Frequently Asked Questions — MSPAS

To be considered for admission to DMU’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, students must satisfy the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. You can apply before receiving the degree.
• Minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA*
• 750 hours of direct patient care experience as an employee or volunteer in a medical office, hospital or extended-care facility
• No grade lower than a C in prerequisite courses

* CASPA may show a different GPA than your university transcripts due to retaken courses. See more information on CASPA GPA Calculations.

Applicants to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at DMU must complete specific prerequisite coursework before matriculation. You may apply while courses are still in progress, provided all requirements are completed before starting the program. Required courses include:

• Biology — 16 semester hours, including anatomy, physiology, microbiology and genetics. Labs required when available
• Chemistry — 15 semester hours, including inorganic, organic and biochemistry. Labs required when available
• Psychology — 6 semester hours, including abnormal psychology, which explores a range of psychological disorders and examines how biological, developmental and sociocultural factors interact in the development of atypical behavior and functioning.
• Statistics or Biostatistics — 1 course
• Medical Terminology — 1 course

Completion of biology and chemistry prerequisites within five years of matriculation is strongly recommended.

As an applicant, you must have completed at least 750 hours of direct patient care experience as an employee or volunteer in a medical office, hospital or extended-care facility. Shadowing a physician assistant is required.

Your experiences may be combined, but all acceptable clinical experiences must involve hands-on care of patients. Patient care experiences obtained through the military (combat medic, field medical tech, etc.) are especially competitive. You may apply to the PA program before completing the patient care experience hours, but you must indicate a plan for completion on your application. Completion of PA shadowing hours before application is typically expected for favorable consideration.

You can apply to DMU’s MSPAS program through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants.

CASPA applications open in April for the class that begins the following June. The application deadline is March 1, and admissions are rolling, so early application is strongly recommended.

DMU’s MSPAS program follows a two-part interview process:

• The first interview is a competency-based interview that includes an asynchronous assessment.
• The second is a synchronous virtual or in-person group experience.

Because of the rolling admissions schedule, those who apply early in the admissions cycle are more likely to be interviewed than those who apply later.

Guaranteed interview options are available to students at partner institutions who meet GPA and prerequisite criteria.

No. The MSPAS program does not allow transfer credits, advanced standing or advanced placement, regardless of previous graduate work in health care.

All incoming students must complete the entire PA curriculum.