Physician Assistant Cal State Monterey Bay

This program has been granted Accreditation-Provisional status by ARC-PA. Learn more about provisional accreditation

The MSPA program at CSUMB is a full-time, 28-month, year-round graduate program, consisting of 83 credit hours completed over 7 semesters. MSPA courses have a different fee structure and academic calendar; please contact Extended Education for more information. The curriculum is separated into didactic, clinical, and hybrid semesters. The curriculum structure is specially designed to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be competent PAs upon completion of the program.

Student are required to participate in all program activities, comply with all program and university policies, and demonstrate professional behavior as defined in the MSPA Student Handbook. Students are assessed through written examinations and performance evaluations throughout the duration of the program. Students must pass each component of the curriculum to make satisfactory progress in the program.

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • MSPA 511: Clinical Medicine I (3 units)
  • MSPA 512: Clinical Medicine II (3 units)
  • MSPA 513: Clinical Medicine III (3 units)
  • MSPA 521: Advanced Clinical Anatomy and Physiology I (2 units)
  • MSPA 522: Advanced Clinical Anatomy and Physiology II (2 units)
  • MSPA 523: Advanced Clinical Anatomy and Physiology III (1 units)
  • MSPA 531: Clinical Skills I (2 units)
  • MSPA 532: Clinical Skills II (2 units)
  • MSPA 533: Clinical Skills III (2 units)
  • MSPA 541: Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics I (1 units)
  • MSPA 542: Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics II (1 units)
  • MSPA 543: Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics III (1 units)
  • MSPA 551: Patient Evaluation and Education I (2 units)
  • MSPA 552: Patient Evaluation and Education II (2 units)
  • MSPA 553: Patient Evaluation and Education III (2 units)
  • MSPA 561: Behavioral Medicine I: The PA Profession & Culturally-Resonant Care (2 units)
  • MSPA 562: Behavioral Medicine II: Medical Ethics and Legal Issues (2 units)
  • MSPA 563: Behavioral Medicine III: Psychosocial Issues and Human Development (2 units)
  • MSPA 565: Evidence-Based Medicine (1 units)
  • MSPA 571: Medical Conversational Spanish for the PA I (1 units)
  • MSPA 572: Medical Conversational Spanish for the PA II (1 units)
  • MSPA 573: Medical Conversational Spanish for the PA III (1 units)
  • MSPA 581: Mission in Practice I (1 units)
  • MSPA 582: Mission in Practice II (1 units)
  • MSPA 583: Mission in Practice III (1 units)
  • MSPA 601: Family Medicine I Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 602: Family Medicine II Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 603: Internal Medicine I (outpatient) Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 604: Internal Medicine II (inpatient) Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 605: General Pediatrics Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 606: Ob/Gyn Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 607: Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 608: General Surgery Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 609: Mental Health Clinical Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 610: Selective Clinical Rotation I (3 units)
  • MSPA 611: Community Preceptorship Rotation (3 units)
  • MSPA 652: Comprehensive Review of Medicine (4 units)
  • MSPA 653: Professional Practice Seminar (1 units)
  • MSPA 699: Graduate Project (3 units)

Medical Knowledge

MSPA students will demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

MSPA students will demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients' families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the health care system.

Patient Care

MSPA students will demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable.

Professionalism

MSPA students will demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

MSPA students will be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices.

Systems-based Practice

MSPA students will demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that balances quality and cost, while maintaining the privacy of the individual patient.

The CSUMB MSPA program does not offer advanced standing.

Students must complete all curriculum components in sequence. All courses must be completed before advancing to the next semester.

Didactic Year

Semester 1: Spring

Semester 2: Summer

Semester 3: Fall

Clinical Year

Semesters 4, 5, 6: Spring, Summer, Fall

All clinical rotations during the second year of the program begin in January and end in December. Course sequences may vary for each student.

Hybrid Semester

Semester 7: Spring

Total Program Units: 83

CSUMB will confer a Master of Science Physician Assistant degree to students upon successful completion of all program requirements.

First day of instruction

January 7th

Test Week

April 29 - May 3

Grades Due

TBA

First Day of Instruction

May 13

Test Week

August 5 - 9

Grades Due

TBA

First Day of Instruction

August 19

Test Week

December 9 - 13

Grades Due

TBA

Start Date

January 6