<p>multitasker, I went to an info session about WFU's program about two years ago, so I'm not sure that what I'm saying is 100% accurate. What I recall is they get the basic problem on Monday (what the pt's primary complaint is and symptoms), then on Wednesday they get a little more (results of bloodwork, etc), then on Friday they have to make their diagnosis and treatment. Also, they periodically have a real "patient" (not just a case study on paper) whom they have to assess and treat while the faculty watches and then they get assessed on that.</p>
<p>The big question I had after the session is if you trust yourself enough to learn the material on your own and to be as competent as someone coming out of a lecture based program. A few of the current PA program students were at the info session, and they all said they thought they learned just fine on their own and enjoyed getting lots of experience of working people up before their clinical rotations. Of course, the PBL sessions are supplemented with lecture. Actually, I just looked at the website and it looks like the Class of 2009 has more lecture time than 2008 does...they may be going to more lecture, but I'm not sure. </p>
<p>link to their site: Problem-Based</a> Learning</p>