Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Application deadline is October 1^st

The application will be considered on time if it is e-submitted via CASPA application by the October 1^st deadline. Supporting documents may be submitted to CASPA after the deadline, but candidates are strongly encouraged to complete their application by the October 1^st deadline. Candidates must have their PA Shadowing Hours and GRE completed by October 1st. The next application cycle will open in late April 2020 for students intending to start in Fall 2021.

Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or completion of the undergraduate requirements for the Integrated Graduate Degree Program
2. NEW for the 2020-2021 cycle: Official CASPer Situational Judgment Test scores (visit takecasper.com)
3. Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better on a scale of 4.0, as calculated by CASPA
4. Cumulative science GPA of 3.25 or better with a minimum of 20 semester credits, as calculated by CASPA
5. Students must have earned a B- or better in our 11 prerequisite courses by June 1st of the year of matriculation, with no more than 3 prerequisites remaining to be taken or re-taken at the time of submission. For details about our prerequisites, see "Prerequisite Requirements" below. IMPORTANT: Due to the impact of COVID-19 on institutional grading policies, a "Pass" grade for prerequisites will be accepted for coursework completed during the Spring 2020 semester only. Pass/fail grades do not factor into science and/or overall GPA calculation.
6. Prerequisite courses must have been completed no more than ten years prior to the anticipated start date of the MPAS program. Applicants requesting an exception to the ten-year limit due to healthcare work experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
7. Completed CASPA application, including all pertinent supporting documentation such as recommendations, PA shadowing, and transcripts.
8. Official GRE scores sent to code 3879.
9. Three references: one academic, one from a volunteer or work experience, and one other (candidate's choice) submitted through CASPA. (Two work references are acceptable for those who have not had a recent academic experience.) The application will not be considered complete until all three letters are received.
10. PA Shadowing Experience Requirement - PA shadowing experience of at least 32 hours is required for admission to the program.  IMPORTANT: For the 2020-2021 cycle only, due to the impact of COVID-19, applicants need only 8 hours of unpaid PA shadowing at the time of CASPA application submission. The remaining 24 hours of unpaid PA shadowing must be completed by June 1, 2021 in order to remain eligible for admission. Because of this change, there will not be additional consideration given to excess shadowing hours this cycle. The shadowing experience must be documented in the "Shadowing" section of the CASPA application. Shadowing a physician or nurse practitioner will not satisfy this requirement. Varying practice areas and/or physician assistants is not required, but it is encouraged.

11. Due to the impact of COVID-19, admission interviews will be conducted VIRTUALLY for the 2020-21 cycle.  VIRTUAL Interview – applicants are required to receive a passing score on the VIRTUAL interview to meet the criteria for admission. Interviews are by invitation only. The interview dates for the 2020-21 cycle are Saturday, September 26, 2020, and Saturday, October 31, 2020. 

Recommended Courses

We recommend, but do not require, the following courses:

• Genetics
• Statistics
• Nutrition
• Developmental Psychology
• Additional/Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
• Pathophysiology
• Cadaver Lab Dissection

GRE

Official GRE scores are required. These scores must be sent directly to CASPA. Chatham's MPAS GRE ID number is 3879. We do not use a cutoff or minimum GRE score. Our average combined score (quantitative and verbal) range is 305-310, and average analytical writing score range is 4.0-4.5. However, applicants should achieve a score of 290 or higher on the combined quantitative and verbal sections, and a score of 3.5 or higher on the analytical writing section. Submitted GRE scores must be from GRE tests taken within five years of the application date.

CASPer

NEW for the 2020-21 Cycle: All applicants must submit official CASPer Situational Judgment Test scores. Learn more at www.takecasper.com.

International Applicants

• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students whose native language is not English.
• Minimum TOEFL scores required: 600 or above on the paper-based test; 100 or above on the internet-based test. Minimum IELTS score: 7.0 or above.
• International applicants must complete the International Graduate Student Application Supplement and provide the proper documentation.
• A course-by-course credential evaluation of university transcripts.
• Additional requirements for international applicants can be found here.

TOEFL OR IELTS

The admission committee will determine whether a student has met the prerequisite requirements and may request course syllabi and/or course descriptions to verify if a course counts. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a B- or better prior to June 1st of the year of matriculation. Certificate coursework is not accepted. We accept coursework completed at any accredited institution of higher education, including four-year institutions, community colleges, and online universities.

IMPORTANT: Due to the impact of COVID-19 on institutional grading policies, a "Pass" grade for prerequisites will be accepted for coursework completed during the Spring 2020 semester only. Pass/fail grades do not factor into science and/or overall GPA calculation.

Medical Terminology

(One term of 100- or 200-level undergraduate coursework, minimum 1 credit)

Anatomy & Physiology

(One term of each, undergraduate or graduate-level, with a lab for Anatomy)

We accept 4 credits of Human/Vertebrate Anatomy with lab and 3 credits of Human/Vertebrate Physiology OR 4 credits of Anatomy & Physiology I with lab and 4 credits of Anatomy & Physiology II with lab, but no "mixing and matching" between these two paths.

Microbiology

(One term of 100- or 200-level undergraduate coursework, 3 credits total. This is independent of the Human Biology requirement below.)

English

(One term of a writing-intensive English course, 3 credits total, or AP English Exam credit as listed on the undergraduate transcript)

Intro/General Psychology

(One term of undergraduate coursework in introductory/general psychology or human growth & development, 3 credits total, or AP Psychology Exam credit as listed on the undergraduate transcript) 

Human Biology

(Two terms of 100- or 200-level undergraduate coursework, including labs, 8 credits total)

Examples of the courses we have accepted toward the Human Biology prerequisite requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

• General Biology 1
• General Biology 2
• Intro to Biology 1
• Intro to Biology 2
• The Cell
• The Organism
• Cell Biology
• Organismal Biology
• Form & Function
• Evolution & Ecology
• AP Biology Exam Credit, as listed on undergraduate transcript 

Inorganic Chemistry

(Two terms of 100- or 200-level undergraduate coursework, including labs, 8 credits total)

Examples of the courses we have accepted toward the Inorganic Chemistry prerequisite requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

• General Chemistry 1
• General Chemistry 2
• Intro to Inorganic Chemistry 1
• Intro to Inorganic Chemistry 2
• Inorganic Chemistry 1
• Inorganic Chemistry 2
• Qualitative Analysis (Inorganic Chemistry)
• AP Chemistry Exam Credit, as listed on undergraduate transcript
• Organic Chemistry 2 (can be substituted for Organic Chemistry 1 OR 4 credits' worth of the Inorganic Chemistry requirement, but not both)

Organic Chemistry

(One term of 100- or 200-level undergraduate coursework, including a lab, 4 credits total)

We do not accept Biochemistry toward this requirement. The courses we have accepted toward the Organic Chemistry requirement include: 

• Organic Chemistry 1
• Organic Chemistry 2 (can be substituted for Organic Chemistry 1 OR 4 credits' worth of the Inorganic Chemistry requirement, but not both)

PAS602: Clinical Application of Basic Sciences I

An in-depth study of topics in gross human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, supporting the instruction in the Essentials for the Physician Assistant courses. Instruction will involve basic sciences with an emphasis on the clinical application of the material, utilizing a systems approach.

PAS600: Essentials for the Physician Assistant I

Essentials for the Physician Assistant I is a problem-oriented approach to primary and specialty care medicine. This course incorporates medical diagnosis and treatment; pharmacotherapeutics; psychosocial assessment and management; patient education; management of patients with chronic illness; clinical decision making; and prevention of disability and disease through detection, education, and prevention. The course is divided into three segments, Units 1, 2, and 3.

PAS637: Clinical Skills for the Physician Assistant I

This skills-based course will cover history, physical examination, documentation of patient data and diagnostic aspects of the head and neck, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, pulmonary and cardiac systems. History taking will also be introduced. Course format will include lectures, demonstrations, online simulation modules, and high-fidelity simulation. 

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