Students who have completed a bachelor's degree and are applying to the Master of Science Program, must:
Apply online through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
Have a minimum 3.2 CASPA evaluated undergraduate GPA or a 3.2 completed Graduate Degree GPA at the time in which your application is submitted.
Have completed the prerequisite courses within the past seven years at a CASPA-verified U.S. institution and with a combined GPA for these courses of at least 3.2 at the time your application is submitted. There is an exception to the seven-year rule for candidates who have been continually enrolled - with a gap of no more than one year - in a health science program since completion of prerequisite coursework.
Participate in an interview (if invited) with faculty from Seton Hill and the Physician Assistant Program.
Possess strong oral and written language skills (international students are required to have an IELTS score of 7 or TOEFL scores as follows: 650 paper; 114 Internet; 280 computer).
As a Seton Hill Physician Assistant Program student you will enjoy wide-ranging academic experiences and hands-on clinical practice. Our faculty are dedicated educators and experienced health care providers. At Seton Hill, we educate students to become clinically competent physician assistants who care for the whole patient - respecting diversity and delivering 'patient-centered' care that is ethically sound.
Premier Learning Experiences, Clinical Rotations & Research Opportunities
Seton Hill's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month program that begins in January and graduates in May. 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. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules training and certification is provided to every student. The program concludes with a clinical training year, involving clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. In addition, each student is involved in research.
Why Choose Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program?
U.S. News & World Reports ranks Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Graduate Program one of the best in the nation - and the best in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Collectively, Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program faculty members have more than 120 years of clinical practice experience.
94% of Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program graduates who have taken the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) in the past five years have passed it on their first attempt. Pass Rate Report (PDF)
99% of Seton Hill Physician Assistant Graduates have passed the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
Students entering the program as freshmen can earn their B.S. and their M.S. in only five years.
Top-notch classroom, lab and clinical learning facilities and resources in the Boyle Health Sciences Center.
Small classes allow students to work directly with faculty members in a supportive environment.
Seton Hill’s Physician Assistant Student Society provides both undergraduate and graduate students in the Physician Assistant Program with opportunities for community service and attendance at statewide conferences.
Seton Hill's program is fully-accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) through March 2024.
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Physician Assistant Curriculum
Master of Science
SPA 500 - Clinical Year Orientation (Physician Assistant) 0 Credit(s)
SPA 510 - Behavioral Medicine (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 515 - Medical Ethics (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 520 - Pathophysiology I (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 521 - Pathophysiology II (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 522 - Pathophysiology III (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 540 - Human Gross Anatomy I (Physician Assistant) 4 Credit(s)
SPA 541 - Human Gross Anatomy II (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 550 - History & Physical I (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 551 - History & Physical I Lab (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 552 - History & Physical II (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 553 - History & Physical II Lab (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 600 - Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 610 - Procedures & Diagnostics I (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 611 - Procedures & Diagnostics II (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 620 - Pharmacology I (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 621 - Pharmacology II (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 622 - Pharmacology III (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 640 - Primary Care Modules I (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 641 - Primary Care Modules II (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 642 - Primary Care Modules III (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 643 - Special Populations (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 650 - Clinical Medicine I (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 651 - Clinical Medicine II (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 652 - Clinical Medicine III (Physician Assistant) 5 Credit(s)
SPA 653 - Clinical Medicine IV (Physician Assistant) 5 Credit(s)
SPA 660 - General Surgery (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 661 - General Surgery Laboratory (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 680 - Clinical Decision Making (Physician Assistant) 2 Credit(s)
SPA 720 - Clinical Rotation I (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 725 - Clinical Rotation II (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 730 - Clinical Rotation III (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 735 - Clinical Rotation IV (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 740 - Clinical Rotation V (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 745 - Clinical Rotation VI (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 750 - Clinical Rotation VII (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 755 - Clinical Rotation VIII (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 760 - Clinical Rotation IX (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 765 - Clinical Rotation X (Physician Assistant) 3 Credit(s)
SPA 919 - Intro to Evidence Based Principles (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 930 - Grand Rounds I (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 931 - Grand Rounds II (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
SPA 932 - Grand Rounds III (Physician Assistant) 1 Credit(s)
Total Credits: 94
The job outlook for physician assistants is strong, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects it to grow much faster than the average. In 2020, physician assistants earned an average of $115,390 per year. The job growth outlook for the Physician Assistant profession is projected to be 31% higher than other careers for the period of 2019-2029.
InsuranceFee: 1,999 USD
