Helping others is a part of the Christian faith. Becoming a physician assistant (PA) through any of the following schools will allow students the opportunity to learn how to provide healthcare to others in their community and around the globe. The following schools with Christian affiliations all offer master's degree programs for physician assistant education.
School Comparison
Learn more about becoming a physician assistant at the following Christian institutions and how much each program costs. Along with denomination, we'll also look at the location of each of the schools covered in this list.
| School Name | Institution Type | Denomination | Location | Estimated Tuition (Full Program) 2021* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Church of the Nazarene | Nashville, TN | $99,400 |
| Duke University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | United Methodist | Durham, NC | $82,609 |
| Bethel University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Baptist | Saint Paul, MN | $97,104 |
| St. Ambrose University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Roman Catholic | Davenport, IA | $106,518 (includes fees) |
| AdventHealth University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Seventh Day Adventist | Orlando, FL | $90,489 (includes fees) |
Source: *School websites
Summary of Christian Physician Assistant Colleges
At all of the following schools, students who want to work as a physician assistant can expect plenty of hands-on practice in clinical rotations. Classroom and lab courses on different medical and healthcare topics round off the skills and knowledge that students need to complete their master's degree program. In addition to exploring the PA programs, we'll also look at how each school incorporates the Christian faith on campus.
Trevecca Nazarene University
Worship and student-led ministries are an essential part of resident life at Trevecca Nazarene University. Students can join one of the discipleship groups or help with a missions trip that spreads the Word of God. Those wanting to study to be a physician assistant will earn their master's degree in 27 months. The program is broken down into two parts: the didactic phase, where students take courses in medicine for 15 months; and the clinical phase, where students do 6-week rotations in a variety of medical departments over 12 months. Students will complete eight rotations in family medicine I and II, pediatrics, behavioral and mental health, internal medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, and a final one of the student's choosing.
Duke University
With the PathWays program at Duke University, students have the chance to combine their religious life with their education. Students spend time in one-on-one counseling, mission trips, worship, artistic expression and community service activities. Similar to Trevecca Nazarene University, Duke students interested in becoming PAs will break their 2-year program down into pre-clinical and clinical work. Courses include anatomy, patient assessment, diagnostic methods, preventative health, and the fundamentals of surgery, to start. Students at Duke complete ten clinical rotations.
Bethel University
Ranked the 197th in national universities for 2020 according to U.S. News and World Report, Bethel University offers a M.S. in Physician Assistant. Among the many courses offered at Bethel are medical pathophysiology, physical examination, diagnostics lab, medical problem solving, PA professional practice issues, and Christian health care. As of 2020, 95% of Bethel students who sat for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam in the past five years had passed. Bethel encourages the idea of compassion and integrity through faith as a PA. In fact, students spend much of their time helping others during spring break and community outreach opportunities.
St. Ambrose University
Another college that addresses its physician assistant curriculum in two parts is St. Ambrose University. This PA program is 29 months long, and students will complete 13 clinicals by graduation. Course topics will include pathology, professional practice issues, healthcare systems, communications in medicine, pharmacotherapy, and medical ethics. At St. Ambrose, students take part in masses, as well as prayer, social justice and community service in the name of Jesus. The primary idea is to enrich the lives of others, and PA students have a unique opportunity to do exactly that through medical clinics and service.
AdventHealth University
As a medical school, AdventHealth University primarily offers healthcare-related community service activities that students can participate in. In fact, two mission trips held yearly are to Honduras and Costa Rica to provide medical care clinics. On these trips, students can get involved through ministering and providing care to the less fortunate, as well as taking part in home health visits, teaching about health, visiting orphanages, and setting up permanent clinics. Back on campus, students spend their time studying physician assistant courses and completing eight clinical rotations.
