Admissions Requirements
The South University - Tampa Physician Assistant Program participates with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please refer to the application process page for instructions. Individuals whose applications are reviewed positively will be invited for a personal on-campus interview.
Applicant Criteria
The following criteria are established for students interested in applying to the South University Physician Assistant Master of Science degree program:
- Applicants must have an earned Bachelor's degree from an American, accredited, University with an overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.6 (on a 4.0 scale) and a recommended minimum science GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Applicants must submit scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (verbal, quantitative, and written essay). Preference will be given to those with competitive scores (50th percentile or above). For more information on exam sites and times visit ETS.
- Prerequisite courses must be completed at a US-accredited college or university prior to matriculation.
- 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.
- No transfer credit is accepted for the Master of Science in the physician assistant program.
Prerequisites
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
- Medical Terminology++
1 course
*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.
++An online course certificate of completion is acceptable.
Clinical Experience
Clinical experience that includes direct patient care is strongly recommended for application and selection into the program; however, there is no requirement for a predetermined number of hours (or months) of health care experience to be earned by an applicant. Clinical experiences should provide the applicant with a knowledge of and orientation to the presentation, signs, and symptoms of a variety of ill or injured patients. Such experiences are evaluated on an individual basis with regard to time spent with PAs or physicians observing or caring for patients.