Physician Assistant Degree Advancement Option

IMPORTANT UPDATE, PLEASE READ:

Enrollment in the DAO program has declined steadily over time as the number of master’s trained PAs has risen. As such, UNMC plans to sunset this program and will stop matriculating new students into the DAO program after the 2021 fall semester. Students matriculating in fall 2021 will have three years to complete the program. We will work closely with currently enrolled students in the DAO program to ensure they finish their plans of study no later than the 2024 fall semester.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

A Practical Solution
Because of the advantages of having a master's degree, physician assistants are seeking ways to further their education. Recognizing that returning to a college campus for postgraduate study is impractical for most working physician assistants, the University of Nebraska Medical Center Physician Assistant Program offers a degree advancement option (DAO) to enable practicing PAs to advance from the bachelor's degree to the master's degree. Now in its third decade, this program has provided master’s degrees to thousands of practicing PAs.

This program provides an opportunity for practicing physician assistants with a bachelor's degree to obtain a professional postgraduate master's degree in as little as five semesters at a reasonable cost and without any required travel. The program can be completed in 5 semesters. However, students are allowed up to five years to complete the DAO. Upon completion of the program, physician assistants are awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.

MPAS DAO CME Credit

The Degree Advancement Option curriculum meets the requirements for AAPA category II CME credit on an hour per hour basis. 

Features of the Program

Students in the Degree Advancement Option:

• Acquire new competencies and skills by completing 800 hours of advanced supervised clinical practice at their place of employment,
• Learn current concepts in the areas of health care policy and medical ethics,
• Improve research skills by investigating a medical topic and presenting the results in a scientific paper.
• Select the option of the education track and study instructional design, education theory and leadership, and complete 320 hours of teaching in a supervised environment

General Information

• Successful candidates earn the professional degree - Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS).
• Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
• Approved by the Regents of the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Department of Education.
• Approved for military tuition assistance, and VA educational benefits.
• Options for study are available in almost every medical specialty or the education track can open opportunities in academia or community health promotion.