{"id":45,"date":"2013-09-13T17:40:12","date_gmt":"2013-09-14T00:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/allied-health?page_id=45"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:58:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:58:01","slug":"mspas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/","title":{"rendered":"MSPAS Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero-secondary\">\n  <div class=\"relative bg-black\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"adhere object-cover\" src=\"\/media\/health-sciences\/dpt-or\/images\/anderson-tower.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"WesternU Anderson Tower at night with lighted sign.\">\n      <div class=\"adhere gradient-overlay\"><\/div>\n        <div class=\"relative container pt-56 md:pt-112 pb-144 md:pb-192\">\n      <div class=\"md:flex md:justify-between px-12\">\n        <div class=\"sm:w-8\/12 md:w-6\/12 xl:w-5\/12 px-12\">\n                      <div class=\"mb-20\">\n              <div class=\"block font-sans font-bold text-14 text-white leading-130\">\n  <span class=\"inline-block\">\n    <a href=\"\/\" class=\"block hover:underline\">WesternU<\/a>\n  <\/span>\n      <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\" class=\"inline-block hover:underline\">College of Health Sciences<\/a>\n          <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n    <span class=\"inline-block\">About the Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies<\/span>\n  <\/div>            <\/div>\n                                        <h1 class=\"t-h1-sans  text-white\">About the Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies<\/h1>\n        <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"relative my-48 md:my-72\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"lg:flex px-12 lg:justify-start\">\n              <div class=\"w-full lg:w-5\/12 2xl:w-4\/12 -mt-80 md:-mt-112 mb-48 px-12 lg:pr-32\">\n                              <nav class=\"py-28 px-40 2xl:px-64 rounded-5 md:rounded-8 bg-gray-darker text-white mb-40\">\n            <ul>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/apply\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Apply Now<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">About MSPAS Program<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/accreditation\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Accreditation<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/mission-vision\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Mission, Vision and Humanism<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/mspas-faculty-staff\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">MSPAS Faculty &amp; Staff<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/mspas-indicators\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Program Goals<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/pa-program-competencies\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">MSPAS Program Competencies<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/curriculum\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">MSPAS Curriculum<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/policies-procedures\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Policies &amp; Procedures<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/media\/registrar\/2025-2026-catalog-chs-mspas.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catalog<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Admissions Information<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/technical-standards-for-admissions\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Technical Standards for Admissions<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/students-with-disabilities\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Students with Disabilities<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/competitive\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Competitive Class Stats<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/pance-performance\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">PANCE Performance<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/attrition-rates\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Graduation Rates<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/tuition-scholarships\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Tuition\/Scholarships<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/mspas\/mspas-resources\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Resources<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/virtual-advising-appointment\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Virtual Advising Appointment<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/visit-campus-mspa\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Visit Campus<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/#upcoming_events\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Upcoming Events<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/contact\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Contact Us<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                              <li class=\"block my-8\">\n                  <a class=\"text-22 font-normal leading-130 tracking-20 text-white hover:text-yellow transition-default\" href=\"\/health-sciences\/programs\/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies\/faqs\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">MSPAS FAQs<\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/nav>\n                            <\/div>\n      \n      \n                  \n                  \n      <div class=\"w-full px-24 wysiwyg-content lg:w-7\/12 2xl:w-7\/12\">\n        \n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"my-48 md:mt-96 md:mb-72\" style=\"font-size:10% !important;\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"flex flex-wrap md:justify-center md:items-center app-gutter\">\n      <div class=\"md:w-6\/12 xl:w-5\/12 px-12 md:pr-40 xl:pr-80\">\n        <figure class=\"md:pb-20\">\n          <blockquote>\n            <p class=\"font-sans font-bold text-40 leading-120 tracking-25 text-red-light\">\u201c<a href=\"\/health-sciences\/mspas\/welcome-from-the-mspas-program-director\/\">Our aim is to be a national leader in PA education, known for our innovative curriculum, rigorous academic standards, and commitment to humanism.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n          <\/blockquote>\n                          <figcaption class=\"mt-24 md:mt-36 text-18 font-sans font-bold leading-140 tracking-15\"><a href=\"\/health-sciences\/mspas\/welcome-from-the-mspas-program-director\/\">Read the welcome letter from Dr. Amber Singletary, Program Director, Department of Physician Assistant Education<\/a><\/figcaption>\n                    <\/figure>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"md:w-6\/12 xl:w-5\/12 app-gutter pl-20 mt-48 md:mt-0\">\n        <div class=\"rounded-5 md:rounded-8 md:h-440 bg-yellow\">\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-256 md:h-440 object-cover rounded-5 md:rounded-8 transform -translate-y-10 -translate-x-8 md:-translate-y-18 md:-translate-x-16\" src=\"\/media\/health-sciences\/chs_faculty_amber-singletary_041824_0047.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 50vw, 100vw\" alt=\"A person with curly hair, wearing glasses, a black blazer, and a patterned top smiles in front of a dark gray background.\">\n                  <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"relative my-48 md:my-72\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"lg:flex px-12 lg:justify-center\">\n      \n      \n                  \n                  \n      <div class=\"w-full px-24 wysiwyg-content xl:w-10\/12 2xl:w-9\/12\">\n        <hr \/>\n<h3>Curriculum<\/h3>\n<p>The WesternU PA Program is a 24-month, full-time graduate professional degree program designed to be taken over six consecutive semesters with a curriculum emphasis on primary care medicine and clinical methods. The program operates within the College of Health Sciences and trains learners to become ethical, compassionate, and competent healthcare providers while preparing them for certification and licensing as graduate PAs. A Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree is awarded upon successful program completion.<\/p>\n<p>Classes begin in August of each year matriculating up to max class size of 98 students. It is important to note that all courses must be taken at WesternU while enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program to count toward a student\u2019s MSPAS degree. Currently, the WesternU PA Program does not award or grant advanced placement. Under no circumstances will graduate-level courses taken during a student\u2019s undergraduate education, or at any time prior to beginning the Physician Assistant Program, count towards the MSPAS degree. For example, if a student takes the required Applied Anatomy prior to his\/her first semester in the PA Program, the course will not count towards his\/her MSPAS degree and the student will be required to retake the course as part of his\/her PA education. Furthermore, transfer credits will not be accepted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total number of credits for PA program is 100.5 units.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Didactic year<\/h3>\n<p>The didactic year is twelve (12) months beginning in August of each year and provides students with a firm background in basic medical science, stressing the importance of patient interaction and teamwork in medicine through courses such as adult medicine, pediatrics, pathophysiology, physical assessment, pharmacology, and clinical skills. Didactic instruction is primarily delivered by Physician Assistants. Physicians may also lecture based upon skill set.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Clinical year<\/h3>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\"><span class=\"ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak\" dir=\"ltr\">The clinical year is twelve (12) months and consists of nine (9), five (5) week-long Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs). <\/span><\/span>SCPEs occur with physicians who are specialty board certified in their area of instruction, NCCPA certified PAs, and other licensed health care providers qualified in their area of instruction. Students will participate in callback activities on the Monday and Friday of the fifth week of each rotation or as needed.<\/p>\n<p>Students entering into the PA program are not required to provide or solicit their own clinical sites or preceptors. All clinical sites will be assigned by the clinical education department.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Required SCPEs<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Family Medicine<\/li>\n<li>Internal Medicine<\/li>\n<li>Pediatrics<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s Health<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral Health<\/li>\n<li>Emergency Medicine<\/li>\n<li>General Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Selective I<\/li>\n<li>Selective II<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>SCPE Rotation Settings<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Emergency Department<\/li>\n<li>Inpatient<\/li>\n<li>Outpatient<\/li>\n<li>Operating Room<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Student Life in the Physician Assistant Department at WesternU<\/h3>\n<p>As a student in the PA program at WesternU, you will have access to all of the wonderful student resources and events available on campus and in the surrounding communities. As you start your clinical rotations, we will connect you with the many prestigious clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities in the area to receive experience working in diverse settings throughout the regional area.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Available Careers as a Physician Assistant<\/h3>\n<p>Our curriculum will prepare you to become a well-rounded PA with expertise in many fields and duties. After all, what is a physician assistant without the training and compassion needed to serve their patients? As a physician assistant, you will work interdependently with physicians to provide a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic patient care.<\/p>\n<p>One of the best parts of graduating from the PA program at WesternU is the freedom to work in diverse settings\u2014including private physician offices, hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers, schools, correctional institutions, and federal government agencies. When you join the Physician Assistant program at WesternU, you won\u2019t just be preparing for a career doing what you love and helping patients recover and remain healthy. You\u2019ll also be entering one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physician assistants is predicted to grow by 28 percent by 2033\u2014more than quadruple the average growth for all other occupations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aapa.org\/career-central\/pa-jobsource\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) Job Central<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Western University PA Program Highlights<\/h3>\n<p><strong>From the PA Alumni:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 became a California Academy of Physician Associates (CAPA) President<\/li>\n<li>2 became California elected CAPA Student Representative Board Member<\/li>\n<li>3 became CAPA elected Board members<\/li>\n<li>1 became a Florida State PA Academy President<\/li>\n<li>1 became a member of the California Physician Associates Committee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>From the PA Faculty:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2 became CAPA presidents<\/li>\n<li>1 became CAPA vice president<\/li>\n<li>4 became CAPA board members<\/li>\n<li>5 became involved in various American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) committees or subcommittees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":194,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-45","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/194"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11229,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/45\/revisions\/11229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/health-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}