Curriculum Overview
An Overview of the Elon University PA in Charlotte Curriculum
The Elon University PA Program in Charlotte is a 24-month curriculum designed to integrate medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional skill development.
Students complete a Master’s Project, which builds competency in evidence-based practice and scholarly inquiry. In small groups, students formulate research proposals, conduct deeper investigation of selected topics, and design projects relevant to clinical practice, PA education, healthcare systems, or public health. Faculty mentorship and structured feedback guide students in developing projects for formal presentation.
Didactic Phase
The didactic curriculum follows a systems-based structure, engaging students through lectures and small group discussions, clinical skills laboratories, case based activities, and simulated patient encounters, and focused lectures. As the curriculum progresses, students encounter increasingly complex patient cases, deepening their clinical reasoning and preparing them for the multifaceted challenges of health care practice. Emphasis is placed on reflective learning, summative assessment, and confident navigation of licensure and employment pathways.
Clinical Phase
The clinical education phase includes seven required rotations—Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Medicine—in addition to one elective. Clinical sites span North Carolina and beyond, providing diverse patient care experiences and settings.