Master of Physician Assistant Studies

MPAS Mission 

The mission of the St. Ambrose University Physician Assistant Program is to prepare physician assistants to deliver high-quality patient-centered care with compassion and respect.

The program provides a supportive environment to assist students as they develop into professionals with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the health and welfare of their communities.

MPAS Goals

The goals of St. Ambrose University’s Physician Assistant Program are:

1. Maintain an accredited MPAS program.
2. Maintain a level of PANCE pass rate above the national average.
3. Meet the primary care work force needs.
4. Demonstrate the highest standards of student professionalism.
5. Work effectively with other members of the health care team.
6. Demonstrates service within the profession and the community.
7. Recruit and retain qualified student applicants.

For more information, view our MPAS Program Goal Effectiveness report.

Admission requirements for the MPAS program

Start your career as a physician assistant at St. Ambrose. Here are the admissions requirements for our MPAS program.

• Submit all materials through the CASPA centralized application service.
• Send all official transcripts to CASPA using the CASPA transcript request form. Applicants with coursework or a degree from a college or university outside the United States must submit an official evaluation from World Education Services.
• Provide 3 letters of recommendation 
• Optional: Send GRE scores to CASPA (SAU code is 0420).
• Complete a campus interview

Contact us at pa@sau.edu with any questions about the MPAS program or application process. 

Apply now

Prerequisites for the MPAS program

Here are the prerequisites for students entering St. Ambrose University’s MPAS program.

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university in a major of your choice
• A minimum 3.0 cumulative, prerequisite, and science GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Successful completion of specific prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or higher. We do not accept prerequisite coursework graded pass/fail or credit obtained by CLEP exam or Advanced Placement (AP). Courses include: 
  • 15-16 credit hours in biological sciences with labs covering general biology (4 cr), human anatomy (4 cr), human physiology (4 cr) and microbiology (3-4 cr). Anatomy and physiology classes may be taken separately or together if part of a two-course section. 
  • 14-16 credit hours in chemistry with labs to include general (inorganic) chemistry (8 cr, 2 semester sequence), organic chemistry (3-4 cr, lab recommended if available) and biochemistry (3-4 cr, lab recommended if available).
  • 3 credit hours in statistics or biostatistics. Additional mathematics class may be needed as a prerequisite for science and statistics.
  • 6 credit hours in psychology/sociology. Applicants may have one psychology and one sociology course, or two psychology courses.
  • 6 credit hours in English/Writing. Applicants may have English composition or writing-intensive courses.
  • Recommended courses: oral communication and biomedical ethics.
  • 1-3 credit hours in Medical Terminology or a Certification in Medical Terminology.
• Meet technical standards for admission, progression, and graduation from the program. See the Technical Standards (pdf).
• Documented at least 500 hours of healthcare experience with direct patient contact
• Document at least 16 hours of shadowing a physician assistant.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A passing score of 600 (written), 250 (computerized), or 100 (internet) is required to be eligible for admission to the program. Results should be sent directly from ETS to St. Ambrose University. The institutional code is 6617.

International student requirements

Individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents are not eligible for admission into the SAU MPAS program.

Early admission requirements for the MPAS program

High school seniors are eligible for early admission to St. Ambrose University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Students on this pathway have two academic advisors: one for undergraduate coursework and one from the MPAS program.

• Apply for admission to a bachelor program at St. Ambrose University
• Complete an Early Admission Application to the MPAS program by Dec. 1.

Apply to SAU

Prerequisites for Early Admission to the MPAS program

Here are the prerequisites for Early Admission to St. Ambrose University’s MPAS program.

• Admission to a bachelor program at St. Ambrose University 
• Minimum ACT composite score of 28, with no section score below 23; or minimum composite SAT score of 1310
• Minimum, unweighted high school GPA of 3.70
• Must have taken two semesters each of: Chemistry, biology, and physics; must currently be enrolled in or have completed math through calculus. The student is encouraged to take the highest level of course offered (AP, honors, etc.)
• Must have shadowed a physician assistant (at least 8 hours)
• Obtain 2 letters of recommendation with at least one of these from a science teacher
• Complete an interview

Contact us to learn more