Dual-Degree Program Curriculum

The dual-degree program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to earn both a Baccalaureate and Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies (dual BS/MS degree). It is divided into two parts: the undergraduate, or “pre-professional” phase, and the graduate, or “professional” phase. The pre-professional phase is three years (six semesters). The professional phase is 28 months including two summers (seven semesters). From start to finish, the entire curriculum is completed in five and one-half years.

The dual-degree pre-professional phase is like any rigorous undergraduate course of study. The curriculum includes all the Hofstra University general education and distribution requirements necessary to earn a baccalaureate degree, as well all prerequisites to begin the professional phase of the program. These requirements must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the student’s third year. If desired, a student may choose a dual major or minor.

Students who enter the dual-degree program together are called a cohort. Each year there are cohorts of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

The professional curriculum is divided into didactic, clinical, and research phases. During the professional phase of the program, taking classes outside of the prescribed curriculum is prohibited.

The didactic phase is one full year in length and includes summer semesters. It is comprised of classroom and laboratory instruction in basic science, behavioral science, and clinical medicine. As much as possible, the curriculum is integrated so that students study aspects of an organ system in several courses at the same time. For example, diseases of the lung might be studied jointly in Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physical Diagnosis. The course load during the didactic year may include up to eight courses per semester. Students should be prepared to complete activities and assignments off campus.

The clinical phase is one full year in length and includes a summer semester. The clinical year is comprised of eight six-week clerkships. Mandatory clerkships include: internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. In addition to the mandatory clerkships, there is also one elective. Clerkships are completed off campus in various clinical settings such as hospitals and private offices. Some rotations will require students to work during weekends, holidays, overnight, or late into the evenings. Students return to campus for “call back” days at the end of each clerkship. These day-long sessions consist of various activities such as: simulation exercises, oral presentations, end of rotation examinations, and special lectures related to clinical medicine.

The research phase is one semester in length and includes courses in Epidemiology, Research Design and Analysis, and Research Project. During this phase, students learn to synthesize didactic and clinical knowledge

and collaborate with a community organization in completing a research project assessing a specific dimension of health at the population level. The Epidemiology course explores issues related to health and illness within communities rather than individuals. The Research Design and Analysis course provides the framework in which data can be analyzed and presented. The Research Project is a culmination of the research curriculum, and a summation of cumulative knowledge gained in medical science, health care objectives, and communitybased health care. Using skills learned, students will collaborate with a community organization and complete a Master's thesis assessing a specific dimension of health at the population level. The project will culminate with a formal research paper and poster presentation of significant findings. Students will present their research to their peers, professors, and the scientific community in a conference-style setting.

Advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or college credit will not be applied to dual-degree courses that begin with BIO, CHEM or MATH.

Pre-PA Curriculum Plan: All incoming Pre-PA dual-degree students will receive a Pre-PA Curricular Plan (aka track) that they will follow for all of their pre-professional science coursework. The Pre-PA Curricular Plan/ track will provide a schedule of prerequisite science courses across the six semesters of the program which will need to be completed by the end of the spring semester of the student’s third year. Pre-PA dualdegree students will receive preferential seating when registering for these courses to ensure that no student gets closed out of a prerequisite science course. Please note that a student’s track cannot be changed. Below is a list of courses included in the Pre-PA Curricular Plan:

• BIOL 112 – General Biology 1 (4 s.h.) • BIOL 113 – General Biology 2 (4 s.h.) • CHEM 003A - General Chemistry I, CHEM 003B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory I (4 s.h.) • CHEM 004A - General Chemistry II, CHEM 004B - (NS) General Chemistry Laboratory II (4 s.h.) • BIOL 122 – Genetics (4 s.h.) • BIOL 134 – Microbiology (4 s.h.) • BIOL 123- Cell Biology (4 s.h.) • CHEM 135 - Foundations of Organic Chemistry (4 s.h.) • BIOL 140 - Human Physiology (4 s.h.) • BCHM 162 - Foundations of Biochemistry (3 s.h.)

Additional Courses: The successful completion of the following additional courses must also be completed by the end of the spring semester of the student’s junior year. However, the sequence in which the student takes these courses may vary according to student preference, courses transferred in, etc. Please note that preferential seating is not available in these courses. In addition and in accordance with the University’s Degree Requirements, Pre-Physician Assistant Studies dual-degree students are required to take at least 84-credits of liberal arts credits to complete their undergraduate degree. These credits need to be completed within your first three years of the program before progressing on to the professional phase of the program. Liberal Arts courses include: science, math, distribution, writing composition, foreign language, etc. The bulletin will assist students in identifying which courses count toward liberal arts. Your PA seminars do not count towards liberal arts.

• HSCI 103 and 105 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II) (8 s.h.) • MATH 050 (Precalculus) or MATH 071 or 072 or 073 (Analytic Geometry & Calculus I, II, or III) (4 s.h.) • BIOL 124 (Biostatistics) or PSY 040 (Statistics) or SOC 180 (Statistics in Sociology) (4 s.h.) • PHA 101, 102 and 103 (Physician Assistant Seminar I, II, and III) (3 s.h.)