Note

Students who complete the required course work and all Hofstra University undergraduate degree requirements are eligible for the BS degree; however, they will not be eligible to sit for the PANCE exam or to receive the MS degree until all requirements for the MS degree are fulfilled, including completion of the PA Professional Phase of the program. Students who do not continue into the professional phase can earn a BA in Natural Sciences  degree which builds on what has already been taken as part of the pre-PA curriculum. Alternatively, students may choose any other major to transfer into.

Entry and Progression Requirements for Direct Admission to the Dual-Degree program (BS and MS)

Students entering Hofstra as incoming first-year students may apply for direct entry admission to this dual-degree program.  The following requirements must be met to be eligible for the dual-degree program:

1. Enter Hofstra University as a first-year student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in high school academic work and an SAT score of 1300 (evidence-based reading and writing + math sections) or an ACT score of 27
2. Qualified applicants to the dual-degree program will be asked to submit a supplement to their application consisting of two essay questions.
3. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or college credit will not be applied to dual degree courses that begin with BIO, CHEM, or MATH.

Students admitted directly to the dual-degree program as incoming first-year students will be admitted automatically to the professional phase of the program beginning the fall semester of their senior year, provided they fulfill the following requirements:

1. Achieve a minimum cumulative overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 for each of the six semesters prior to beginning the professional phase of the PA program curriculum.  Should a student not achieve the minimum cumulative GPA, the student will be placed on academic probation and will have one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.3.  If the student does not achieve the minimum cumulative GPA within one semester, the student will be dismissed from the dual-degree program;
2. Initially achieve a minimum cumulative science GPA of 3.3 at the end of the fall semester of the second year.  Subsequent science GPAs will be reviewed at the end of each fall and spring semester.  Students not achieving the minimum science GPA will be placed on academic probation and will have one semester to raise their cumulative science GPA to 3.3.  If the student does not achieve the minimum cumulative science GPA requirement within one semester, the student will be dismissed from the dual-degree program;
3. Commensurate with the above requirements, the overall cumulative and science GPA must be a 3.3 by the end of the spring semester of the third year;
4. Remain in good academic standing for Hofstra University (i.e., cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater).  If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, thereby placing them on academic probation by the University, the student will be automatically dismissed from the dual degree program.
5. Complete a successful interview during the junior year;
6. Successful completion of a background check without any convictions during their junior year;
7. Attend Hofstra University for all undergraduate coursework;
8. Follow the prescribed pre-professional curriculum;
9. Complete three years in-residence before entering the professional phase of the program;
10. Meet with a pre-professional science adviser (and the PA program adviser, if appropriate) at least once each semester;
11. Document 50 hours of health care experience.
12. Obtain a letter recommending admission to the graduate phase of the program from a faculty member from one of the PHA classes at the end of the spring semester of the student’s junior year;
13. Submit a $1500 deposit (applied to graduate tuition after students receive the BS degree) to reserve a seat in the graduate phase.

Should a student meet all conditions, space will be reserved in the professional phase of the PA program beginning in his/her senior year.  If a student withdraws from the program, they forfeit the seat reserved for them in the professional phase of the program.

The science grade point average is calculated using ALL science courses taken beginning with CHEM, BIOL, BCHM, or PHYS.  If a course is repeated, both classes will count in the science GPA calculations.  BIOL 124  is excluded from this calculation.  The only other courses that will be counted towards the science GPA are HSCI 103 and HSCI 105.

Students who do not meet every condition for the first-year dual-degree option may apply to the graduate program as an external candidate via www.caspaonline.org.

Dual Degree Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 167

BS/MS in Physician Assistant Studies

Five and One-Half Year Sequence

Candidates for the dual degree (BS/MS) must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The successful completion of at least 167 semester hours.
2. The successful completion of the progression requirements listed above.
3. The successful completion of the Pre-Professional Phase (Undergraduate Phase) comprised of 88 credits and includes completion of the student’s Pre-PA Curricular Plan and Additional Courses as listed below.
4. The successful completion of the Professional Phase (Graduate Phase - (See Below)): 79 semester hours.

Complete BS Requirements

BS Requirements  in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Graduation Requirements

Graduation is dependent upon successful completion of the following:

1. All courses in the physician assistant curriculum, including all clinical rotations;
2. Completion of all research semester requirements;
3. A cumulative grade point average of 3. 0 must be earned;
4. Successfully passing all summative examinations;
5. Meeting all patient and procedural log requirements;
6. Passing a faculty review of professional behavior throughout the entire program;
7. Any student enrolled in the dual-degree Pre-PA program must also complete all Hofstra University requirements as published in the University Bulletin.

Eligibility to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination is contingent upon the successful completion of all program requirements.