Admissions Process & Requirements

Physician Assistant Program Admission Track Comparison

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.

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.

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.

Seton Hill's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month program that begins in January and graduates in May. During the first 15 months of the graduate program, students benefit from the expertise of Seton Hill's premier faculty through lectures, practical lab sessions, case presentations, problem-based learning sessions and off-campus clinical interactions. The program concludes with a clinical training year, involving clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. In addition, students will learn how to interpret medical literature and research studies, and how to apply these to clinical practice.

Students holding a bachelor's degree (by the program start date) and the required prerequisite coursework are eligible to apply.

Our Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) cycle opens in late April. The deadline for application through CASPA is January 15 for the subsequent January class. Eligible candidates will be interviewed for admission to the program in February, March and April, with most candidates receiving an admissions notification by May 1.

Questions about the graduate Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program may be directed to:

Lisa Glessner
724-838-4208
lglessner@setonhill.edu

Admission Requirements

Students who have completed a bachelor's degree and are applying to the Master of Science Program, must:

Apply online through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
Have a minimum 3.2 CASPA evaluated undergraduate GPA or a 3.2 completed Graduate Degree GPA at the time in which your application is submitted.
Have completed the prerequisite courses listed in the Seton Hill University Catalog within the past seven years at a CASPA-verified U.S. institution and with a combined GPA for these courses of at least 3.2 at the time your application is submitted.
- Medical Terminology 1cr
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I&II w/laboratories 8cr
- General Chemistry I 4cr
- Foundations of Organic Chemistry 3cr
- General and Organic Principals Chemistry Lab 1cr
- Introductory Statistics or Statistics for Science 3cr
- Abnormal Psychology or Lifespan Development 3cr
- Microbiology w/laboratory 4cr
- Biochemistry or Biochemical Principles 3cr
Participate in an interview (if invited) with faculty from Seton Hill and the Physician Assistant Program.
Possess strong oral and written language skills (international students are required to have an IELTS score of 8 or TOEFL scores as follows: 650 paper; 114 Internet; 280 computer; 135 Duolingo).

Prior to beginning study in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant program at Seton Hill, all prospective students must:

Have a minimum of 300 hours of health care experience. (Healthcare Hours Documentation Form PDF).
Have completed three physician assistant shadowing experiences in different medical or surgical specialties. The length of each shadowing experience must be a minimum of 4 hours. (Shadowing Hours Documentation Form PDF).

For further admissions information, view our admissions screening rubric.

Furthermore, we are committed to transparency in our admissions process. To clearly outline the necessary skills and competencies expected from our students, we publish a set of Technical Standards. These standards go beyond academic requirements and encompass the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities essential for successful completion of all aspects of our curriculum. They also encompass the development of professional attributes that are highly valued by our faculty and expected of all students upon graduation. By delineating these Technical Standards, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the expectations and commitments associated with our program.

Admission & Interview Process

Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program Admissions Committee reviews all applications for the combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Programs. Selected applicants are invited for an interview on campus with program faculty members and alumni. The interview process includes standard interview questions, a communication exercise, and a writing assessment. The interview process takes one-half day to complete. Following on-campus interviews, applicants will be notified of the decision within weeks.

PA Graduate Program (M.S.) Application Process & Admission Requirements

Please apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Helpful Hints for Navigating the Application Process Through CASPA

All applications and supporting materials (transcripts, references, etc.) must be received by CASPA before processing of your file can begin. It takes 2 - 4 weeks for CASPA processing once your file is complete.
If English is not your first language, TOEFL or IELTS scores must be submitted with your CASPA application. Instruct the testing agency to use the following code when submitting your scores directly to CASPA: TOEFL designate code 2812. (Scores required for admission noted below.)
No supplemental application is required for our program.

Deadlines for Application & Admission Interview Dates

Our CASPA cycle will open in late April. The deadline for application through CASPA is January 15 for the subsequent January class. Eligible candidates will be interviewed for admission to the program in February, March and April, with most candidates receiving an admissions notification by May 1.

July 2024 Update: Seton Hill University’s Physician Assistant Program has been placed on probation by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). As a stipulation of probation, we are unable to accept applications at this time. Pending a favorable outcome of the ARC-PA review in March 2025, we hope to reopen CASPA in April of 2025 and resume reviewing applications for the class beginning in the Spring 2026 semester.

Thank you for your interest in Seton Hill University’s Physician Assistant Program and your patience.

Admission Requirements

Students who have completed a bachelor's degree and are applying to the Master of Science Program, must:

Apply online through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
Have a minimum 3.2 CASPA evaluated undergraduate GPA or a 3.2 completed Graduate Degree GPA at the time in which your application is submitted.
Have completed the prerequisite courses listed in the Seton Hill University Catalog within the past seven years at a CASPA-verified U.S. institution and with a combined GPA for these courses of at least 3.2 at the time your application is submitted. There is an exception to the seven-year rule for candidates who have been continually enrolled - with a gap of no more than one year - in a health science program since completion of prerequisite coursework.
Participate in an interview (if invited) with faculty from Seton Hill and the Physician Assistant Program.
Possess strong oral and written language skills (international students are required to have an IELTS score of 8 or TOEFL scores as follows: 650 paper; 114 Internet; 280 computer; 135 Duolingo).
Demonstrate evidence of ability to complete this intensive program of study and clinical training, personal maturity, and a professional attitude.

Note: Applications that do not meet the initial required 3.2 cumulative GPA or 3.2 prerequisite GPA will be automatically denied. We do not allow submission of additional materials after your application is verified by CASPA if you do not meet the initial criteria.

Prior to beginning study in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant program at Seton Hill, all prospective students must:

Have a minimum of 300 hours of health care experience. (Healthcare Hours Documentation Form PDF)
Have completed three physician assistant shadowing experiences in different medical or surgical specialties. The length of each shadowing experience must be a minimum of 4 hours. (Shadowing Hours Documentation 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 as a means 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.

Extracurricular activities, in the context of a college application, refer to any activities or pursuits that students engage in outside of their regular academic coursework. These activities are typically voluntary and provide opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop skills, and contribute to their personal and social growth. Extracurricular activities are an important component of a college application as they demonstrate a student's involvement, leadership potential, passion, and commitment beyond the classroom.

Examples of extracurricular activities can include:

Sports: Participation in varsity or club sports teams, individual sports, or recreational sports activities.
Clubs and organizations: Membership in student clubs, academic or subject-specific organizations, cultural or diversity clubs, community service groups, or leadership organizations like student government.
Performing arts: Involvement in theater productions, choir, orchestra, band, dance groups, or other performing arts initiatives.
Volunteer work: Engaging in community service or volunteer work with organizations or initiatives that address social issues or support a cause.
Academic competitions: Participation in science fairs, math competitions, debate teams, or other intellectual pursuits outside of regular coursework.
Student publications: Involvement in school newspapers, literary magazines, or online blogs.
Internships or work experience: Gaining practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering in professional settings related to a student's interests or career goals.
Research projects: Conducting independent research or participating in research programs in collaboration with professors or institutions.
Arts and crafts: Pursuing hobbies or talents in areas such as painting, photography, sculpture, or other artistic endeavors.
Special interest activities: Engaging in activities related to specific interests like coding clubs, robotics teams, environmental clubs, or entrepreneurship initiatives.

When including extracurricular activities in a college application, it is important to highlight the duration and level of involvement, any leadership roles or responsibilities held, and any notable achievements or impact made through these activities. Colleges value students who demonstrate a well-rounded profile and the ability to manage their time effectively by balancing academics with extracurricular commitments.

Application & Interview Process

How to Succeed at the Program Interview

Our program receives hundreds of applications from qualified prospective students for a small number of available seats. To improve your chances of being placed in one of those seats, you must prepare for the interview. Here is a list of items that will prepare you and give you an edge in the interview process:

Research Seton Hill University and read the Physician Assistant Program web pages.
Attend a Seton Hill University Physician Assistant Program Information Session - this is especially important for high school applicants.
Research the profession. (Some websites that will help: American Academy of Physician Assistants, Pennsylvania Society of Physician Associates, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant Education Association)
Research possible interview questions and think about your responses.
Talk with physician assistants.
Think about why you want to be a physician assistant.
Get adequate sleep the night before your scheduled interview.
Arrive early for the interview.

Technical Standards

The Seton Hill University Physician Assistant Program accepts applicants who we believe have the ability to 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.

We're Here to Help!

Contact the Office of Graduate and Online Studies at gadmit@setonhill.edu or (724) 838-4208.