Physician Assistant Program Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate-entry students earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS) upon successful completion.

Undergraduate-entry (BS/MS) students earn a Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies at the end of the Spring II semester of the graduate phase, and then a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies upon program completion.

If you're applying as an undergraduate (BS/MS) student, you can use the Seton Hill online application.

If you are applying as a graduate student, you will apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Applicants may apply with prerequisite coursework in progress; however, applicants who have completed all prerequisites receive priority during interview review. No more than one prerequisite course may remain outstanding at the end of the spring semester preceding matriculation. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program begins.

Prerequisite courses must be completed at any CASPA-verified U.S. institution.

Online lecture courses and community college courses are accepted.

Online labs are not accepted.

If you have two courses that meet one prerequisite, the higher grade will be used. Both courses may be listed in CASPA.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed within 10 years of the program’s matriculation date. This means that any prerequisite class taken more than 10 years prior to the start of the program will not be accepted toward admission requirements.

For example, if the matriculation date for the program is January 2028, all prerequisite courses must have been completed on or after January 2018.

This policy ensures that applicants’ foundational knowledge in key sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and biology, is current and relevant to the rigor of graduate-level physician assistant education.

Graduate applicants must meet a minimum GPA of 3.2 in each of the following areas:

• Cumulative GPA
• Prerequisite GPA
• Undergraduate science GPA

Cumulative and science GPAs are calculated by CASPA. Applicants who do not meet any of these minimum GPA requirements will be denied admission.

BS/MS applicants must meet a minimum GPA of 3.2 in each of the following areas:

• Cumulative High School GPA
• Cumulative High School Science GPA

AP credits are not accepted for any PA Program prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited institution with a grade of C or higher.

However, undergraduate (BS/MS) applicants may be able to transfer AP or dual-enrollment credits toward other undergraduate degree requirements, but not toward PA-specific prerequisites.

The GRE is not required. Seton Hill uses a holistic review process that evaluates academic performance, healthcare experience, and readiness for the program rather than standardized test scores.

Graduate-entry (MS) applicants are required to complete a minimum of 300 hours of direct patient care experience, which may be either paid or volunteer, and to shadow three physician assistants in different specialties for at least four hours each. All direct patient care and shadowing requirements must be completed by the time of matriculation if the applicant is accepted into the program. Applicants may apply with outstanding hours as long as they are actively working toward completing them prior to the program start date.

Undergraduate-entry (BS/MS) applicants are encouraged to provide evidence of both healthcare/patient contact and physician assistant shadowing. 

Direct transfers into the B.S./M.S. or M.S. Physician Assistant Programs are not accepted.

However, undergraduate students may transfer to Seton Hill University into another major, including our Health Science Pre-PA Program, which is specifically designed to prepare students for graduate PA studies.

Transfer students who enroll at Seton Hill before the spring semester of their sophomore year may be eligible to apply for the PA Early Assurance Admissions Pathway at the end of their sophomore year. Students who meet the Early Assurance requirements are guaranteed an interview for a future seat in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program. Admission through this pathway is competitive and not guaranteed.

Students who transfer at the beginning of their junior year or later are not eligible for Early Assurance but may still apply directly to the graduate M.S. Program through CASPA once they meet the admissions requirements.

International students are not eligible for admission to either Seton Hill University's B.S./M.S. Physician Assistant Program or Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program.

No preference is given to current Seton Hill students or alumni applying through the traditional M.S. Physician Assistant admissions process. All applicants are evaluated using the same admissions criteria.

However, current Seton Hill undergraduate students have an additional opportunity through the PA Early Assurance Admissions Pathway. Eligible students may apply for a future seat in the M.S. Physician Assistant Program at the end of their sophomore year. Students who meet the Early Assurance requirements are guaranteed an interview, although admission is competitive and not guaranteed.

Lecture Courses: 1 instructor per 50 students

Lab Courses: 1 instructor per 13 students

Problem-Based Learning: Small groups of 10–12 students

Undergraduate (BS/MS) class schedule can differ for each student, depending on their choice of courses.

Graduate-level classes typically run 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., with occasional evening or Saturday sessions.

During the clinical phase, students complete a minimum of 36–40 hours per week of patient care, which may include evenings, weekends, or night shifts.

Graduate program tuition and fees can be found here.

Students in the five-year BS/MS program pay undergraduate tuition and fees (with scholarships applied) for the first 3.5 years and graduate tuition and fees for the final three terms.

Graduate-entry (MS) students: $1,000 nonrefundable deposit, applied to tuition.

BS/MS students: $500 (commuter)/$650 (resident) nonrefundable deposit, credited when they enter the graduate phase.

Both deposits serve to guarantee a seat in the program.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Seton Hill University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Seton Hill University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. More details on Seton Hill's accreditation status.

This marks more than 25 years of continued accreditation of Seton Hill's PA program and its longstanding commitment to excellence in PA education.