MS Entry Requirements (Post-Baccalaureate)

Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for the MS program.

1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2;
2. Cumulative GPA of 3.2 in the science courses;
3. Completion of all prerequisite course work;
4. Personal essay;
5. Two letters of recommendation;
6. Documentation of 50 hours of health care experience;
7. Successful completion of a background check without any convictions;
8. 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
   

Prerequisite Course Work

All prerequisite course work must be completed before matriculation into the physician assistant program. It is necessary to indicate courses in progress or planned on the CASPA application.

1. General biology (with laboratory): 8 s.h.
2. General chemistry (with laboratory): 8 s.h.
3. Human physiology: 4 s.h.
4. Human anatomy: 4 s.h.
5. Biochemistry: 3 s.h. or organic chemistry: 4 s.h.
6. Statistics: 3 s.h.
7. Microbiology: 4 s.h.
8. Genetics, or cell biology, or another upper-level biology course: 3-4 s.h.

Please note the following conditions:

1. Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and either biochemistry or organic chemistry must have been taken within the five years preceding the start of the curriculum.
2. General biology and general chemistry may be waived in circumstances where more advanced courses have been passed with a grade of B+ or better.
3. Completion of prerequisites at a United States-accredited four (4)-year college or university is preferred.
4. Completion of prerequisites designated for science majors is preferred.

Application

Students must apply to the program in physician assistant studies through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applications are submitted to CASPA on line at www.caspaonline.org. The deadline is October 1 for admission to the class beginning the subsequent September. Applications must be completed (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received, and two letters received) at lease four weeks in advance of the deadline to ensure the application is verified by CASPA in time.   Admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis.

Applicants should be aware that a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 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.

Admission to the PA program is granted on a rolling basis. Those who apply earliest have the best chance of being invited for an interview and therefore being offered a seat.

MS Program Curriculum - Total Semester Hours: 79

The following major and additional requirements can be fulfilled as follows:

MS in Physician Assistant Studies

Two and one-half Year Sequence

Full-time Students: 79 s.h.

Tuition

Graduate students in the PA Professional Phase of the program will be charged the standard graduate tuition .

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 curriculum requirements, including the board refresher course;
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)  A faculty review of professional behavior throughout the entire program;
7)  Any student enrolled in the dual-degree program must also complete all Hofstra University requirements.