Admissions Process & Requirements
Physician Assistant MS Program: Three Pathways to Admission
- Direct Entry to MS (details below)
- Early Assurance Program
- BS/MS Program
Physician Assistant MS Program Direct Entry Admission Information
Seton Hill's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month program. During the first 15 months of the graduate program, students benefit from the expertise of Seton Hill's premier faculty through lectures, practical lab sessions, case presentations, problem-based learning sessions and off-campus clinical interactions. Additionally, students will learn how to interpret medical literature and research studies, and how to apply these to clinical practice. The program concludes with a clinical training year, involving clinical rotations in healthcare facilities.
Students holding a bachelor's degree (by the program start date) and the required prerequisite coursework are eligible to apply.
Beginning with the 2027–2028 Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application cycle, international applicants and individuals who are not citizens of the United States are not eligible for admission to the MS Physician Assistant Program. International applicants are defined as graduates of foreign undergraduate and graduate institutions who do not also hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an institution of higher learning in the United States.
Questions about the graduate Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program may be directed to:
Lisa Glessner
724-838-4208
paadmission@setonhill.edu
Admissions Timeline & Requirements
The Seton Hill PA Program begins each January. Applications are due by the preceding April 1, with the interview process taking place during the spring and summer. All application materials must be submitted through CASPA. To strengthen your application, we recommend waiting to submit until you've completed as many requirements as possible.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following minimum GPA standards:
- 3.2 cumulative GPA
- 3.2 prerequisite GPA
- 3.2 undergraduate science GPA
Your cumulative GPA and science GPA are calculated by CASPA during the application process; refer to the CASPA website for more details. Applicants not meeting any GPA requirement will be automatically denied.
Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses with a C or better from a CASPA-verified institution (online coursework accepted except labs). Please note that due to the large volume of applicants, we do not conduct transcript evaluations prior to application.
- Medical Terminology
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II (Human Anatomy & Human Physiology) with labs
- Chemistry laboratory
- Organic Chemistry
- Abnormal Psychology or Lifespan Development
- Microbiology with lab
- Introductory Statistics
- Biochemistry
- General Biology
All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of the application cycle. For January 2028 entry, only courses from 2018 or later are valid and courses completed before 2018 will need to be retaken. Students may complete prerequisites at any accredited institution, including community colleges. Applicants may apply with prerequisite coursework in progress. However, the program encourages students to have as many prerequisites completed as possible at the time of application, as applications with completed prerequisite courses will be reviewed first for interview consideration. No more than one prerequisite may remain outstanding at the conclusion of the spring semester preceding matriculation and all prerequisites must be successfully completed prior to matriculation into the program.
Additional Requirements
- 3 letters of recommendation (completed through CASPA)
- 300 hours of healthcare experience
- Healthcare Hours Documentation Form
- 3 separate shadowing sessions, each with a different physician assistant (PA) in a different medical specialty (e.g., pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine)
- Each session must last a minimum of 4 hours
- Shadowing a medical provider other than a PA (e.g., physician, nurse practitioner, midwife, etc.) is not accepted
- Shadowing Hours Documentation Form
Interview Selection Process
Once all requirements are met, applicants become eligible for interview consideration. The program utilizes the rubric below to rank candidates for interview. Each criterion is scored on a 1-4 scale, with a maximum score of 28 points. The top-ranked applicants are invited to interview with PA program faculty. Typically, 40-50 candidates are offered an interview in each admissions cycle.
| 1 POINT | 2 POINTS | 3 POINTS | 4 POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUMULATIVE GPA | 3.20-3.40 | 3.41-3.60 | 3.61-3.80 | 3.81-4.00 |
| PREREQUISITE GPA | 3.20-3.40 | 3.41-3.60 | 3.61-3.80 | 3.81-4.00 |
| UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE GPA | 3.20-3.40 | 3.41-3.60 | 3.61-3.80 | 3.81-4.00 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY GRADE (First Attempt) | Lower than C | C or C+ | B-, B, B+ | A- or better |
| HUMAN A&P 1 GRADE (First Attempt) | Lower than C | C or C+ | B-, B, B+ | A- or better |
| PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE | Involvement in patient care team with no need for professional judgment (e.g., scribe, pharmacy technician, hospital/clinic volunteer) | Hands-on patient care with limited need for professional judgment (e.g., patient care aid, medical assistant, physical therapy assistant) | Patient care involving assessment and requiring some professional judgment (e.g., emergency medical technician, respiratory therapist, dietitian) | Patient care with independent decision-making and/or requiring significant professional judgment (e.g., paramedic, registered nurse) |
| REFERENCE AVERAGE SCORE | <3.0 | 3.0-3.99 | 4.0-4.49 | > 4.5 |
Interviews
Invited applicants will be evaluated on the following:
- Communication skills
- Preparedness
- Professionalism
- Respectfulness
- Understanding of the PA role
- Knowledge of Seton Hill’s PA program
Following interviews, applicants will be notified of the admissions decision within weeks.
PA Program Technical Standards
The program is committed to transparency in its admissions process. To help applicants understand the expectations of our program, we have established a clear set of Technical Standards. These standards extend beyond the academic qualifications and outline the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities essential for success in all aspects of the curriculum. They also reflect the professional attributes expected of all students upon graduation. By reviewing these standards, applicants gain a comprehensive understanding of the skills and commitments required throughout the program.
We're Here to Help!
Contact the Office of Graduate and Online Studies at gadmit@setonhill.edu or (724) 838-4208.