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Nov 29, 2024
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2010-2011 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Physician Assistant Studies, B.S./M.S.
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 Return to: HCLAS Programs
Theresa Horvath, Director
Administered by the Department of Biology
Professor Seagull, Chairperson
Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants work in a variety of medical settings, ranging from basic primary care to sub-specialty medicine. Physician assistants are qualified to assist in surgery, attend medical emergencies, or care for patients in out-patient internal medicine, pediatrics or family medicine office and clinics.
Hofstra’s program is designed to provide undergraduates the opportunity to earn both the B.S. and the M.S., as well as to provide graduate instruction for post-baccalaureate students. Undergraduate students first complete the pre-professional phase, consisting of three years of collegiate instruction including all prerequisite courses. Students apply to the program during the third year of undergraduate study, and if successful in gaining admission, enroll in the 28-month professional curriculum. The professional curriculum is divided into three semesters of didactic instruction, three semesters of clinical clerkships and one semester of research. Using a number of learning modalities including case-based learning, students integrate basic science with the study and application of clinical medicine.
During the clinical year of the program, students are assigned to clinical clerkships at affiliated hospitals, private physicians’ offices and community clinics. Located in a variety of medical settings, these clinical campuses offer training in all disciplines of medicine and provide the opportunity for exposure to a wide variety of patient populations. The research semester will culminate in a research project using community partnerships and based on the principles of community-oriented primary care. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). Undergraduate students having completed 126 semester hours of coursework and all Hofstra University undergraduate degree requirements will receive a bachelor of science degree in physician assistant studies(1). All students, including those earning the baccalaureate, will earn a master of science in physician assistant studies upon completion of the entire curriculum(2).
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Prerequisite Requirements
Prerequisite requirements that apply to the program include the following:
- At least 84 semester hours in liberal arts courses must be completed, including all Hofstra University general education requirements and program prerequisite courses;
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0;
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses;
- Personal essay;
- Two letters of recommendation;
- Documentation of 50 to 100 hours of health-care experience;
- International students must take the TOEFL exam and pass with a minimum score of:
Internet-based test: 80
Computer-based test: 213
Paper-based test: 550.
Centralized Application Service
Students must apply to the physician assistant studies program through the Centralized Application Service. Applications are submitted online through the Central Admission Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) or by mail:
CASPA
P.O. Box 9108
Watertown, MA 02471
Telephone: (617) 612-2080
apply@caspaonline.org
Deadline for applications: December 1 of each year for the subsequent fall semester.
Applicants should be aware that a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in science courses do not guarantee entry into the program. The PA program is competitive and only the strongest applicants will be selected for a personal interview with the physician assistant studies program admission committee prior to acceptance into the program. Dual-degree Requirements
Candidates for the dual degree (B.S./M.S.) must fulfill the following requirements:
- The successful completion of at least 163 semester hours. All students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA throughout the physician assistant curriculum.(3)
- The following general requirements: WSC 1 and 2 or placement examination. Distribution course requirement: (for listing of distribution courses, see Distribution Courses ); 6 s.h. of humanities distribution courses (3 s.h. in literature (LT) and 3 s.h. in creative participation (CP, i.e., SPCM 1 or 7 )), and 6 s.h. of social science distribution courses (3 s.h. in behavioral social sciences (BH) and 3 s.h. in history, philosophy, or religion (HP)).
Direct Admission (First-year Students Only)
For those Hofstra University students who enter the program as incoming first-year students, it is possible to proceed directly into the physician assistant program without undergoing the PA admission process in the junior year. In order to qualify, a student must meet each of the following conditions:
- Enter Hofstra University as a first-year student with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in high school academic work and a SAT score of 1230;
- Attend Hofstra University for all undergraduate course work;
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 for the six semesters prior to beginning the PA program curriculum;
- Follow the pre-professional curriculum;
- Meet with a PA program faculty member once each semester;
- Have an interview during the junior year;
- Document 50 to 100 hours of health care experience.
Should a student meet all conditions, a seat will be reserved in the class beginning in his/her senior year. Students who do not meet every condition for the first-year direct entry option may apply to the program via the CASPA process. Such students compete for admission to the program with all others applying through CASPA.
Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 163
The following major and additional requirements can be fulfilled as follows:
B.S./M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
Suggested Five and One-half Year Sequence
Full-time Students: 163 s.h. Pre-PA Phase - Total Semester Hours: 84
Third Year
| FALL |
| Course |
Semester Hours |
| BIO 25 |
4 |
| BIO 140 |
4 |
| Liberal arts electives |
6 |
| Total |
14 |
| SPRING |
| Course |
Semester Hours |
| BIO 100 |
3 |
| Liberal arts electives |
9 |
| Total |
12 |
Professional Phase - Total Semester Hours: 79
Fourth Year
Awarding of B.S. Degree: 126 s.h.Fifth Year
NOTE: Each of these courses must be completed before the end of the program; however, the sequencing varies. Tuition
Students enrolled in the Pre-Pa phase of the program will be charged the standard undergraduate tuition . Students in the PA Professional Phase of the program will be charged the standard graduate tuition . Undergraduates (students who have earned fewer than 126 semester hours in course work, and/or do not hold bachelor’s degrees) enrolled in the PA Professional Phase are eligible to apply for undergraduate financial aid packages. See also: Complete B.S. Requirements
Complete B.S. Requirements in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Notes
(1) Students who complete 126 semester hours of course work and all Hofstra University undergraduate degree requirements are eligible for the B.S. degree; however, they will not be eligible either to sit for the PANCE exam or to receive the M.S. degree until all requirements for the M.S. degree are fulfilled, including completion of the PA Professional Phase of the program.
(2) Students who earn the B.S. in Physician Assistant Studies at Hofstra need only complete 37 additional semester hours of course work to earn the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies. Students who enter the program with a baccalaureate degree from another institution must complete the entire Professional Phase of the program, or 79 semester hours of course work.
(3) For undergraduate transfer students who plan to earn the B.S./M.S., 20 semester hours in the major field of specialization and the last 30 semester hours must both be completed in residence at Hofstra University. The 20 semester hours need not be included within the last 30 hours. |
Return to: HCLAS Programs
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