Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)

Graduate programs at College of Saint Mary are coed.

Degrees Offered

• Master’s
• Pre-PA Pathway

Start Terms

• Fall

Program Format

• On-campus

Credit Hours & Timeline

• Total credits required: 106
• Typical completion time: 2 years

Curriculum Highlights

• Human Anatomy & Physiology: Build a deep understanding of the human body through advanced study of anatomical structure and physiological systems.
• Clinical Medicine by Body System: Diagnose and manage diseases across major organ systems including cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, and gastrointestinal medicine.
• Pharmacology for Clinical Practice: Learn how medications work, how they interact, and how to safely prescribe treatments for a wide range of medical conditions.
• Patient Assessment & Clinical Skills: Develop hands-on skills in patient interviews, physical examinations, clinical documentation, and diagnostic reasoning.
• Clinical Rotations: Apply classroom knowledge through supervised rotations in specialties such as primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, and pediatrics.

Criteria To Be Considered

• A complete CASPA application
• A baccalaureate degree from a United States regionally accredited college or university
• A baccalaureate degree from outside the United States will be accepted if the student can document equivalency of a U.S. bachelor’s degree through a foreign transcript evaluation service and completion of an additional 24 credit hours in biology or chemistry departments at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university prior to application.
• Minimum grade of “C” in all prerequisite courses
• Minimum cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale​
• Minimum of 300 hours of healthcare clinical experience
• No GRE or standardized test is required
• No CASPer or Altus Suite Assessment is required
• Three professional references (academic and supervisory individuals are preferred).
• Ability to complete all MSPAS matriculation requirements within 4-6 months of entry.
• Includes requirements for immunizations, tuberculosis screening, physical examination, criminal background check, urine drug screening, and health insurance requirements
• Students entering the program must have the ability to comply with the CSM PAS Program Technical Standards

Admission Preferences

• CSM alumni, military, first generation, fluency in a second language, and HRSA (Health Resources & Services Administration) Indicators will receive special consideration on the application evaluation.

Admissions Process and Decisions 

Admission to the PAS graduate program is competitive with a limited number of seats in each cohort.  Meeting the minimum admission requirements above does not ensure acceptance into the PAS program.  The PAS program does not award or grant advanced placement. Admission decisions are made by the PAS Admissions Committee and will be made based on the following:

• Past academic performance (GPA and completed courses, particularly science and math courses)
• Documented academic aptitude (collegiate GPA)
• Extra- and co-curricular activities
• Medical and/or clinical experiences (shadowing, volunteering, etc.)
• Recommendations from qualified individuals with knowledge of the applicant’s character and performance
• Communication, professionalism, and interpersonal skills via essay, interview, and review of letters of reference

CASPA Application Process

1. Submit CASPA application by November 1^st, 11:59 EST
2. Send official transcripts from all college credit institutions to CASPA
3. Send Non-U.S. transcripts evaluated through the World Education Services, Inc. (preferred agency) to CASPA
4. Request 3 letters of recommendation (evaluations) through CASPA – if more than 3 are submitted, we will ask you to identify 3 for our review (no family or friends)
5. References, transcripts submitted by December 1st
6. Review of application by the PAS Admissions Committee
7. If selected, participate in an on-campus interview with the PAS Admissions Committee. 
8. Admission decision by the PAS Admissions Committee following a complete application and interview.

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a 2.0 “C” or higher grade.  In progress or planned courses must be reflected on the CASPA application and must be successfully completed by July 1^st of planned year of entry. There is no minimum on the amount of in progress or planned courses.

• Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab (minimum 8 semester credits). Minimum of one semester of each or two semesters of a combined sequenced course
• Microbiology with lab
• Upper-level Biology course (lab preferred) 
• General Chemistry with lab (minimum 8 semester credits). Two semesters in a sequenced course
• Organic Chemistry with lab (minimum 4 semester credits). At least one semester as required for Biochemistry (two semesters preferred)
• Biochemistry. Acceptable course must at a minimum require Organic Chemistry 1 as a prerequisite
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental/Lifespan Psychology
• Statistics
• Medical Terminology. Either a college/university course or certificate program will be acceptable

Repeated Course Work

A course repeated at the same institution will have the most recent grade used in the GPA calculations.  If the course is repeated more than once, only one grade (the lowest received) will be replaced by the most recent grade received. 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible for admission to the CSM PAS program.  Minimum scores are based on language skills needed to successfully complete the PA curriculum, including clinical education requirements, as well as sit for the certification exam.

Paper-based TOEFL exam, minimum score of 600
Internet-based TOEFL exam, minimum score of 100, minimum of 20 in each sub test
Internet-based IELTS exam, minimum of 7.5, minimum of 7.5 for each sub-test

Results should be sent directly from ETS to College of Saint Mary institutional code 6106. 

Fall 2027 Start

• Application open: April 30, 2026
• Application closes: November 1, 2026
• Classes start: August 2027

Qualified applicants will be notified via email regarding their admission status. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. Once the cohort is filled, additional applications may not be considered, so early submission is strongly encouraged.

NCCPA PANCE Pass Rate

The Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) is a computer-based, multiple-choice test that assesses medical and surgical knowledge. This examination must be successfully passed in order for graduates to become eligible for licensure. 

Physician Assistant Program Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Saint Mary PA Program is to foster excellence, leadership, compassion, and inclusivity to prepare skilled, ethical, and service-driven clinicians, consistent with our core values.

Program Goals

Explore the program goals guiding MSPAS training, clinical learning, and professional development.

Student Work and Participation Policy

The program strongly discourages any type of outside work during the first 12 months of study in the program.  Students are prohibited from working during clinical rotations.  Program responsibilities are not negotiable, and will not be altered due to student work obligations.  The following apply to all students for the duration of the PA program:

• Students may not be hired as employees for any private or public practice, clinic, or other institution to perform any medical services during any time they are part of the Physician Assistant Program.  College of Saint Mary holds no liability for services provided by the student in such capacity.
• Students may not be given any payments, stipends, or other remuneration for medical services performed as part of the physician assistant educational program.
• Students may not work or volunteer in any capacity that allows access to student files. 
• Students may volunteer their medical services to charitable, humanitarian, or community service organizations only when such services are assigned or approved within the PA program.  All volunteer requests must be cleared by the PA program director before the student can partake in the volunteer activity.
• Students may not substitute for regular clinical or administrative staff during the clinical phase.
• Students may not act as instructional faculty for any component of the PAS curriculum. 
• Students are not allowed to participate in CSM athletic teams or take additional courses outside of the PA curriculum while enrolled in the PA program unless approved by the PA program director.

Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Solicitation Policy

Currently enrolled, as well as prospective students, are not allowed to arrange their own clinical experiences nor solicit clinical sites or preceptors.  Reasonable effort will be made to accommodate student preference requests, but in ALL cases, the final determination for rotation times, sites, and activities will be at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator.