Earn Your Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the PA Studies program and earn the MS in PA Studies degree, candidates must

• achieve a grade of C or better for all courses in the program
• achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or better at program completion
• successfully pass a multi-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination/history and physical skills assessment with an acceptable score or after remediation
• successfully pass the comprehensive written final exam with an acceptable score or after remediation
• be recommended for graduation by the program chair and Clarkson University faculty
• have paid all debts to the school and be in good standing

Academic Performance Standards

Standards of acceptable performance (cognitive and psychomotor) for courses are communicated to students in writing via the syllabus and orally reviewed at the introduction of the course.

A student must achieve and maintain the required 3.0 semester GPA to remain in good academic standing and graduate from the PA Studies program.

The policy of 3.0 or better in a graduate professional program has been adopted to better ensure student’s preparation for future sequential coursework. Students will be given feedback at the completion of each exam.

Performance in didactic courses is commonly assessed by written exams, oral presentations and/or research papers, as well as final written (cognitive) exams. In designated courses, psychomotor performance may be assessed by target skill competency exams and small group exercises.

During the didactic phase of the program, grades for cognitive performances will be recorded as a raw score and a percentage. At the end of each course, the percentage scores will be converted to a grade, A through F, for each of the core PA courses. Grades of D are not utilized.

Performance in the clinical phase of the program is assessed using a combination of targeted behavioral, psychomotor and clinical competencies relative to the supervised practice objectives and opportunities and, when indicated, by the syllabus for the SCPEs, grand rounds presentations and written cognitive exams.

To remain in good academic standing, all students must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 3.0 and receive a C or better in all courses (an F grade in any course may result in academic dismissal from the program).

Additionally, students may not progress to the clinical year of the program with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 at the end of the third semester of the program.

Faculty will meet formally at the end of each semester to discuss students’ academic progress; students will be notified in writing about the results of their individual progress. Each bi-weekly faculty meeting will include an agenda item on student progress. Additionally, the department will notify Student Administrative Services to comply with the university policy on satisfactory academic progress.

1. Produce highly skilled and compassionate healthcare providers licensed to practice medicine as part of a healthcare team.
2. Establish student competence in medical and evidence-based research through scholarly activity.
3. Develop in students the professionalism, medical knowledge and clinical skills needed to provide comprehensive care to diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings.
4. Instill in students the core values of Clarkson University while fostering a commitment to community service. 

View our programmatic goals and measures

The mission of the Clarkson University Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to prepare exceptional, highly skilled clinicians who actively demonstrate the University’s core values of teamwork, caring, integrity, diversity, service, growth and diligence while compassionately providing for the healthcare needs of their communities. 

Please see below the estimated cost of the Clarkson University Physician Assistant Studies Program. Please note: these costs can vary each year depending on tuition amount and the student.  

DIRECT CHARGES:

INDIRECT CHARGES

Additional Expenses

Parking: $39 per semester

Travel:  Variable

Living expenses: Variable. Visit our page for admitted graduate students for links to local housing information and more. Clarkson does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students.

Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria for consideration for admission into the Clarkson University Physician Assistant Program.
Interested students must possess, at a minimum:

An overall GPA and an overall science GPA of at least 3.0 (includes all undergraduate and graduate coursework).

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited US or Canadian institution of higher education with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher.
Students may apply while their degree is in progress; however, degree completion and final transcripts are required prior to enrollment into the PA Program.

A Bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the US and Canada:

• Candidates must send their transcripts to one of the member organizations associated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for translation and submit the results to CASPA. No exceptions will be made and application review will not be completed until verification from CASPA.
• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are required to submit official test scores for either Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) https://www.ets.org/toefl. The following minimum score is required for admission: 80. Clarkson’s school code is: 2084.
• The requirement will be automatically waived for the TOEFL/IELTS requirement for international students who are from a nation where English is an official language or who have studied in the United States for at least four years.

A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required, with a grade of B or higher in all prerequisite courses. The following are required prerequisites:

• General Biology I (with lab) – 4 credits
• General Biology II (with lab) – 4 credits
• General/Inorganic Chemistry I (with lab) – 4 credits
• General/Inorganic Chemistry II (with lab) – 4 credits
• Biochemistry/ Organic Chemistry – 3 credits
• Anatomy & Physiology I/Anatomy (with lab) – 4 credits
• Anatomy & Physiology II/Physiology (with lab) – 4 credits
• Microbiology – 3 credits
• Genetics/ Eukaryotic Genetics – 3 credits
• General Psychology – 3 credits
• Statistics (Psychological Statistics/Biostatistics) – 3 credits
• Social Sciences/Humanities – 3 credits

Advanced placement credit will not be accepted for any prerequisite course
Prerequisite courses with a pass/fail grade will not be accepted

COVID exception: Prerequisite courses that were changed to a pass/fail format and completed between the start of spring 2020 and the end of fall 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be accepted. Pass/fail courses prior to spring 2020 or after fall 2021 will not be accepted.

All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of application. Any courses outstanding at the time of application must be successfully completed before matriculation.
Applicants may be accepted conditionally and may matriculate only if all required coursework is successfully completed before matriculation.

An applicant cannot have more than two prerequiste courses in progress at time of application.

Three letters of reference are required. 

• One letter must be completed by a clinician (MD/DO, NP, PA).
• It is recommended though not required to have a reference letter from a professor. 

• A minimum of 500 hours of patient care experience must be completed, documented and verified at the time of application submission. Evidence of completion required: Letter from a supervisor or HR Department on official letterhead.

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of documented and verifiable patient care experience must be completed by the time of matriculation. Patient care experience is evaluated based on two factors: quality and quantity. Quality is defined as hands-on responsibility for the patient. Applicants with compensated hours of direct patient care experience are preferred. Shadowing or observation experiences are not accepted as patient care experience and cannot be used to fulfill required hours.
• A minimum of 40 hours of in person clinical observation is required for enrollment in the PA program. At least 10 hours must be completed with a Physician Assistant, and the remaining 30 hours can be completed with another licensed medical professional (PA, MD, DO, NP, etc). Verification of clinical observation must be completed and uploaded prior to the interview. Please submit attestation of observation hours on official letterhead to be signed by the Physician Assistant to certify your hours.

The abilities and skills which candidates and students must possess in order to complete the education and training associated with Physician Assistant education are referred to as “Technical Standards.” These same abilities and skills are essential for clinical practice as a Physician Assistant. The Technical Standards listed below reflect five categorical areas: observation, communication, critical reasoning (intellectual), motor and sensory, and behavioral/social and represent minimum competence levels. Students must attest that they meet these Technical Standards prior to or at the time of matriculation to the Clarkson University Department of PA Studies. Students found to be in violation of Technical Standards are at risk for dismissal from the program. Each standard is defined below and is followed by examples of indicators of minimum competence in that area. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner.  

Our Five Categorical Areas:  

Observation – Candidates must have sufficient capacity to observe in the lecture hall, the laboratory, the outpatient setting and the patient’s bedside.  Sensory skills to perform a physical examination are required. Functional vision, hearing and tactile sensation are required to properly observe a patient’s condition and to perform procedures regularly required during a physical examination such as inspection, auscultation and palpation.

Communication – Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both academic and health care settings. Candidates must show evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills. Candidates must be able to communicate with patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture and perceive nonverbal communications. Candidates must be capable of completing, in a thorough and timely manner, appropriate medical records and documents and plans according to protocol.

Motor – The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures (e.g., palpation, auscultation) is required. Candidates must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to properly care for all patients.  Candidates must be able to move freely about patient care environments and must be able to move between settings such as clinics, classroom buildings, and hospitals. In addition, physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences.

Intellectual – Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize. Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates must be able to read and understand medical literature. In order to complete the Physician Assistant Studies program, candidates must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion in medical problem-solving and patient care.

Behavioral and Social Attributes – Candidates must possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and other members of the healthcare team is essential. The ability to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice, flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills and concern for others, are all required. Candidates must be able to function effectively under stress and have the ability to accept constructive criticism and handle difficult interpersonal relationships during training.

Candidates will be required to certify that they have read and understand the Technical Standards of the Department of PA Studies at Clarkson University and attest that they have no condition – as noted above – that would interfere, inhibit, compromise or distract from their participation in the program or profession.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for physician assistants is excellent, with expected growth of the profession at 28 percent by the year 2031. This is much faster than average and due to expanding health services and focus on cost savings.

Because PAs have the opportunity to excel in virtually any specialty area of medicine, physician assistants span a variety of roles, specialties and sub-specialty areas. PAs have the ability to specialize in one or several areas throughout their career. This versatility is a main advantage of the PA role.

Common specialty areas include:

Striving to improve patient care, graduates of Clarkson’s PA program have secured positions in many organizations, including: