Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies program prepares you for compassionate healthcare provision. With a focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care, you’ll gain clinical competence to serve diverse populations. Through rigorous training and interprofessional education, graduates emerge ready to excel as physician assistants, delivering accessible, high-quality healthcare and making a positive impact in their communities.
What is a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree?
100% of responding MPAS graduates are working in the field
Why earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies?
At St. Ambrose, you’ll be trained in the medical model to provide patient care, including physical examinations, ordering tests, diagnosing and treating illness, performing minor procedures, and first assisting in surgery. Through clinical rotations and rigorous coursework, you’ll gain the skills essential for success in the field of medicine.
Elective rotations
We require eight discipline-specific rotations and 4 elective options.
Simulation experiences
Gain hands-on training through simulated testing experienced with standardized patients.
Focus on primary care
Meet the growing need for healthcare in rural and underserved populations by training in primary care.
Industry-standard resources
As a student, you’ll have access to UpToDate, an electronic evidence-based clinical decision support resource.
Early admission pathway
High school seniors are eligible for our early admission pathway, creating a seamless transition into graduate studies
Licensure in any state
We prepare students for the NCCPA exam (PANCE). Once passed, you can seek licensure in any of the 50 states.
What you’ll learn in your Master of Physician Assistant Studies program
In our Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, you’ll learn to gather histories, perform physical examinations, order tests, and diagnose and treat illness. Throughout the program, you’ll gain the skills necessary to test for your clinical licensure.
- Advanced study of the human body using a regions-based approach emphasizing the relationships of anatomical structures
- Proficiency in verbal and nonverbal communication, and medical writing skills
- Understanding of clinical decision-making using critical reasoning skills
- Basic and applied pharmacotherapeutic knowledge to prepare for appropriate medication use in practice
- Certification in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, and Pediatric Life Support
Explore Master of Physician Assistant Studies courses
- This degree will require you to complete a total of 124 credits.
- You’ll also complete 12 clinical rotations
Sample courses
| Class code | Class title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPAS 500 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 credits |
| MPAS 620 | Communication in Medicine I | 2 credits |
| MPAS 640 | Medicine I | 9 credits |
| MPAS 650 | Pharmacotherapy I | 4 credits |
| MPAS 660 | Clinical Skills I | 3 credits |
How much does a Master of Physician Assistant Studies cost?
The cost of your MPAS degree will not change once you've enrolled. Tuition is billed in eight equal payments at the beginning of each fall, spring, and summer semester to maximize federal loans throughout the program. You will also need to budget for transportation, personal costs, loan fees, and other expenses. Explore total cost of attendance.
Summer 2024 cohort (29-month program)
| Expense | Per Semester | Total Program Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Total tuition & fees* | $14,131 | $113,048 |
*Based on 2024-2025 tuition and fees.
**MPAS program requires a Summer start date. Total cost includes three summer sessions, three fall semesters, and two spring semesters.
St. Ambrose University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the St. Ambrose University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by St. Ambrose University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARCPA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2029 March. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
Read more about our accreditation
Related documents
For more details, download St. Ambrose University’s MPAS documents:
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:
- Maintain an accredited MPAS program.
- Maintain a level of PANCE pass rate above the national average.
- Meet the primary care work force needs.
- Demonstrate the highest standards of student professionalism.
- Work effectively with other members of the health care team.
- Demonstrates service or assume leadership roles within the profession and the community.
- Recruit and retain qualified student applicants.
For more information, view our MPAS Program Goal Effectiveness report.
How does SAU support MPAS students?
St. Ambrose University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies faculty are practicing PAs ensuring they are up-to-date on practice and trends within the field. Our faculty are dedicated to creating unique experiences for our students. They help facilitate service-learning with the refugee population and assist with interdisciplinary labs.
MPAS program faculty
Other support resources
Accessibility Resource Center
Whether you need classroom accommodations, alternative exam arrangements, or disability support strategies, our Accessibility Resource Center is here to help.
Career services
Our Academic and Career Planning Center is ready to help you polish your resume and land the job or internship that will launch your career.
Are there cost savings available for Master of Physician Assistant Studies?
At St. Ambrose University, we believe that education should be accessible to all. That's why we offer a variety of resources to help make college more affordable for our students.
Military benefits
Veterans, service members, and their children and spouses may be eligible for education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Learn about military benefits.
What’s on campus for MPAS students?
Help inspire future physician assistants by joining the PA Student Society. The PA society participates in outreach events and community service. A class representative who is a member of the society has the opportunity to serve on a state and national PA board.
Inspiring confidence
“My professors had confidence that each of us would get through the program and the board exam successfully, and that confidence came across when they were teaching us, too.”
Korbyn Granado-Bolton ’19, Master of Physician Assistant Studies
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.
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 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.
- 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.
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
What can I do with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree?
Your education and degree can help you reach your professional goals. St. Ambrose University can never promise a career or particular outcome upon graduating. We encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here is a list of potential job titles, traits, and settings a graduate in our Master of Physician Assistant Studies program could achieve.
Potential job titles
- Physician assistant (PA)
- Surgical physician assistant
- Emergency medicine PA
- Primary care PA
- Orthopedics PA
- Pediatrics PA
Potential employment settings
- Hospitals and clinics
- Surgical centers
- Primary care practices
- Urgent care
- Orthopedic clinics
- Pediatric clinics
Traits of a PA
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Professionalism
- Compassion
- Person-centered
Industry facts
- The median annual wage for physician assistants was $126,010 in May 2022.
- Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 27 percent by 2032.
For more information on Master of Physician Assistant Studies employment and wages, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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With more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, there’s something for everyone at St. Ambrose University! Explore our programs to find your place at SAU.
