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UNCW Statue in the Spring

Physician Assistant Studies, MPAS

Preparing compassionate clinicians for a healthier North Carolina and beyond
  • 24

    Months to Program Completion

  • 108

    Credit Hours

This program is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The UNC Wilmington Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program is a developing graduate program designed to prepare highly skilled, compassionate clinicians to meet the healthcare needs of North Carolina and beyond.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of PAs is expected to grow by 31% from 2020 to 2030. This is much faster than average due to expanding health services and focus on cost savings. Physicians and institutions are expected to employ more PAs to provide primary care and assist with medical and surgical procedures. Technology and increased use of one-on-one, direct communication with patients will also expand the use of physician assistants.

Learn to

Demonstrate core medical knowledge for clinical practice.  (Foundational Medical Knowledge) 

Synthesize clinical information. (Clinical Reasoning) 

Develop evidence-based plans.  (Evidence-Based Practice) 

Implement patient-centered management plans. (Evidence-Based Practice) 

Practice effective, respectful communication, and collaboration. (Communication and Collaboration) 

Demonstrate professionalism and ethical behavior. (Professionalism and Ethics) 

Synthesize feedback to improve patient care. (Practice-Based Learning) 

Apply systems-based principles (Systems-Based Practice)

The UNCW Physician Assistant Program is not yet accredited. Please refer to the statement below.

The UNC Wilmington Physician Assistant Program has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The UNC Wilmington Physician Assistant Program anticipates matriculating its first class in May 2028, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the January 2028 ARC-PA meeting.

Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

If the UNC Wilmington Physician Assistant Program does not achieve Accreditation-Provisional status, the program will not commence, and students will not matriculate. Accepted students will be refunded any deposits or tuition paid.

Program Overview

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program is a 24-month, full-time graduate program designed to prepare students for entry into clinical practice as physician assistants. The curriculum is intentionally structured to build a strong foundation in the medical sciences while progressively developing the clinical reasoning, procedural skills and professional competencies required for contemporary medical practice.

The first 12 months of the curriculum comprise the didactic phase of the program. During this time, students engage in an intensive course of study emphasizing foundational medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, patient assessment, diagnostic evaluation, and the acquisition of essential clinical and procedural skills. Instruction is delivered through a combination of lectures, case-based learning, simulation, laboratory experiences and standardized patient encounters, providing students with repeated opportunities to integrate knowledge with clinical application.

The second 12 months consist of the clinical phase of the curriculum. Students complete supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) throughout southeastern North Carolina and the surrounding region, applying the knowledge and skills developed during the didactic phase while caring for patients under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Clinical education emphasizes progressive responsibility, professional development, interprofessional collaboration and the delivery of patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings.

Students complete seven required supervised clinical practice experiences in:

  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Women's Health
  • Pediatrics
  • General Surgery

In addition, students complete two elective clinical rotations, allowing them to explore individual career interests, broaden clinical experience, or strengthen knowledge and skills in areas that support their professional goals.

The MPAS curriculum is academically rigorous and professionally demanding. Success requires a substantial commitment of time and effort both inside and outside the classroom. Graduates emerge as practice-ready physician assistants prepared to provide compassionate, evidence-based medical care as integral members of interprofessional healthcare teams, with particular emphasis on meeting the healthcare needs of southeastern North Carolina and its rural and medically underserved communities.

Sample Courses

  • PAS 511: Clinical Anatomy
  • PAS 561: Behavioral Medicine & Psychosocial Determinants of Health
  • PAS 525: Foundations in Emergency Medicine
  • PAS 562: Community, Public, and Rural Health
  • PAS 580: Care Across the Lifespan: Clinical Considerations in Pediatrics and Geriatrics

Alumni Have Careers In:

PAs in outpatient settings provide longitudinal, patient-centered care across a wide range of specialties. They evaluate, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic conditions, perform procedures, and coordinate care.

Examples:

  • Family medicine / primary care
  • Dermatology
  • Cardiology
  • Orthopedics, ENT, and other specialty clinics

Focus: Prevention, chronic disease management, continuity of care

PAs in inpatient settings manage patients with higher acuity needs as part of physician-led teams. They are involved in daily care, procedures, care coordination, and discharge planning.

Examples:

  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
  • General surgery and surgical subspecialties
  • Hospital medicine

Focus: Acute care, complex decision-making, team-based management

PAs in emergency medicine function across both outpatient and inpatient domains, providing rapid evaluation and management of undifferentiated patients.

Examples:

  • Emergency departments
  • Urgent care centers

Focus: Initial diagnosis, stabilization, procedural care, and disposition (discharge vs. admission)

PAs also contribute to clinical research, population health, and policy-driven initiatives. Their clinical training allows them to support study design, data collection, patient enrollment, and translation of findings into practice.

Examples:

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Academic medical centers and clinical trials programs
  • State and federal health programs

Focus: Evidence generation, population health, and improving care delivery systems

Coming Soon

The UNCW PA program is not currently accepting applications. We anticipate accepting applicants for the 2028 inaugural cohort beginning in April 2027. We will receive all applications through the CASPA application process. Please contact Dr. James McGinnis, Program Director, for more information using the link below. 

Contact Dr. James McGinnis

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    • Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc): Focus on leadership, clinical specialization, or education.
    • Doctor of Health Science (DHSc): Focus on leadership in healthcare systems, public health, or education.
    • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Public Health (DrPH): Focus on research
    • Doctor of Education (EdD): Academic leadership or PA education