South University Physician Assistant Programs

Yes. South University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees. SACS, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; 404.679.4501.

The Physician Assistant Studies program offered at South University – Savannah is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Johns Creek, GA, 30097; Telephone: 770.476.1224.

The Physician Assistant Studies program offered at South University – Tampa is provisionally accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Johns Creek, GA, 30097; Telephone: 770.476.1224.

The South University Physician Assistant Studies program awards graduates the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).^* Graduates of a Physician Assistant program who are certified by the NCCPA, are eligible to practice in all 50 states.

^*South University does not guarantee third-party certification/licensure. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University.

The program accepts approximately 65 students in each class.

Yes. To apply to the South University Physician Assistant Studies program, visit CASPA.

September 1st of the year prior to the prospective start date is the deadline for applicants to submit their applications to Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). If you apply in April and thereafter, your application must be completed by August 1, 2011 and your GRE must be completed by July 31, 2011.

The program begins each year in early January. A one-week orientation precedes the formal start of classes.

No. The program matriculates one class per year in January.

View current tuition and fees estimates for the Physician Assistant Studies program here.

Yes. Students must have earned their bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation at the program.

While most incoming students have earned their bachelor’s degrees in a science or health care field, it is not required. Strong preparation in natural sciences is highly valued. The number of courses, the level of those courses, and performance are important considerations. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to handle social science and humanities as well. If an applicant does not possess a science or health care related degree, it is strongly encouraged that they attempt to get as much clinical experience as possible.

Coursework

Prerequisite science courses (with labs) must be completed at a US-accredited US-based college or university. Prerequisite courses must include the following:

• Human Anatomy*
  1 semester or quarter
• Human Physiology*
  1 semester or quarter
• General Biology+
  2 semesters or quarters
• General Chemistry+
  2 semesters or quarters
• Organic Chemistry+
  1 semester or quarter
• Microbiology+
  1 semester or quarter

^*Human Anatomy and Physiology may be taken as standalone courses or as part of a sequence. In the event that the courses are taken as part of a sequence, only a completed sequence of A&P I and II will be accepted.

⁺Basic science courses should be those for science majors. Only courses with an associated lab will be given credit for fulfilling prerequisite requirements.

Yes. However, students submitting an application with greater than two outstanding prerequisite courses will not be considered for admission.

In general, prerequisites cannot be substituted. Exceptions to the prerequisite requirements will be considered only in very rare instances and must be approved by the admissions committee.

The South University Physician Assistant Studies program accepts credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective prerequisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in calculation of the applicants overall or prerequisite GPA. The South University Physician Assistant Studies program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite requirements.

No. The South University Physician Assistant Studies program is a CASPA participating program. Official transcripts should be sent to Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) at the time of application. However, if there are outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of application, official transcripts of that coursework should be sent to the program upon completion.

South University strongly encourages applicants to participate in patient centered clinical experience prior to application and matriculation. The experience of working with patients is valuable to anyone considering a career as a Physician Assistant Studies. While it is advantageous that entering students have some direct patient contact, it is the policy of the South University Physician Assistant Studies program not to prescribe a minimum number of patient contact hours or fields in which the experience must be gained. Experience is considered in the application review process of each individual applicant. Significant health care experience is valued in considering the admission qualifications of any given applicant.

Many applicants begin working in the health care field in the summer between high school and college. By working in health care each summer through their undergraduate education they accrue the necessary hours. Potential entry-level positions (paid and unpaid) include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), paramedic, phlebotomist, nursing aide, home health care aide, and volunteers for community mental health or family planning agencies.

Yes. Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test.

Yes. Applications will be reviewed if GRE scores are not yet received by CASPA and/or the South University Physician Assistant Studies program. However, admissions decisions cannot be made until all application materials are received including GRE scores.

The GRE scores are assessed in conjunction with the applicant’s complete profile. The South University Physician Assistant Studies program does not set a minimum acceptable score for the GRE but looks at scores at or above the 50th percentile as more competitive. Additional explanation on the meaning of the GRE scores can be found here.

Yes. The program office must receive an official GRE score report for each student prior to admissions decisions or matriculation.

The South University GRE code is 5157. There is no specific program code for the GRE.

Yes. After review of applications, those applicants deemed competitive are invited for an on-campus interview. The Physician Assistant Studies program conducts “behavioral” interviews on each candidate. (For information on this style of interview you can do a web search for “Behavioral Interviews.”) Each applicant will have two general interviews and one interview with the program director. The general interviews generally include one applicant and one to two program representatives.

Admission preference is not given to residents of Georgia. Tuition for all students is the same.

Yes. Upon acceptance, each student is required to purchase a criminal background check. The background checks are at the expense of the student and are performed by a third party agency. Finding of any prior criminal activity may terminate the student’s acceptance into the South University Physician Assistant Studies program.

Our program does not offer a part-time option or online courses.

No. Every student accepted to our program must apply for admission through CASPA.

Students for whom English is a second language must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 600, computer-based score of 250 or internet based score of 80.

Yes. The following are the minimum GPA requirements for acceptance to the South University Physician Assistant Studies program:

• Overall (Cumulative): 2.6/4.0 Required
• Prerequisite Courses: 3.0/4.0 Strongly Recommended

Our students rotate in busy clinics, private physician’s offices, teaching hospitals, large institutions, and military hospitals and clinics. Rotations exist in both small towns and metropolitan cities. Students frequently rotate out to underserved areas in the heights of the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia and in the most rural areas of southwestern Georgia and middle Georgia, and into underserved urban clinics in Savannah. Students are offered a wide variety of experiences and locations for their clinical rotations designed to round out the application of knowledge and skills to actual patient care.

Students are offered a choice in selecting their clinical rotations. Academic and professional performance while in the program and prior clinical experience are taken into consideration in all placements.

The campus has limited off site apartment living. The Director of Housing’s office has more detailed information on that and available housing in the surrounding area. The Director of Student Activities and Housing can be reached at 912.201.8049.

Our Financial Aid officers, who are vey knowledgeable in this area make every attempt to assist students seeking financial aid, can be reached at 912.201.8069. You can also find information about student loans here.

The South University school code for filling out the FAFSA is 013039. You can complete a FAFSA here.

Due to the intensive nature of the Physician Assistant Studies program curriculum and study hours involved in the first year most students do not work. During clinical rotations, students find that their patient management responsibilities and time required preparing for rounds and attending conferences do not allow them to work and attend the program. More information on student employment can be found here.