Masters in Physician Assistant Studies
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Program Requirements
Hours: 109
First Year
PAS 500 PA Profession: Evolving Issues in Medicine and Ethics (2)
PAS 505 Medical Interview and Physical Examination with Lab (3)
PAS 505A Medical Interview and Physical Examination (LAB) (0)
PAS 515 Evidence Based Medicine and Nutrition(2)
PAS 530 Pharmacology I (3)
PAS 535 Principles of Medicine I (4)
PAS 540 Patient Assessment I with LAB (3)
PAS 540A Patient Assessment I (LAB) (0)
PAS 545 Clinical Skills in Medicine I with LAB (2)
PAS 545A Clinical Skills in Medicine I (LAB) (0)
PAS 550 Clinical Approach to Behavioral Health (2)
PAS 555 Pharmacology II (3)
PAS 560 Principles of Medicine II (6)
PAS 565 Clinical Decision Making (2)
PAS 570 Patient Assessment II with LAB (3)
PAS 570A Patient Assessment II (LAB) (0)
PAS 575 Clinical Skills in Medicine II with LAB (2)
PAS 575A Clinical Skills in Medicine II (LAB) (0)
PAS 585 Preventive Medicine Across the Life Span and Population Health (2)
BIO 515 Human Anatomy for Physician Assistants with LAB (5)
BIO 515A Human Anatomy for Physician Assistants (LAB) (0)
BIO 520 Genetics and Disease Screening (3)
BIO 525 Medical Physiology for Physician Assistants (3)
Second Year
PAS 600 Family Medicine I (5)
PAS 610 Internal Medicine (5)
PAS 620 Emergency Medicine (5)
PAS 630 General Surgery (5)
PAS 640 Pediatrics (5)
PAS 650 Behavioral Health (5)
PAS 660 Women's Health (5)
PAS 670 Orthopedics (5)
PAS 708 Elective Clinical Experience- Special Populations (5)
Third Year
PAS 700 Elective Clinical Experience I (5)
PAS 705 Elective Clinical Experience II (5)
PAS 710 Summative Evaluation (4)
Technical Standards for Physician Assistant Studies
The Mount St. Joseph University Physician Assistant program has established specific technical standards for admission. These standards reflect the minimum mental and physical requirements necessary to become a Physician Assistant. Candidates for the Mount St. Joseph University PA program should review these standards before making the decision to apply. While not a component of the program application, students invited to enroll in the program, will be required to provide an attestation statement from a health care professional (i.e., MD, PA or APRN) verifying that the student meets these technical standards. Students who need accommodation must meet with the University’s Director of the Learning Center and Disability Services to make this determination.
Observation
Students must be able to observe demonstrations and conduct experiments in the basic sciences, including, but not limited to: physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations in animals, microbiologic cultures, and microscopic studies of micro-organisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. A student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand, noting non-verbal as well as verbal signals. Specific vision-related requirements include, but are not limited to, the following abilities: skin, culture media, and dipstick tests; visualizing and discriminating findings on x-rays and other imaging tests; reading written and illustrated material; observing demonstrations in the classroom, including projected slides and overheads; discriminating numbers and patterns associated with diagnostic instruments and tests such as sphygmomanometers and electrocardiograms; using instruments competently, to include stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, and microscope.
Communication
Students must be able to relate effectively with patients, conveying a sense of compassion and empathy. A student must be able to communicate clearly with and observe patients in order to elicit information, accurately describing changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive verbal as well as non-verbal communications. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing. Professional education for physician assistants presents exceptional challenges in the volume and breadth of required reading and the necessity to impart information to others. Students must be able to communicate quickly, effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with all members of the health care team. Specific requirements include but are not limited to the following abilities: communicating rapidly and clearly with the medical team on rounds; eliciting a thorough history from patients; and communicating complex findings in appropriate terms to patient and to various members of the health care team (fellow students, physicians, nurses, aides, therapists, social workers) and others. Students must learn to recognize and promptly respond to emotional communications such as sadness, worry, agitation, and lack of comprehension of health care communication. Each student must be able to read and to record observations and plans legibly, efficiently and accurately in documents such as the patient record. Students must be able to prepare and communicate concise but complete summaries of individual encounters and complex, prolonged encounters, including hospitalizations. Students must be able to complete forms according to directions in a complete and timely fashion.
Sensory and Motor Coordination or Function
Students must have sufficient sensory and motor function to perform a physical examination utilizing palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. In general, this requires sufficient exteroceptive sense (touch, pain and temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis and vibratory), and motor function. A student should be able to execute motor movements reasonably promptly to urgencies within the hospital, and must not hinder the ability of their co-workers to provide prompt care, measure angles and diameters of various body structures using tape measure and goniometer, measure blood pressure and pulse. A student should be able to learn to perform basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, complete blood count, etc.), and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (phlebotomy, arterial blood gas drawings, lumbar puncture, arthrocentesis, etc.). Examples of such emergency treatment reasonably required of physician assistants include arriving quickly when called and initiating appropriate therapeutic procedures, administering intravenous medication, applying pressure to stop bleeding, opening obstructed airways, suturing uncomplicated wounds, and performing uncomplicated obstetrical maneuvers.
Intellectual-Conceptual Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, judgment, numerical recognition and synthesis. Problem solving, a critical skill demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities, and must be performed quickly, especially in emergency situations. Students must be able to identify significant findings from history, physical examination, and laboratory data, provide a reasoned explanation for likely diagnoses, and prescribe medications and therapy, recalling and retaining information in an efficient and timely manner. The ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans is essential. Good judgment in patient assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic planning is essential; students must be able to identify and communicate the limits of their knowledge to others when appropriate. Student must be able to interpret graphs describing biologic relationships and perform other similar modes of data analysis.
Behavioral Attributes
Empathy, integrity, honesty, concern for others, good interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that are required. Students must possess the emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. At times, this requires the ability to be aware of and appropriately react to one’s own immediate emotional responses. For example, students must maintain a professional demeanor and organization in the face of long hours and personal fatigue, dissatisfied patients, and tired colleagues. Students must be able to develop professional relationships with patients, providing comfort and reassurance when appropriate while protecting patient confidentiality. Students must possess adequate endurance to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. All students are at times required to work for extended periods, occasionally with rotating shifts. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Students are expected to accept appropriate suggestions and criticism and if necessary, respond by modification of behavior.
Physician Assistant Program Admission Requirements
Every applicant who is interested in attending the Mount St Joseph University PA program must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal https://portal.caspaonline.org/.
The following are the admission requirements of the MSJ PA program. Every applicant that is successful in meeting these requirements will be considered for an interview for the current cycle if their application is submitted within the window of application for the program. This window begins at the end of April when the CASPA portal opens. All applications must be verified through CASPA by September 1st.
MSJ PA Program Requirements:
1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and science GPA of 3.0.
2. Course of study must include the successful completion (grade of C minus or greater) of the following courses with labs as indicated (+).
General Chemistry (one year) +
Organic Chemistry +
Biochemistry
General Biology (one year) +
Microbiology
Anatomy and Physiology (one year) +
Developmental Psychology
Statistics
Prerequisite Course Guidelines
Each course must have a final grade of a C minus or higher.
Each prerequisite course must have been completed within 10 years of matriculation into the program (January of the year you start), except for Anatomy and Physiology I & II with lab, which must be completed within 5 years of matriculation.
The program will accept Advanced Placement (AP) and CLEP credit for prerequisite courses. These Advanced Placement (AP) and CLEP courses will not calculate into the GPA.
The program may accept online and hybrid courses from regionally accredited institutions, pending review of the syllabus by the Admissions Committee to assure the material delivered is comparable to a similar class delivered in a traditional classroom format.
The program will accept the higher grade for prerequisite courses that have been retaken, replacing the prior grade in GPA calculations.
Any applicant who has expired pre-requisites, but has been working continually as a certified or licensed health care provider since the conclusion of their schooling may be eligible to have their pre-requisite courses waived. If this applies to you, please send a direct letter of request to Bethany Spencer (Bethany.spencer@msj.edu). The Admissions Committee will review and decide on these requests on an individual basis.
3. Three letters of Recommendation
One letter must be from a certified physician assistant.
Other suggestions include previous supervisor, professor, professional or social colleague.
Please do not have family members or friends write your letters of recommendation.
4. A minimum of 500 hours of Health-Related Experience
CASPA defines Health-Related Experience as: Both paid and unpaid work or internships in a health or health-related field. This includes direct interaction; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and/or their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record-keeping information, working as a scribe, CNA (depending on job description), medical assistant, etc.
The program does not require any hours related to direct-patient-care experience however, the program gives preference to applicants who exceed 200 hours of direct-patient-care experience. (See Preference section below for further details).
The program does not count positions such as scribe, pharm tech, lab assistant, research assistant or COVID contact tracer as direct patient care hours however, they are still honored as health-related experiences.
5. Minimum of 40 hours shadowing a certified physician assistant in a clinical setting
Virtual shadowing hours do not count towards this requirement or health-related experience.
6. TOEFL iBT Requirement for international students or those students who did not attend a high school where English is the primary language. Information can be accessed at https://www.ets.org/toefl
A minimum score of 104 is required with at least a 26 in each of the following categories:\
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
MSJ PA Program Preferences
The following are items that the program values and takes into consideration while reviewing applications for interview invitations. The program reviews verified applications within a couple weeks of submission. Due to this timeline, the following preferences are considered at the time of application. These are NOT considered program requirements.
Graduates of Mount St. Joseph University
Veterans of the Armed Forces
In order to receive VA Educational Benefits, students must have their Clinical Rotations limited to Ohio hospitals that have been approved by the Veteran’s Administration.
Residents of Greater Cincinnati (includes the following OH–KY–IN Counties)Dearborn County, Indiana
Franklin County, Indiana
Ohio County, Indiana
Boone County, Kentucky
Bracken County, Kentucky
Campbell County, Kentucky
Gallatin County, Kentucky
Grant County, Kentucky
Kenton County, Kentucky
Pendleton County, Kentucky
Brown County, Ohio
Clermont County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Butler County, Ohio
Clinton County, Ohio
Over 200 Direct-Patient-Care hours
The program defines direct-patient-care hours as paid/unpaid experiences that involve direct interaction with patients for every shift worked. Examples of this include: medical assistant, PCA, home health aide, STNA, patient transporters, EMT, paramedic, athletic trainer, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, nurse, social worker, speech pathologist, audiologist, etc.
Professional demeanor exhibited in correspondence with the program during the application process
Over 20 non-healthcare volunteer or community enrichment experience hours within 5 years of matriculation.
CASPA defines “Non-healthcare volunteer or community enrichment experience” as: Volunteer work done outside of the healthcare field; for example, working for Habitat for Humanity, tutoring students, participating or working for a fundraiser walk or blood drive, etc.
Over 40 hours of physician assistant (PA) shadowing experience from multiple settings.
A cumulative or science GPA that surpasses a 3.0.
We also value other non-academic attributes such as
Leadership
Diversity of life experiences
Success in overcoming adversity
Underrepresented medical minorities
First generation college student
Economically disadvantage
Admission timeline and process:
At the time of application review, the program faculty and staff on the Admissions Committee identify applicants by their CAPSA ID and are blinded to applicant name and other personal demographics (that do not pertain to preferences listed above). Applicant review involves consideration of the following information: academic achievements, health related experiences, non-healthcare volunteer experience, PA shadowing experience, responses to program custom questions, personal statements, and interpersonal communication skills. After completion of the initial application process, a prospective student may be offered an interview with the PA program admissions committee. The program conducts rolling admissions, with seat offers extended between July and December. Those who have accepted are required to make a $1,000 non-refundable deposit (later applied towards first-semester tuition) by the deadline communicated by the program to verify their seat in the program. All communication from the program at this time will be delivered to the applicant via e-mail through CASPA.
Following acceptance into the program, but prior to matriculation, students must complete the following pre-program requirements:
Complete a criminal background check and drug screening evaluation.
Provide proof of immunization status consistent with the current CDC recommendations for health-care workers.
Provide proof of health insurance coverage.
Complete a medical screening examination with a health-care professional who attests the student meets the Technical Standards for Physician Assistant students with reasonable accommodation, if necessary.
Medical Screening Examination Form
Additional background checks, drug screening, and proof of immunization will occur annually throughout the program and as may be required by clinical rotation sites. This will be done at the student’s expense.
There is no acceleration or advanced standing in the program regardless of prior experience or degree.
No applicant who was dismissed from, or discontinued their participation in a health professional program due to an academic deficiency or non-academic policy violation(s) will be considered for admission.
Academic Progression
Progression to graduation with a Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) requires the student to complete all didactic courses and subsequent clinical rotations with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. It requires completion of the summative evaluation, during which the student must demonstrate competence in medical knowledge, clinical skills, interpersonal communication, clinical decision-making, and professionalism. Students must complete all didactic courses in the offered sequence and their clinical rotations within three months of the scheduled graduation date, unless they have been granted deceleration or a leave of absence. The maximum allowable time for completion of the program, inclusive of any period of deceleration, leave of absence, or delayed graduation, shall not exceed 45 months (3 years 9 months) from the original matriculation date, with the exception of mandatory time in the National Guard or Reserves.