Physician Assistant Studies – Health Science

If admitted to the undergraduate PA program, you’ll be guaranteed an interview with Saint Joseph’s 24-month graduate PA program if you successfully complete the pre-physician assistant program by meeting all progression standards.

Discover what it’s like to be a physician assistant through a comprehensive curriculum combined with shadowing, patient contact and volunteer opportunities provided through our professional network.

Saint Joseph's Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program’s mission is to prepare students with a strong foundation in primary care (family medicine) to provide equitable, person-centered care.

You’ll get to work in simulation labs and mock patient exam rooms inside the Integrated Professional Education Complex (IPEX) building, giving you a taste of working in a professional healthcare environment. IPEX also houses our master’s in physician assistant studies program.

The three and four-year tracks are only open to health science majors. All students must have been accepted into the Health Sciences major on the Pre-PA track as a first-year student or as a transfer student. Students may also apply for a change of major to be considered for the Pre-PA track.

Three-year track

This accelerated option lets you complete the undergraduate requirements in three years. If you meet all requirements, you can apply to our PA program by the end of your sophomore year and be guaranteed an admission interview. If accepted, you’ll get your bachelor’s in health sciences after successfully completing your first year in the graduate program.

Four-year track

This traditional option lets you add on a minor or pursue a more traditional course load. The same courses are covered, with the opportunity to take additional electives or to fulfill a minor in an area of your choice. If admitted to the undergraduate PA program and you meet all requirements, you’ll also be guaranteed an admission interview to Saint Joseph's University PA program.

The tuition for undergraduate pre-physician assistant students entering fall 2023 is $49,410* per year. *Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed cost breakdown.

Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

Saint Joseph’s undergraduate students in the pre-professional PA program are offered a guaranteed interview for admission to the MSPAS Program if all progression requirements are met, inclusive of an on-time application through the CASPA system. If accepted into the Master’s program, students will begin after their junior year and complete the Master’s degree in two years. After the fourth year at SJU, students will earn their Bachelor of Science in Health Science while in transit to earning their MSPAS. Undergraduate students in the traditional four-year pre-professional PA program who meet all progression criteria are also guaranteed an interview.

Unsuccessful Progression to the graduate PA program:

A third-year student in the accelerated track with a science and overall GPA above a 3.20 who is denied progression to the graduate PA program will remain at Saint Joseph's and reapply during the next CASPA cycle.

A student on the 4+ track who does not meet progression standards or who was denied admission to the MSPAS program will be eligible to earn their Bachelor’s degree and apply during the next CASPA cycle.

Grades of “C” or better are required for all natural science courses in Biology (BIO), Chemistry (CHM) and Physics (PHY)

• Students who earn a C- or lower have the opportunity to retake the course once in order to earn a C or better. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be dismissed from the undergraduate pre-professional program.
• To be eligible to apply to the MSPAS program, students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 AND a science GPA of 3.20. *All courses are included in the calculations of GPA.
  
  Students must acquire a minimum of 350 documented hours of direct patient contact. Shadowing a physician assistant is recommended, but not required. For more information, please refer to patient contact hours.
  
  Students must submit an on-time completed application inclusive of documented patient contact hours, letters of recommendation, and essay prompts through the CASPA system. Early submission is strongly encouraged as admissions are rolling.

Transfer students will only be accepted into the fall or spring semester of the first year or the fall semester of the second year of the Pre-Professional PA program for a 3+ track and accepted into any semester prior to the spring semester of Junior year for the 4+ track.

Students may apply for elective credit if these courses have been taken elsewhere.

View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Special considerations will be given for those with academic excellence, outstanding patient care experience, shadowing a physician assistant, performing community service activities, those who have a history of socioeconomically disadvantaged status, first-generation college graduates, active military, veterans, and applicants in the peace corps.

Admissions requirements

If accepted into the pre-physician assistant program, you’ll be required to complete 350 direct patient care hours by the time of application.  Shadowing hours with a PA are recommended but not required.

How to apply

• Apply online. Applications are free.
• Submit your official high school transcripts from all high schools you’ve attended. A list of senior year coursework must be present.
• Complete one of the Common Application essay prompts.
• Submit a letter of recommendation. Up to two additional letters may be submitted.
• Submit SAT/ACT scores. These are optional, but you can submit them if you feel they’ll strengthen your application.

All materials can be uploaded via the Saint Joseph’s Application or the Common Application. If you plan to submit SAT and/or ACT scores, they should be sent directly from Collegeboard and/or ACT. You can also submit your application materials by mail, fax or email.

Application deadlines

Our regular application deadline is March 1. Visit our Undergraduate Admissions page to learn more about application deadlines.

Admissions Requirements

• A minimum overall and science GPA of 3.00 is required to apply to transfer into the pre-professional phase of the physician assistant program. No science grades below a B from a community college or C from a four-year college will be accepted.
• New transfer students may enroll in the fall semester of the first or second year of the professional program. Your plan of study will be determined based on prerequisites completed, direct patient hours accumulated, and capacity in the pre-PA program. A minimum of two years of study in the pre-professional phase of the program is required.
• If accepted into the Pre-physician assistant pathway, you'll be required to complete 50 direct patient care hours before class begins in the fall if transferring into the first-year and a minimum of 150 direct patient care hours if transferring into the second year. You'll need to complete a minimum of 350 documented direct patient care hours at the time of application to the Masters in Physician Assistant program.
• Transfer credit in English, math, social sciences and electives will be accepted with a C or better.

Prerequisites

Please contact us for a list of courses we recommend taking before transferring into Saint Joseph’s undergraduate pre-professional physician assistant program. You may also visit our Transfer Admissions page for an incomplete list of courses from other institutions that transfer into Saint Joseph’s.

How to apply

• Apply online. Applications are free, and there is no deadline to apply. Transfer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis year-round.
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities you attended.
• Submit an official high school transcript or an official copy of a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). (If you have an associate’s degree or 30+ college credits prior to your enrollment at Saint Joseph’s, these transcripts are waived.)
• Submit one to three letters of recommendation.
• Submit a professional goal statement — this should explain in detail your interest in the professional program to which you are applying, how you developed this interest, your career goals and any attributes and accomplishments you believe will enhance your future academic and career success. Also, please tell us why you have chosen to apply to Saint Joseph’s.
• Submit SAT/ACT scores. (If you have 24 or more credits, you don’t have to submit scores.)

To become a physician assistant (PA), you’ll need to:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree. Most PA programs prefer applicants who have a bachelor’s in science or a health-related field.
• Apply and get accepted to a PA school with an accredited PA program, such as Saint Joseph’s 24-month MS in Physician Assistant Studies degree.
• Complete and graduate from an accredited PA program, which involves clinical experiences.
• Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) to get certified, then obtain a license in the state you want to practice in.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, it takes around three years (26 months) to complete an accredited PA program. At Saint Joseph’s University, you can earn your PA degree in just 24 months. After graduating, you can sit for the PANCE exam and pass it to become certified and take the next steps to obtain a state license.

Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate students in the Pre-Professional PA Program are granted an interview for admission to the MSPAS Program if all progression requirements of the Pre-PA program and all admission requirements of the Graduate PA program are met. Students in the accelerated track who meet all requirements may apply to the graduate PA program between the end of their sophomore year, and the fall of their junior year, with an application deadline of October 1, 2024. If accepted, they will earn the remaining credits to complete their bachelor’s degree with the completion of the didactic phase of the MSPAS Program. Undergraduate students in the traditional four-year Pre-Professional PA program who meet all progression criteria and all admission requirements of the Graduate PA program are also granted an interview. If granted an interview, this does not guarantee acceptance to the MSPAS Program.

All applicants to the MSPAS Program must apply through the CASPA application portal and follow the same admissions process.