Curriculum

UKPA Curriculum Update – Spring 2027

Beginning in Spring 2027, the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies Program will implement a revised Phase I curriculum designed to strengthen integration across foundational sciences, clinical medicine, and clinical reasoning. These curricular enhancements reflect the program’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based medical education, early clinical application, and preparation for contemporary physician assistant practice.

The revised curriculum emphasizes systems-based learning, clinical reasoning development, active and applied learning strategies, and stronger integration of physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and patient management across the didactic phase of training. Students will engage in increased case-based instruction, clinical decision-making activities, and longitudinal development of patient-centered reasoning skills designed to support durable learning and readiness for clinical practice.

As part of these revisions, several new and redesigned courses will be introduced beginning in Spring and Summer 2027, including Foundations of Clinical Medicine (PAS 600), Clinical Medicine I (PAS 630), and Clinical Reasoning and Medical Decision Making (PAS 631). These updates are intended to better align instruction, assessment, and clinical application throughout the curriculum while supporting student success across the program continuum.

Revised Phase I Curriculum

Our revised Phase I curriculum strengthens integration across foundational sciences, clinical medicine, and clinical reasoning to better prepare you for patient-centered care and real-world practice.

SPRING I (JAN – MAY)

PAS 600 – Foundations Of Clinical Medicine (4.0)
Replaces PGY 4126 Human Physiology

Focus: An integrated course that connects basic science concepts with clinical application across body systems and patient care.

• Systems-Based Learning
• Pathophysiology & Diagnostics
• Clinical Application
• Patient-Centered Care

What This Mean For You:

• Greater integration of science and clinical medicine from the start
• More focus on applying knowledge to patient scenarios
• Stronger preparation for clinical decision-making

SUMMER I (MAY – AUG)

PAS 610 – Research Methods (3.0)
Learn how to evaluate evidence, apply research principles, and use data to inform clinical practice.

PAS 630 – Clinical Medicine I (4.0) 
New Course
Explore common conditions, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies across multiple systems.

PAS 631 – Clinical Reasoning And Medical Decision Making (2.0)
New Course
Strengthen clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and decision-making through case-based learning and application.

Focus: Develop research skills, clinical knowledge, and clinical reasoning to guide patient care decisions.

What This Mean For You:

• Early development of research and evidence-based thinking
• Integrated clinical knowledge with hands-on application
• Stronger clinical reasoning and decision-making skills

Our Commitment

These curriculum enhancements reflect our commitment to innovative, evidence-based education and your success as a future physician assistant, utilizing:

• Integrated Learning
• Clinical Application
• Critical Thinking
• Patient-Centered Care

Program Defined Competencies and Curriculum

• Medical Knowledge
  • Graduates will demonstrate a strong foundation in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences. They will apply this knowledge across the lifespan to recognize normal and abnormal findings, promote disease prevention, and integrate current evidence to support clinical decision-making.
• Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
  • Graduates will use clinical reasoning to obtain accurate histories, conduct physical exams, interpret diagnostic studies, and develop prioritized differential diagnoses and treatment plans. They will incorporate individual and population-level factors into patient care decisions and identify when referral or higher-level care is required.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
  • Graduates will communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams. They will demonstrate empathy; respect for patients' values, language, and preferences; and professionalism in both routine and complex interactions, including the coordination of care and delivery of difficult news.
• Professional Behaviors
  • Graduates will exhibit professionalism through ethical conduct, respect for diversity, and accountability in practice. They will recognize their own limitations, seek feedback, and maintain compliance with legal, regulatory, and institutional standards.
• Clinical and Technical Skills
  • Graduates will safely and competently perform essential clinical procedures, including data collection, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic interventions. They will apply patient safety principles, prescribe responsibly, and leverage health technology to support care delivery.

The UKPA Program is a Spring Semester start and a lock-step 29-month long program that is conducted in person with an ITV connection between the two campuses (Morehead & Lexington).  The course director may lecture from either the Lexington campus or the Morehead Campus.  All hands-on labs are conducted with a faculty member in person at the campus location.  The first year and a half of the program is the didactic portion and the final year is the clinical rotations.  Clinical rotations are completed every 4 weeks and all students will return to the Lexington campus to take their End of Clerkship (EOC) exam and prep for the next rotation.  Clinical rotations are not in any particular order and are completed throughout the state of Kentucky.  All students must complete one rural clinical rotation and only three out-of-state rotations are allowed.  However, border cities such as Cincinnati are not considered out-of-state rotations.  The program also offers international clerkship opportunities to interested students.

Graduates of the Physician Assistant Studies Program are awarded a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies after completing the 29-month curriculum. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and upon successful completion, are then eligible for state certification/licensure to practice as a certified Physician Assistant.

Didactic Courses

Clinical Courses

These courses and the Semester in which they occur are subject to change.
Clinical total: 38.0 credit hours
Curriculum Total: 95.0 credit hours

Courses are graded on a 4.0 letter grade scale.

Course Descriptions

UKPA Summative Examination (ARC-PA – B4.03)

The UKPA Summative Examination consists of multiple required components administered within the final four months of the program. To meet graduation requirements, students must achieve a passing standard on each required component. Students who do not initially meet the passing standard for a summative component are managed in accordance with the program’s published policies and procedures for summative remediation and deceleration, which are defined, consistently applied, and made readily available to students upon admission. These policies specify remediation eligibility, reassessment expectations, timelines, and progression outcomes. Failure to successfully complete required remediation or reassessment, as defined in program policy, constitutes failure of the UKPA Summative Examination and results in progression decisions consistent with published Standards & Progression policies (UKPA Program Policy Manual, Spring 2026, 2.4 Summative Exam, pp. 13-14).

Program-Required Competencies for Entry-Level Practice

The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies (UKPAS) Program prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors essential for entry-level clinical practice. Rooted in the program’s values of collaboration, compassion, and service, UKPAS prepares graduates with a strong foundation in primary care to serve underrepresented populations in both rural and urban communities.

Core competencies include medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, interpersonal and communication skills, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors. These reflect the program’s commitment to patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional collaboration.

*Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.  The program coordinates sites and preceptors with the Area Health Education Center (AHEC).  All clinical sites and preceptors go through a formal review and approval process.

The official version of this material is updated every July and available at the UK Graduate School site in the Graduate Bulletin.

The Morehead campus and curriculum tracks are under the administration of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program.  

Students complete the curriculum at their established campus in which they applied and are accepted.