B.S./M.S. Admission Overview

The B.S./M.S. in Physician Assistant Program gives freshmen the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in only five years.  We offer rolling admission but encourage students to apply early to earn an interview. You can apply online for free using the University application. On the application, in the section for major of interest, please indicate the Physician Assistant Program as the major.

As an incoming Seton Hill freshman, this combined program gives you the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in only five years. You would complete math, science and behavioral science course prerequisites, along with the core liberal arts degree requirements, in your first two and a half years of study. You would then enter the graduate phase of the program, consisting of 15 months of intensive coursework followed by 12 months of full-time supervised clinical experiences (rotations). The degree of Bachelor in Medical Studies will be conferred after completion of the Spring II semester of the graduate portion of the program. The Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) will be conferred after successful completion of the graduate portion of the program.

Deadlines 

To be considered for admission, we highly encourage you to apply early. With the exception of the Fall 2025 entering students, interviews for the program are typically held from September through February. The earlier you turn in a complete application, the greater the opportunity for being selected for an interview. Students typically receive admissions decisions within a month of their interview.

Questions about the 5-year combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Physician Assistant accelerated format admissions process should be directed to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
(724) 838-4281
admit@setonhill.edu

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate PA students must enroll as freshmen; transfer admission is not available. Our program has 50 seats available; some seats are reserved for entry at the graduate level. Applicants should apply early for the best opportunity for admission.


Freshman Admission Requirements 

B.S./M.S. in Physician Assistant Application Checklist:

• A Seton Hill University undergraduate application.
• Official high school transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation (one from a science teacher).
• SAT and/or ACT scores.
• Health Care & PA Shadowing Form (PDF) not required, but highly recommended. 

To be considered for the program, high school students must:

• Have one of the following:
  • A minimum SAT score of 1160 (evidence-based reading and writing and math) OR
  • A minimum ACT score of 24.
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.2.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.2 for all science courses.
• Participate in an interview with representatives from Seton Hill and the Physician Assistant Program.
• High school student applicants are also encouraged to provide evidence of health care/patient contact and physician assistant shadowing experience.
  • Download the Seton Hill Health Care & PA Shadowing Form (PDF)

For further admissions information, view our admissions screening rubric.

We utilize a comprehensive Rubric to evaluate the evidence presented by applicants for our intensive program. This Rubric encompasses various criteria, with extracurricular activities being just one component. It serves to assess a student's ability to manage the minimum GPA requirement while actively participating in diverse settings beyond the traditional classroom environment. Each criterion is carefully evaluated, and applicants are assigned scores accordingly, which are then utilized to rank candidates for potential interview dates.

The Interview

The admissions committee selects approximately 80 students to interview. The interview activities are designed to give applicants an in-depth look at our program. Applicants will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate their strengths and suitability for the program and the PA profession.

This interview will include:

• Program overview and a chance to meet some of the program faculty.
• A review of the Physician Assistant Program curriculum.
• An individual interview with a faculty member or alumni.
• A group activity to observe your ability to work as a group member.
• A review of technical standards.
• Assessment of writing skills.

Technical Standards

The Seton Hill University Physician Assistant Program accepts applicants who we believe can become highly competent physician assistants. Admission and retention decisions are based not only on prior satisfactory academic achievement but also on non-academic factors outlined in our Technical Standards. Such factors serve to ensure that persons admitted to and retained in our Physician Assistant Program possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concern, and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice primary care medicine. 

Technical standards, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum, and the development of professional attributes required by the faculty of all students at graduation. 

Progression Standards

Prior to entry into the graduate level program, all students must have successfully completed the following academic requirements.

• Completion of program prerequisite courses at Seton Hill University.
• Completion of the SHU undergraduate degree requirements.
• Overall grade point average of 3.2 or above.
• Overall program prerequisite grade point average of 3.2 or above.
• Minimum of 300 hours of health care experience with direct patient contact.
• 3 PA shadowing experiences in different specialties, each a minimum of 4 hours.