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, 2009

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE(SIUC)

PREREQUISITES FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE

IN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES PROGRAM (MSPA)

(Please note: This information is subject to change)

Admission Criteria:

All applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School.

Applicants to the one year Master’s Completion Program (MCP) must have a Bachelor’s degree from an ARC-PA accredited college or university PA Program and certification as a PA.  Applicants to the seven-semester Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program should hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the time of matriculation to the graduate PA program. The Master’s Program is 26 months long.  The first year is completed on campus in Carbondale.  The subsequent months are spent at a rotation site determined later in the program.  Other requirements are listed as follows:

1.         The applicant must have successfully completed the following prerequisite courses or their equivalents: 

·         All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the fall term prior to matriculation.  Nothing other than Medical Terminology and CPR for Healthcare Providers can be taken in the spring semester prior to matriculation.

·         Only grades of “C” or better will be accepted for transfer.  Grades of “C-“or below will not transfer for credit. Grades of “C” in the courses below will lower your prerequisite GPA significantly and may threaten acceptable requirements. Grades of ‘A’ and ‘B’ are strongly recommended in both Physiology courses.

                              Required Prerequisites at SIUC or the Equivalent:

à         Allied Health 105 (Medical Terminology-2 hours) or proficiency,

à         Chemistry 140a,b or 200 & 340 with labs (8 hours);

à         Psychology 102 or Child Psychology 301 (3 hours);

à         Physiology 310 (5 hour or equivalent);

à         Physiology 301 [Survey of Human Anatomy (cadaver)-3 hours];

à         Microbiology 201 or 301 (4 hours);

à         Zoology 115, 118 or Cell and Molecular Biology;(General Biology for science majors-3 hours);

à         Statistics with Probability: Math 282 or higher (you may also substitute any of the following from SIUC – ABE 318, TRM 383, EPSY 365,  HCM 365, HED 326, ISAT 365, PLB 360, PSYC 211, or SOC 308 ); This class may not be older than five (5) years.

à         English Composition 101 (3 hours); you may also take Research Methods.

à         Introduction to Oral Communication 101 (3 hours);

à         Basic Cardiac Life Support HED 334 or Certification in CP (send a copy of your card along with your application materials).

·         All Physiology must be completed within five years of admission, and again, it is strongly recommended that you make an ‘A’ or ‘B’ in them.

·         Pharmacology (PHSL 420A/B at SIUC) is highly recommended before matriculation.

2.         The cumulative grade point average (GPA) for your Bachelors must be at least 2.8 (A = 4.0).  Prerequisite course GPA must be at least a 3.0 (A = 4.0). All grades in completed prerequisites, if not included in the Bachelors, should be forwarded as soon as possible to the PA Program Advisor after each semester ends. Although these GPAs are policy, you will most likely need higher ones to compete for admission.

3.         Applicants should have significant health care experience, with preference given to candidates with at least 2000 hours of documented work. This experience can be in conjunction with shadowing a licensed, certified, practicing Physician Assistant.  Combinations of experience may vary and can be full-time or part-time, as an employee or volunteer.  Preference will be given to those applicants with credentialed experience in providing direct patient care and shadowing a certified Physician Assistant.

4.         Applicants must submit test scores from either of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).  These scores must be no more than ten years old and should be submitted with the PA Program application. Scores must fall within the 50^th percentile or the normal range.

5.         Applicants will be evaluated on the overall submitted application package, academic potential, motivation, familiarity with the PA role, level of maturity, oral and written communication skills, inter-personal skills, and potential for success in the SIUC PA Program and the PA profession.  Preference will be given to applicants from rural or medically underserved areas due to the mission of our Program.

6.         Students are highly encouraged to be proficient in the use of computers before matriculation to the program, especially with software applications such as Microsoft Word and online research.

7.         The application process is open once per year; beginning on April 15^th and ending on October 1^st.  You must complete the generic online Grad School information form when applying to the PA Program at http://www.gradschool.siuc.edu and select the summer semester. Please make sure that if you are transferring in course work, do so before September 1^st.  This will assure transcript evaluation, as well as grades and grade point averages being posted before the deadline.  We utilize rolling admissions, thus applicants are encouraged to apply early in the process. No application will be processed after the deadline of October 1^st, or in the absence of the $50.00 application fee. (fee subject to increase)

*Applications accepted through CASPAonline.org only*

- Application does not guarantee admission to the PA Program -

-  Since this information is periodically updated, always use the official website below -

Supplemental Application Requirements

All of the following items should be sent to the Program Academic Advisor:

______     Submit the original GRE, MAT or MCAT Score Sheet.

______     Submit all official transcripts showing all coursework and/or a posted Bachelors Degree.

______     Submit a brief resume or curriculum vitae.

______     Submit the $50.00 application fee one time only (subject to increase without notice).

______     Go online to http://www.gradschool.siuc.edu and completed the generic online informational                                     form for the summer semester.

______     Submit a current signed copy of my CPR card (front/back).

______     Mail these materials to reach the Program prior to October 1^st.

Contact the SIUC PA Program Academic Advisor with any questions or concerns on the application process at paadvisement-L@listserv.siu.edu.

Please use the following address when submitting the above information:

Academic Advisor

SIUC PA Program

Mailcode 6516

Carbondale, IL   62901

Please contact the SIUC PA Program for a final list of prerequisites and other information.  Also, check online periodically at http://paprogram.siuc.edu for updated information as it is released.  Our academic advisor can be contacted at paadvisement-L@listserv.siu.edu.     

Thank you for your interest in our Program here at SIUC.

7/09