Our Mission
Loma Linda University Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Sciences educates primary care physician assistants who will provide healthcare in collaboration with physicians as active members of a professional healthcare team. We are committed to excellence and compassion for the whole person and quality healthcare for under-served communities locally and globally in accordance with the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Allied Health Professions
Program Brochure
Program Overview
- Degree: Master of Physician Assistant
- Program Length: 24 months, full-time
- Class Size: 38
- Start Date: September
Program Curriculum
Didactic Phase (12 months, 79 units)
During the didactic phase, students take courses in applied medical and clinical sciences. With the extensive resources provided by the University, students are provided with up-to-date, clinically relevant information that is applied during their clinical rotations and throughout their career.
Clinical Phase (12 months, 52 units)
During the clinical phase, students have the opportunity to interact with people from diverse populations. From the inner city to the suburbs, students complete a total of eight clinical rotations. Here, they participate in supervised clinical practice experiences in a wide variety of settings. This allows students to refine their clinical skills in preparation for service to the community. Students also complete two didactic courses during the clinical phase, PA Professional Issues and Capstone.
Clinical Rotations
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Women’s Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgery
- Behavioral Medicine
- Elective (from a growing list of more than 40 specialties)
Housing & Transportation
Clinical rotations are within a 100-mile radius of the LLU campus unless students apply for distant sites (see below). Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the student except for a small number of inpatient rotations for which housing is provided.
Distant Clinical Rotations
Students can apply for a maximum of three distant clinical sites (>100 miles from the program). To be eligible for distant clinical rotations, students must remain in good academic standing with the program. Decisions regarding student eligibility for these rotations are at the discretion of program faculty.
International Clinical Rotations
International clinical rotations are offered as elective experiences and may be available to students upon request. To date, rotations are available in Guam, Honduras, Sierra Leone, and Malawi. All expenses incurred for these rotations are the responsibility of the student.
Additional Program Information
Due to the fast pace and intensity of our program:
- There is a finite time to assimilate course work and complete assignments. We discourage student engagement in any form of employment while enrolled in the program. Students are required to obtain written permission from the department chair prior to engaging in paid employment
- Our program does not offer any part-time or off-site distance-learning options
- No advanced placement is awarded or granted for experiential learning or previous education. Prerequisite courses may not substitute for any course in the program