Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Information
Welcome to MSPAS Admissions
As health care changes, Physician Assistants (PA) are increasingly valued as vital members of the health care team. WesternU’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) graduates are in high demand and enjoy careers that are rewarding both personally and professionally.
The menu at left will allow you to easily navigate the Department of Physician Assistant Education including admissions information, curriculum, faculty and staff directory, MSPAS statistics, and MSPAS policies and procedures.
Functions and Tasks of a PA Graduate
A graduate from WesternU’s two-year MSPAS program will be able to:
- Elicit a comprehensive history and perform a complete routine physical examination on patients of any age group; elicit a pertinent and accurate history and perform a problem-oriented physical examination in situations requiring an interval evaluation.
- Select, perform, and/or interpret the appropriate routine patient laboratory and diagnostic studies/procedures.
- Identify patient problems, organize, and integrate data, and record patient findings.
- Accurately present an oral case.
- Implement a management plan.
- Instruct and counsel patients regarding physical and mental health to include diet, health maintenance, therapy, normal growth and development, family planning, referral, and follow-up services.
- Provide life support and emergency evaluation/care in response to life-threatening situations in the absence of a physician and/or other appropriate health professionals.
- Initiate and follow up on appropriate referrals to specialists.
You can find additional information on our Department of Physician Assistant Education web page.
Applications Requirements
Step 1: Prerequisites and Application Requirements
The first step in the admissions process is to ensure you are on track to complete both the course prerequisites and application requirements in time to apply for your preferred year of entry.
International Students: We do not require a separate application or fee, and you should be prepared to meet all of the prerequisite and application requirements as outlined. If you need assistance with immigration (I-20 form, F-1 visa, SEVIS, etc.), our International Student Services (ISS) staff are available to help you. Visit the ISS website to learn more.
Step 2: Make Yourself a Competitive Candidate
Admission to the program is competitive so you should strive to not only meet, but exceed the minimum requirements. To get a feel for the competitiveness of the applicant pool we recommend that you view our class statistics page and read what the admissions committee recommends you do to maximize your candidacy.
Step 3: Preparing and Submitting Your Application
The apply now page will provide you with step-by-step instructions as well as an application checklist. There are a number of supporting materials that make up your completed application, and it is essential that you print and carefully follow the checklist to ensure that you properly submit these pieces by the deadline. Applicants must ensure that their CASPA application is submitted and deemed complete on or before the January 15th deadline to be considered.
Preference Factors: The MSPAS program has developed a special linkage program with California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) in which Cal Poly Pomona students meeting requirements mandated by the Pre-Professional Advisor from Cal Poly Pomona and the PA program at WesternU, are given special consideration for admission. This is not an early admissions process. Applications for this linkage are handled by the Cal Poly Pomona Pre-Professional Advising office. Please visit the CPP-WesternU Linkage program website.
Additionally, in accordance with the Department of PA Education vision, the program will give special consideration for admission to applicants who are from underrepresented populations and who indicate a high potential for remaining in the state of California to work following graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you navigate through the application process, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions.
All Prerequisites:
- Must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. institution (exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis) or its equivalent abroad
- Must be completed with a grade of “C” or better (a grade of “C-” or lower is not acceptable)
- Must be completed by the spring term prior to matriculation
- Will not be satisfied by advanced-placement, transfer of credit, pass/no credit, CLEP or credit for experiential learning. Due to COVID-19, pass will be accepted for courses completed in 2020 (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms). Pass will be calculated as a “B” when calculating GPAs
- All coursework taken from non-US institutions (including French-Canadian institutions) must be submitted to World Education Services for a course-by-course evaluation
- No more than one science and one non-science prerequisite course may be in progress after December 31 of the year prior to when you plan to enter WesternU (excluding Anatomy and Physiology)
- Introductory-level courses in the sciences are not accepted (e.g., courses taken in the sciences for non-science majors)
- You are required to list all college coursework (including foreign coursework) on your CASPA application
- A baccalaureate degree is required for Admission to the MSPAS program. Preference may be given to candidates who completed the majority of their upper division coursework at the institution where the baccalaureate degree was granted
Prerequisite Courses
All courses a candidate wishes to use must appear in our Prerequisite Database as approved.
Required: 6 semester or 8 quarter units of:
- College English & English Composition
- English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses will not satisfy this prerequisite
- Must be taken from the English Department. If your school does not have an English Department, we may accept courses from the Humanities or Literature Departments
- Literature courses may be accepted on a case-by-case basis
Required: 3 semester or 4 quarter units:
- College Algebra
- Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Geometry, or Trigonometry courses may be accepted in place of a College Algebra course
- Human Anatomy w/ lab AND Human Physiology w/ lab (3 semester or 4 quarter units of each)
- If anatomy and physiology are combined, we will accept a minimum of 5 semester units
- Must be taken out of the Anatomy & Physiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Biology or Zoology Department – no other departments will be accepted
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
- Must be satisfactorily completed by December 31st of the year prior to entering WesternU (i.e. December 31, 2025 for the class entering August 2026)
- Labs must be on-campus and/or in class. Due to COVID-19, online/virtual labs will be accepted for lab courses completed in 2020, 2021, and 2022
- Microbiology w/ lab – may not be an introductory course
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
- Labs must be on-campus and/or in class. Due to COVID-19, online/virtual labs will be accepted for lab courses completed in 2020, 2021, and 2022
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry – Lab not required
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
- Human or General Genetics – lab is not required
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
- Psychology – must be a general or introductory course
- General or Introductory Sociology – must be a general or introductory course (Cultural Anthropology also accepted) – 3 semester units
- Introductory Statistics
- Preferably taken from the Math or Statistics Department. If taken from another department and not listed in our Prerequisite Database please contact the Admission Office
Required: 6 semester or 12 quarter units of:
- General or Inorganic Chemistry w/ labs
- Must be a full year sequence of lecture and lab
- General Chemistry with organic and biochemistry combinations will not satisfy this prerequisite
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
- Labs must be on-campus and/or in class. Due to COVID-19, online/virtual labs will be accepted for lab courses completed in 2020, 2021, and 2022
- General Biology (lab recommended)
- Must be a full year sequence of lecture
- Must have been completed no more than seven years prior to application deadline at WesternU (i.e. 2018 & later for Fall 2026 application cycle)
Required: 9 semester or 12 quarter units of:
- Humanities
- This may include courses such as art, music, ethics, philosophy, foreign languages and religion
Required: 1 semester/quarter or term of:
- Medical Terminology
Not sure if your course qualifies? If you’d like to find out whether the courses you’ve taken or plan to take will satisfy WesternU’s MSPAS prerequisites you may:
- Search the prerequisite database by institution
- If your courses are not listed in the database and you have numerous in question, or simply wish to lay out your coursework, you may instead print and submit an academic worksheet. Note: academic worksheets are available March – August and will be reviewed during this time only
Application Requirements
Completion of required prerequisite courses
Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited US Institution
- Must be conferred by the spring term of the matriculation year
- BS or BA in any subject is acceptable
- A baccalaureate degree is required for admission
Minimum Overall, Science and Prerequisite GPAs of 3.00
- GPA must meet minimum requirement at the time of application and maintained throughout matriculation
- Courses taken after the summer term of the year prior to matriculation are not calculated into the minimum GPA requirements prior to interviews (e.g., courses taken after Summer 2023 will not be calculated into the minimum GPA for the 2024 entering class)
- Meeting the minimum GPA requirement does not guarantee the applicant will receive an invitation to interview for the program
- To be competitive candidates should possess GPA’s consistent with the average of the most recent entering class
Patient Care Experience Hours
Minimum of 1,000 hours of patient care experience, which may include the following:
- EMT
- Medical Scribe
- Back office/Medical Technician
- Patient Care Extenders
- Phlebotomist
- Raspatory Therapist
- Radiology Technician
- Other similar healthcare positions that involve direct patient interaction and clinical support
History of ongoing community service and involvement
Applicants are required to have a minimum of 120 hours of community service experiences to be eligible for admission.
This may include volunteering and all trends of community service and may include the following:
- Homeless Shelters / Soup kitchens / Food Banks
- Community Outreach
- Veteran Programs
- Clinical (emergency assistant, patient visitor/escort, etc.)
- Tutoring
- Youth Mentoring
- Senior Citizen Home
- Church (missionary trips/outreach)
Although we have a minimum requirement of 120 hours, applicants tend to accumulate and continue to accumulate approximately 500 hours over the course of one to two years. Our more competitive applicants have accumulated well over 500 total hours within the same length of time, and continue ongoing community service up until the time they matriculate.
Access to a computer meeting minimum technical standards
- You are required to have access to a laptop computer or desktop while a student in the Physician Assistant program
- Computer should meet the minimum technical standards set by WesternU’s IT department
Proof of Legal U.S. Residency – If Required
- International applicants, or any other applicants who are not U.S. citizens and who are living in the U.S., must provide proof of legal U.S. residency prior to matriculation.
Meet the MSPAS Program’s Personal Competencies for Admission and Matriculation
- A candidate for admission to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program must have the use of certain sensory and motor functions to permit them to carry out the activities described the MSPAS Program (beginning on page 13) Personal Competencies for Admission and Matriculation (Technical Standards)
Health Screenings and Immunizations
- Should you be accepted into the MSPAS program, you will be required to provide proof of the required health screenings and immunizations
Background Check
- Your admission into the program will be contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check, which is to be completed and submitted prior to orientation. The background check is required to verify that your history is consistent with the University’s Standards of Professional Conduct, and to ensure that you will be qualified to participate in the required clinical education experiences. A satisfactory criminal background check indicates no criminal history or satisfactory review of a criminal conviction without limitation; both misdemeanor and felony charges will be reviewed. If your background check is not considered “satisfactory”, you may have limited clinical site selection, may not be eligible for licensure or may have difficulty finding employment upon graduation. Supplemental or additional background checks may be required during the course of the educational program to meet the requirements of clinical education sites.
Once the applicant’s file is reviewed, the applicant may be granted an on-campus interview. During the interview process, the applicant meets individually with interview teams, which may consist of the PA Program Director, PA faculty, University faculty, University administration, students, PA alumni, and community PAs. Each interview team will ask the applicant questions regarding academics, personal preparedness, self-awareness, integrity, and commitment to the PA program and the PA profession. Interviewees are rated on a standard evaluation form relative to each of these variables. At the conclusion of the interviews, the evaluation forms are reviewed by the PA Admissions Committee representatives, which decides to admit, deny admission, or place the applicant in an alternate pool. An applicant previously in the alternate pool must reapply for admission into the PA Program. The WesternU PA program does not accept transfer students. The PA program generally does not allow a candidate to defer their initial enrollment to a later term. Notwithstanding, in extenuating circumstances, the PA Program may offer the option of deferment to an entire admitted cohort. Decisions of the PA Admissions Committee regarding the admission of applicants to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program are final. Candidates accepted to WesternU must submit updated official transcripts by mail or email to the Admissions Office no later than July 1 of the year of matriculation in the PA program. For your information, CASPA retains the original set of transcripts it receives from applicants.
To meet state regulations and hospital accreditation requirements, health care facilities are requiring students to complete criminal background checks and urine drug screenings prior to beginning rotations/clinical experiences. Because of these requirements, designed to assure patient safety, students admitted to the PA program will be required to complete a criminal background check upon program acceptance and again prior to clinical rotations. Certain convictions may prevent students from entering hospital facilities, which may hinder a student’s ability to complete the PA program successfully. If a criminal conviction or other relevant sanction is shown on the background check, hospital facilities have discretion as to whether the individual may enter the clinical facility as a student.
Certain convictions may also prevent students from obtaining licensure as a PA in the State of California or other states. Applicants and current students are advised to check with the appropriate State licensing board to determine whether their backgrounds may be a barrier to future licensing. Procedures for obtaining a background investigation and the costs to the student are available from the PA Clinical Education staff.
College of Health Sciences APPLY NOW
The MSPAS program will prepare students to demonstrate:
- Competency in established and evolving core medial and clinical sciences knowledge with an application to patient care in diverse settings
- Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, families, health care providers, professional associates, and the health care system
- Care that is effective, patient-centered, compassionate, timely, efficient, and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness
- A high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
- Critical analysis, evaluation, and improved patient care practices throughout their ongoing education and practice
- An awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value
Why Choose WesternU?
We have a nationally recognized program and offer you:
- A record of our first time pass rates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
- A small, private, health-focused institution that fosters interprofessional learning
- Clinical experiences that develops professional and communication skills at a wide range of clinical sites
- Top faculty who interact with the students
- A well established program accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
- Long humanistic tradition of treating patients as people first; treating students with respect; and fostering camaraderie among students
- Outstanding student support services including tutoring and disability resources
- Diverse student body and rich array of student club and volunteer opportunities
- Southern California location with tremendous clinical training opportunities as well as access to major cultural and recreational resources
- A chance to join WesternU’s well-respected Physician Assistant alumni, who are in high demand and who enjoy a lifelong connection with the University
Important Program Information
- Due to the demands of the curriculum, students are not permitted to work while in the Physician Assistant program. This provides the best opportunity for learners to be successful in the program.
- Despite previous expertise and experience, students are not permitted to substitute for or function as, instructional faculty during any phase of the Physician Assistant curriculum. This helps to protect learners from divided attention while in the program
“At WesternU I received a well-rounded education. Not only did I gain the medical knowledge necessary to fulfill my role as a Physician Assistant, but I learned to always listen and be compassionate.”
Learn More
Take a look at our visit options and consider attending a WesternU Preview. If you’d like to discuss specifics with an advisor, schedule an advising appointment, online, on campus, or over the phone. When you request additional information we’ll make sure you receive program updates and deadline reminders.
Upcoming Events
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