Pathway Program
Pre-PA Pathway
The Pre-Physician Assistant pathway program prepares students for admission to MSPA programs through a strong science foundation and hands-on clinical experience. Students receive personalized advising and build the skills needed to become competitive applicants in a growing healthcare field.
Dig Deeper Into the program
Explore coursework, clinical experience, and advising designed to prepare you for physician assistant programs and a career in patient-centered healthcare.
Pre-PA is a 3+2 pathway program that guides students from their undergraduate studies into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program at College of Saint Mary. The benefit of a pathway like this is a clear, accelerated route to your career, allowing you to become a licensed, practicing physician assistant in as little as five years after high school.
Pre-PA students apply for their desired bachelor’s degree program. Common majors include:
Students meet with a dedicated advisor each semester to stay on track with GPA, prerequisite courses, and patient care experience. As benchmarks are met, students progress toward eligibility for the MSPAS program, creating a clear, guided path from undergraduate study to graduate-level training.
In the final stage, students transition into the MSPAS program, where they develop advanced clinical knowledge, complete hands-on training, and gain the experience needed to succeed as a physician assistant.
Applicants for admission are evaluated based on the following criteria to gain full admission.
- High school record of cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. An applicant for a degree program must have graduated or will have graduated with 16 high school units from an accredited high school. The college preparatory program is strongly recommended to high school students. Ordinarily this program includes four years of English and two years of social studies, science, and mathematics.
- College/university record of cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, if applicable.
Applicants who do not meet the following criteria and show potential for success may be reviewed for an alternate admissions pathway.
Students who have successfully completed the General Education Development Test (GED) and have not accumulated at least 12 collegiate level semester hours credit at a regionally accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA or better will follow the Alternate Admissions Pathway.
Applications open July 1 for the upcoming academic year. CSM follows a rolling admission process, reviewing applications as they are received. We encourage students to apply early for priority consideration for scholarships, housing, and financial aid.
The Mercy Core is CSM’s general education curriculum and the foundation of every degree. Rooted in the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, it integrates ethics, reflection, and action to prepare women to lead with purpose and advance justice in their communities.
Tuition & Aid
Investing in your education is a big decision, and you do not have to navigate it alone. Every admitted full-time undergraduate student is guaranteed a merit scholarship, and CSM offers additional aid and personalized guidance to make your degree attainable. Our team will walk you through your options so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Stand Out From the Rest
Admission to PA programs is highly competitive. This pathway is designed to help you stay focused, prepared, and on track for admission to CSM’s MSPA program. Pre-PA pathway students receive:
- Structured advising & academic planning
- Close-knit cohort of like-minded peers
- Guaranteed admission into CSM’s MSPA program as long as progression benchmarks are met
- An accelerated pathway (4+1) to completing the Masters in Physician Assistant Studies program
Your Roadmap to Admission
From application to enrollment, we guide you through each step with clarity and personal support so you can focus on what matters most and take the next step toward your future.
Why Choose CSM?
Focused PA School Preparation
Coursework and advising align with physician assistant program requirements.
Hands-On Clinical Experience
Opportunities to build patient care hours and real-world healthcare exposure.
Personalized Advising Support
Faculty help students stay on track with GPA, hours, and application milestones.
Strong Foundation for Competitive Applicants
Prepare for the rigor and expectations of PA programs.
I didn’t consider the medical field until my high school anatomy class, but I quickly fell in love with it. Through the Pre-PA pathway, I’m now on track to be working as a PA in just five years.
Jocelyn Farhar, Pre-PA Pathway
Accreditation
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
ARC-PA
At its June 2025 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the College of St. Mary Physician Assistant Program sponsored by College of St. Mary on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in July 2027.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation – Provisional or Accreditation – Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.
Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-college-of-st-mary/.
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Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll help you build a future with confidence.