Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Program Sequence and Advanced Standing

Students are expected to complete the designated professional curriculum in the sequence specified. Each semester’s coursework is considered a prerequisite to the next semester. 

1. Students may not enter the program with advanced standing.
2. Students are required to successfully complete, in sequence, all course work as full-time students.
3. There is no opportunity to progress into an advanced semester.
4. There is no opportunity to change the order of pre-clinical course work.
5. Elective courses are limited to the clinical year.

Students are expected to complete each semester on time as a cohort. Student progression will be a function of successfully passing all required courses in a semester and maintaining a 3.0 GPA. In the didactic phase of the program, any course failure after attempts at remediation will result in dismissal from the program. In the clinical phase, one rotation may be failed, but the student can undergo remediation and repeat that rotation once only. In that instance, the student’s education may continue five more weeks. In the summative phase, the student must pass both the physical assessment exam and the comprehensive written final to pass PA610 and to be recommended for graduation. If after remediation, students cannot successfully pass either or both exams, they will not be recommended for graduation and will be released from the program. 

Degree Requirements

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 3.00 or better at program completion
• Successful completion of Summative Phase: consisting of a multi-station OSCE/history and physical skills assessment by a score >75%
• Successful completion of the End of Curriculum exam by a score >75%
• Be recommended for graduation by the Program Chair and Clarkson University Faculty. This includes an evaluation of student professionalism
• Completion of graduation application
• Student must meet all financial obligations to the University and be in good academic standing

Courses

Spring I    

PA518 Laboratory and Diagnostics  (1 credit)
PA501 Clinical Medicine I (6 credits)
PA504 Basic Science I (2 credits)
PA507 Pharmacotherapeutics I (3 credits)
PA510 Patient Assessment I (3 credits)
PA513 The Patient and the PA I (1 credit)

Summer I

PA502 Clinical Medicine II (6 credits)
PA505 Basic Science II (2 credits)
PA508 Pharmacotherapeutics II (3 credits)
PA511 Patient Assessment II (3 credits)
PA514 The Patient and the PA II (1 credit)
PA516 Medical Informatics (1 credit)

Fall I

PA503 Clinical Medicine III (6 credits)
PA506 Basic Science III (2 credits)
PA509 Pharmacotherapeutics III (3 credits)
PA512 Patient Assessment III (3 credits)
PA515 The Patient and the PA III (1 credit)

Spring II

PA517 Clinical Procedures (2 credits)
PA600 Supervised Practice - Family Medicine (3 Credits)
PA601 Supervised Practice - Internal Medicine (3 credits)

Summer II

PA602 Supervised Practice - General Surgery (3 credits)
PA603 Supervised Practice - Emergency Medicine (3 credits)
PA604 Supervised Practice – Pediatrics (3 credits)

Fall II

PA605 Supervised Practice - Women’s Health (3 credits)
PA606 Supervised Practice - Behavioral Health (3 credits)
PA607 Supervised Practice - Elective I (3 credits)

Spring III

PA608 Supervised Practice – Elective II (3 credits)
PA609 Clinical Research Elective (3 credits)
PA610 Summative Review (1 credit)
PA611 Master’s Project (2 credits)

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.  

Additional Expenses

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.

Medical Knowledge (MK): Apply comprehensive knowledge of biologic and clinical sciences to provide acute, chronic, urgent, and emergent, patient-centered care to include women’s health, prenatal care, and care across the life span (infants, children,adolescents, adult, and the elderly).

MK1: Apply principles of basic and clinical science, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and genetics to identify, diagnose, and provide patient-centered care to healthy and ill patients.

MK2: Recognize the etiology, risk factors, and epidemiology of various medical conditions.

MK3: Select, interpret, and apply diagnostic studies to inform clinical decision- making related to patient care.

MK4: Differentiate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies, including patient education and counseling, in caring for healthy and/or ill patients who present with various medical conditions.

Interpersonal Skills (IS): Communicate effectively with patients, families, and health team members, incorporating cultural humility and compassion to build meaningful therapeutic and interprofessional relationships.

IS1: Use effective communication skills to elicit and provide information to patients, families, and health team members.

IS2: Establish rapport with patients and families to build meaningful, therapeutic relationships.

IS3: Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion to provide care that is responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy, and other needs.

IS4: Establish respectful working relationships and interact effectively with all members of the health care team.

Clinical and Technical Skills (CTS): Demonstrate the clinical and technical skills required to provide age-appropriate assessment, evaluation, and management of patients

CTS1: Conduct effective, patient-centered history-taking and physical examination for comprehensive and problem-focused patient visits.

CTS2: Convey aspects of a patient encounter to all health care team members through accurate and timely written and verbal communication.

CTS3: Perform procedural and clinical skills considered essential for entry into PA practice.

CTS4: Counsel and educate patients and families from diverse backgrounds to empower them to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making.
 

Professional Behaviors (PB): Demonstrate integrity, a deep understanding of the practice environment, and a commitment to lifelong learning that enables them to provide high-quality, equitable care for individuals and communities

PB1: Collaborate with physicians, other health professionals, and health care teams to optimize team member roles and coordinate care.

PB2: Demonstrate respect for the dignity and privacy of patients, including maintaining confidentiality, patient autonomy, and informed consent in the delivery of team-based care.

PB3: Exhibit an understanding of the regulatory environment, and laws and regulations regarding professional practice.

PB4: Approach the provision of quality care with consideration to financial impact, safety, and cost-effective resource allocation.

PB5: Recognize the impact of societal, psychosocial, and cultural influences on health care and health outcomes, to care for patients and communities.

Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving (CRPS): Analyze and synthesize relevant clinical, diagnostic, cultural, and contextual information to diagnose and manage patients across the lifespan (prenatal, infant, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly).

CRPS1: Synthesize information acquired through all aspects of patient encounters and the medical literature to develop appropriate differential diagnoses and management plans for acute, chronic, and emergent health conditions.

CRPS2: Interpret data collected from diagnostic, laboratory, and imaging studies and procedures to accurately diagnose acute, chronic, and emergent health conditions.

CRPS3: Formulate health management strategies, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies, and patient education, in the prevention and treatment of acute, chronic, and emergent conditions.

CRPS4: Integrate understanding of cultural, socioeconomic, environmental, and other population level impacts on health into medical decision-making and the development of individualized care plans. 

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 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:

o    General Biology I (with lab) - 4 credits
o    General Biology II (with lab) - 4 credits
o    General/Inorganic Chemistry I (with lab) - 4 credits
o    General/Inorganic Chemistry II (with lab) - 4 credits 
o    Biochemistry/ Organic Chemistry - 3 credits
o    Anatomy & Physiology I/Anatomy (with lab) – 4 credits
o    Anatomy & Physiology II/Physiology (with lab) - 4 credits
o    Microbiology - 3 credits
o    Genetics/ Eukaryotic Genetics - 3 credits 
o    General Psychology - 3 credits
o    Statistics (Psychological Statistics/Biostatistics) - 3 credits
o    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.

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

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.  

CASPA Application - Apply Now!

After submitting the CASPA application, you will receive confirmation when your application is received by the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Clarkson University

Initial Review by Graduate Admissions Coordinator:
Your application will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Coordinator once it is verified for completeness.

Communication and Application Status Updates:
You will receive communication through CASPA regarding any status changes with your application.

Application Review Process:
Following review by the Graduate Admissions Coordinator, your application will either be closed or move forward in the admission process.

Admissions Committee Review:

If your application moves forward, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
A scoring rubric is used to score applicants for interview invitations. Bonus Points Criteria:
One additional point is added to the application score for applicants meeting each of the following attributes
* Military veterans with honorable discharge or active duty status.
* Clarkson University graduates.
* First generation college students.
* Students residing in the following counties: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin, Herkimer, or Hamilton.
* Applicants who identify as being from a medically underserved area or meeting any HRSA indicators. 

Interview Invitations:

Depending on the application timing and interview schedule, interviews may be conducted between November and August.

Interview Requirements:

* Applicants offered an interview must complete at least 8 hours of shadowing/observing a clinically practicing Physician Assistant.
* A separate PA observation form, completed by the PA, is required if offered an interview.

Admissions Decision:

Following each interview session, the Admissions Committee reviews candidates and decides on offers of admission, waitlist placement, or non-selection.

Seat Acceptance
Accepted applicants must pay a nonrefundable deposit of $500 within 14 days to secure their seat in the program.
The deposit is credited toward the first semester tuition.
Tuition Refund Policy

Admissions Criteria Clarification
Meeting prerequisites and submitting an application does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.

 

Clarkson University PA Studies program has articulation agreements with St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., and SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

These agreements allow eligible undergraduate students who meet the criteria for admission to be offered an interview, although there is no guarantee of admission. This policy also applies to Pre-PA (non-direct admission) graduates from Clarkson University.

Currently there are 5 seats held per year for Clarkson students through our direct entry program. The first cohort of students who have been admitted to the direct entry program will be entering the Physician Assistant Studies Masters program starting in January 2026. 

Compliance and Protection of Right

The department adheres to all applicable laws and guidelines to protect prospective students' rights.