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Graduate Admissions Policies - Degree Seeking Status (Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies)

At minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited American college or university or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution of acceptable standing is required for admission. Each applicant is admitted on the presumption that a bachelor’s degree or a foreign institution degree equivalent will be earned by the time of graduate matriculation, or the student’s admission is void.

For admission into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program, applicant must demonstrate a high promise of success.

  1. To apply to the PA Program, submit an application through The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The PA Program will accept applications through CASPA from starting April 26, 2019 for a January 6, 2020 matriculation date. Applications must be verified by CASPA no later than October 1, 2019. The program will accept applicants on a rolling admissions basis. Fees will apply, payable to CASPA, for CASPA. No supplemental graduate application or graduate application fee is required by the program.
  2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to CASPA. If you are an international applicant, you must have your international transcripts evaluated through World Education Services (WES), which is a university requirement, with results sent to CASPA.
  3. Two references will be requested by CASPA.
  4. (Foreign Applicants Only) Proof of English proficiency is required if English is not the applicant’s native language, or was not the language of instruction for the applicant’s baccalaureate degree, or if the applicant does not hold a graduate degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher learning. Proof of English proficiency may be demonstrated by means of the TOEFL exams or IELTS:

    For the MSPAS program, the following minimum scores are required for admission: TOEFL (577 paper version; 230 for the computer-based test; and 90 for the internet-based test); or IELTS (6.5).

  5. No GRE or MCAT is required by the program.
  6. No healthcare experience, exposure, or shadowing is required by the program.
  7. Qualified applicants must successfully complete all required prerequisite courses with a grade or grade equivalent of "C" or better, earn a cumulative undergraduate/graduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or higher, and earn a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or higher to be considered for the program. If an applicant repeats a prerequisite course, the repeat grade will be used to calculate the prerequisite GPA. The program can conditionally accept an applicant if the applicant is able to show the ability to complete all admission requirements prior to the date of matriculation.
  8. Prerequisite courses include: general biology I & II with labs (may substitute botany and zoology with labs), anatomy and physiology I & II with labs (will accept 1 semester of anatomy and one semester of physiology with labs), microbiology with lab, general chemistry I & II with labs, organic chemistry I & II (labs recommended but not required), a statistics course, a psychology course, and a medical terminology course.
  9. Additional consideration will be given to: Metro-Memphis residents or those living in the mid-south, Christian Brothers University students and graduates, those who take science courses acceptable for a natural science degree, those who take advanced science courses and labs, those with healthcare experience or exposure, and those who have served in the armed forces.
  10. Interviews will be extended to highly-qualified applicants. An interview is required for admission into the program.
  11. The program admissions committee will base all decisions upon the applicant's overall application and interview.
  12. The program will not grant advanced standing.
  13. Specific questions regarding the program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).
  14. The PA Program accreditation status is published on its webpage.
  15. Articulations with other colleges or universities for reserved seats in the program, if any, will be published on the PA program's website.