Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)

Requirements for Admission

Pre-Physician Assistant Program Provisional Acceptance:

• A minimum combined SAT score of 1100 or a minimum ACT score of 22
• Academic GPA of 3.5 or greater
• Complete mandatory interview

Applications for acceptance are due by December 15 for consideration.

Formal acceptance will be offered during the 7th semester (Fall prior to starting the program). Criteria to maintain provisional acceptance and be offered formal acceptance is:

• 3.0 Overall GPA in Year 1
• 3.0 Math/Science GPA in Year 1
• 3.2 Overall GPA in Years 2 and 3
• 3.2 Math/Science GPA in Years 2 and 3
• Completion of 200 Healthcare Exposure Hours (including 20 hours shadowing a PA-C)

Master of Physician Studies Graduate Program:

• Coursework prerequisites:
  • General Biology - a minimum of 6 credits with laboratory
  • Anatomy and Physiology - a minimum of 6 credits with laboratory
  • General Chemistry - a minimum of 3 credits with laboratory
  • Organic Chemistry - a minimum of 3 credits with laboratory
  • Microbiology - a minimum of 3 credits with laboratory
  • Probability and Statistics - 3 credits
  • Psychology - 3 credits
• Academic GPA of 3.0 or greater
• Official GRE scores (ideal composite score of 300) or MCAT scores (ideal score of 500)
• Minimum 200 healthcare exposure hours (including 20 hours of shadowing a PA-C)
• Complete a non-cognitive skills test through CASPer (https://takecasper.com/)
• Complete mandatory interview

Student Learning Outcomes for Physician Assistant:

Students will be able to:

• Medical Knowledge: Graduates will demonstrate a deep understanding and application of core medical knowledge that is essential for patient care upon entry into clinical practice.
• Patient Centered Care: Graduates will apply core medical knowledge learned to patient centered care and utilize evidence based medicine to refine clinical reasoning and judgment while demonstrating the ability to recognize healthy versus ill patients in various stages of illness.
• Society and Population Health:  Graduates will understand how patient health may be affected by psychosocial influences as well as community, environmental, and genetic disparities. Graduates will be able to identify their own implicit biases and understand how these ideas can impact patient care.
• Health Literacy: Graduates will utilize emotional intelligence to adjust the style and content of their verbal communication with patients to establish rapport and engage in shared decision making.
• Professional Practice: Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of Physician Assistant roles and responsibilities while maintaining a level of team awareness, keeping the patient at the center of all health care decisions.
• Legal, Fiscal, and System Based Healthcare: Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of ethically and legally appropriate ways to deliver safe, quality, and efficacious healthcare to patients in a variety of clinical settings.
• Self-Reflection and Assessment: Graduates will work closely with program faculty and their advisors in an ongoing and continual process to develop strategies necessary for reflection, self-evaluation, and self-control while developing confidence in addressing the health needs of their patients.