - -
Clinical Clerkships*      
PHA 150  - 3 -
PHA 155  - 3 -
PHA 160  - 3 -
PHA 165  - 3 -
PHA 170  - - 3
Total s.h. 13 12 3

*Each of these courses must be completed before the end of the program; however, the sequencing varies.

Fifth Year

  Fall Spring Summer I, II, III
Clinical Clerkships*      
PHA 175  3 - -
PHA 180  3 - -
PHA 185  3 - -
PHA 190  3 - -
Total s.h. 12 0 0

Total s.h. in Program: 147

*Each of these courses must be completed before the end of the program; however, the sequencing varies.

Certificate of Completion


Certificate of completion applicants are those students who do not apply to the program as part of a baccalaureate major.

Admission Requirements


The following admission requirements apply to those students seeking entry directly into the PA studies program, having already earned a bachelor’s degree:

  • General Biology (with laboratory): 8 s.h.
  • General Chemistry (with laboratory): 8 s.h.
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology: 6 s.h.
  • Biochemistry: 3 s.h. or Organic Chemistry: 4 s.h.
  • Mathematics (statistics preferred): 3 s.h.
  • Behavioral Sciences: 6 s.h.
  • English Composition: 6 s.h.
  • In addition, the following requirements must be met:
  • Cumulative science GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Cumulative GPA of  3.0 or higher.
  • 100 hours of health-care experience

Students must apply to the Physician Assistant Studies program through CASPA.

Students must be aware that a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in science courses do not guarantee entry into the program. The PA program is competitive and only the strongest applicants will be selected for a personal interview with the Physician Assistant Studies Program Admissions Committee prior to acceptance into the program. All students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA through the professional phase. Detailed information is provided in the Physician Assistant Studies Program Handbook.

Recommended Sequence - Total Semester Hours: 82


First Year (Pre-Physician)


  Fall Spring Summer I, II, III
PHA 123  4 - -
BCHM 78  2 - -
PHA 115  3 - -
PHA 112  3 - -
PHA 114  3 - -
PHA 116  - 2 -
PHA 2  - 2 -
PHA 117  - 3 -
PHA 120  - 3 -
PHA 124  - 3 -
PHA 125  - - 3
PHA 121  - - 3
PHA 119  - - 2
PHA 123  - - 2
PHA 122  - - 2
PHA 130  - - 2
Total s.h. 16 13 14

 

Second Year


  Fall Spring Summer I, II, III
PHA 118  2 - -
PHA 127  3 - -
PHA 129  2 - -
PHA 131  2 - -
PHA 132  2 - -
PHA 133  2 - -
Clinical Clerkships*      
PHA 150  - 3 -
PHA 155  - 3 -
PHA 160  - 3 -
PHA 165  - 3 -
PHA 170  - - 3
Total s.h. 13 12 3

*Each of these courses must be completed before the end of the program; however, the sequencing varies.
 

Third Year


  Fall Spring Summer I, II, III
Clinical Clerkships*      
PHA 175  3 - -
PHA 180  3 - -
PHA 185  3 - -
PHA 190  3 - -
Total s.h. 12 0 0

Total s.h. in Program: 82

*Each of these courses must be completed before the end of the program; however, the sequencing varies.

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