Master of Physician Assistant Studies

 Pre-PA Undergraduate program and PA Direct Entry Admissions: 

The pre-PA professional track is designed for students preparing to apply to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. This track can be associated with majors in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or biomedical engineering.

First-year students who have achieved superior academic performance in high school may apply for the Trine University PA Direct Entry program.

PA Graduate Admission - [ CASPA Application ]

There is no advanced placement standing/transfer of credits in the PA graduate program.  

Graduate admission requirements for the Trine University Master of Physician Assistant Studies  include:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States institution prior to entry into the PA program. The degree does not have to be in a science major but the applicant must have successfully completed all required prerequisite coursework.
• Prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited US college or university or equivalent.
• AP or dual enrollment credit courses can be used toward the undergraduate degree and statistics and psychology but not for hard sciences pre-requisites.
• One semester of statistics (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• One semester of psychology (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• One semester of medical terminology (minimum 1 semester hour or equivalent quarter hours) or valid certificate of completion

The following are required to be of a rigorous nature designed for science majors as opposed to lower level survey courses:

• One semester of microbiology (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• One semester of organic chemistry (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• Two semesters of human anatomy and physiology with lab (minimum 6 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• One semester of biochemistry (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)
• Prerequisite courses must have no course grade lower than C or else must be successfully repeated at the same or higher level and credit hours.
• Complete the CASPA application online
• Letters of recommendation: At least two academic or professional letters of recommendation
• Completion of the GRE General test within the last 5 years
• Discernment into the profession such as health care experience/patient contact
• All applicants must meet the Technical Standards
• All applicants must be a US citizen or legal resident

Competitive applicants have:

The following grade point averages (GPAs)

• 3.5 or above cumulative
• 3.5 or above science
• Relevant and rigorous science coursework earning a B or better

The following scores on the GRE General Test:

• 305 or above overall
• 153 or above quantitative reasoning
• 152 or above verbal reasoning
• 4.0 or above analytical writing
• Demonstrated commitment to professional and community service
• Direct patient healthcare experience hours

Total Credit Hours - 65

Fall 1 (16 weeks – 16 credit hours):

• PAS 5001 Clinical Genetics (1)

• PAS 5002 Diagnostic Techniques I - Laboratory Medicine (2)

• PAS 5003 Clinical Physiology (3)

• PAS 5004 Clinical Anatomy (4)

• PAS 5012 Clinical Skills I - Medical Documentation and Interviewing (2)

• PAS 5022 PA Professional Practice (2)

• PAS 5052 Clinical Application and Reflection Experience I (2)

Spring 1 (16 weeks - 18 credit hours):

• PAS 5102 Clinical Skills II - Physical Exam and Documentation (2)

• PAS 5110 Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics I (10)

• PAS 5112 Diagnostic Techniques II - EKG (2)

• PAS 5152 Clinical Application and Reflection Experience II (2)

• PAS 5161 Clinical Pharmacology I (1)

• PAS 5171 Evidence Based Practice I (1)

Summer 1 (12 weeks – 14 credit hours):

• PAS 5205 Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics II (5)

• PAS 5212 Clinical Skills III - Special Populations (2)

• PAS 5213 Diagnostic Techniques III - Imaging and PFTs (3)

• PAS 5252 Clinical Application and Reflection Experience III (2)

• PAS 5261 Clinical Pharmacology II (1)  

• PAS 5371 Evidence Based Practice II (1)

Fall 2 (16 weeks – 18 credit hours): 

• PAS 5310 Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics III (10)

• PAS 5315 Clinical Skills IV - Procedures (5)

• PAS 5352 Clinical Application and Reflection Experience IV (2)

• PAS 5361 Clinical Pharmacology III (1)

Experiential Phase (Clinical Year):

The clinical phase of the physician assistant (MPAS) program encompasses approximately three semesters and is organized into nine five-week clinical rotation periods. Students will be required to return to campus once every approximately five weeks for end-of-rotation activities and will also return to campus for the last two weeks of the final semester. Not all clinicals are local or a driving distance from campus. Students are responsible for their own travel and housing expenses and should expect to travel for one to two experiences. Students are not eligible for experiential phase courses until they have successfully completed all didactic phase courses.  Concurrent with the clinical experiences are the Senior Seminar and Graduate Project course series.

• PAS 6141 Senior Seminar I (1)

• PAS 6241 Senior Seminar II (1)

• PAS 6341 Senior Seminar III (1)

• PAS 6171 Graduate Project I (1)

• PAS 6271 Graduate Project II (1)

• PAS 6371 Graduate Project III (1)

• Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE)

Spring 2:

• PAS 6015 Clinical Practicum 1 (5)

• PAS 6025 Clinical Practicum 2 (5)

• PAS 6035 Clinical Practicum 3 (5)

Summer 2:

• PAS 6045 Clinical Practicum 4 (5)

• PAS 6055 Clinical Practicum 5 (5)

• PAS 6065 Clinical Practicum 6 (5)

Fall 3: 

• PAS 6075 Clinical Practicum 7 (5)

• PAS 6085 Clinical Practicum 8 (5)

• PAS 6095 Clinical Practicum 9 (5)

There are seven program required rotation areas and opportunities for elective experiences. Required are rotations in:

• Family Medicine (5 weeks)

• Internal Medicine (5 weeks)

• Emergency Medicine (5 weeks)

• General Surgery (5 weeks)

• Women’s Health (approximately 2.5 weeks)

• Pediatrics (approximately 2.5 weeks)

•  Behavioral Health (approximately 2.5 weeks)

Elective rotations include (depending on preceptor availability):

•  Orthopedics

•  Plastic Surgery

•  Hematology

•  Genitourinary

•  Gastroenterology

•  Otorhinolaryngology

•  Dermatology

•  Cardiology

•  Miscellaneous

Class of 2021 Didactic phase: Fall 2019 - Fall 2020 / Clinical phase: Spring 2021 - Fall 2021  

$13,808 / Semester  

Total Cost: $96,656  

Tuition includes required books and resources, ACLS, BLS, nametag, basic laboratory supplies, AAPA membership, one lab coat and technology fees