Curriculum
The Northwestern University PA Program curriculum is 24 months in duration and consists of 108 credit hours of coursework culminating in a Master of Medical Science degree. There are 23 required courses in the first year of the program. During the second year, students must complete 7 core clinical rotations and 4 elective clinical rotations, as well as the Master’s Project course.
Curriculum highlights include:
- 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio during the first year
- Small group, student-driven Problem-Based Learning (PBL) representing approximately 25% of classroom time
- A full year of cadaver-based, dissection Anatomy Lab
- Early clinical exposure via the Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) Program
- A Medical Spanish course during the Spring Trimester of the first year
- Interprofessional Education (IPE) programming with Northwestern students from the MD, Physical Therapy, Prosthetics & Orthotics, and Genetic Counseling programs
- Clinical rotations opportunities within the Northwestern Medicine system, including at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one of the top academic medical centers in the nation
- Grant-supported elective international clinical rotations
Learn more about our program structure, courses, methodologies and facilities via the links below.
- Competencies
Get a full review of the knowledge, skills and attitude competencies required to succeed in our program. - Timeline
The curriculum for the PA Program is broken into a didactic year and a clinical year; learn more. - Courses
Browse a course-by-course list of our offerings. - Problem-Based Learning
We take a problem-based learning approach in both our lectures and small groups. - Clinical Rotations
Students will complete rotations at these Chicago-area sites throughout their clinical year. - Facilities & Resources
Explore the resources that complement students' classroom instruction and case-based learning.