PA Medicine (Master's) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The Master of Science in PA Medicine is a 27-month, 108-credit programme offered by the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine that prepares physician assistants for practice. Students train alongside osteopathic medical (DO) students in both didactic and clinical settings, with a team-based, collaborative approach to care. The programme is approved by ARC-PA for a maximum class of 38 students.

Faculty: College of Osteopathic Medicine | Department: Department of PA Medicine | Duration: 27 months; 108 credits (maximum 33 months) | Intake: May (cohort begins mid-May each year) | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

Didactic semesters cover medicine, physical examination, procedures and diagnostics, medical history and documentation, ethics, primary care applications, business of healthcare and research and evidence-based medicine. The clinical year includes core rotations in pediatrics, behavioral health, family medicine, internal medicine, women's health, surgery and emergency medicine plus electives; Plan B (non-thesis) only.

Career pathways

Physician assistant practice.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution completed before the programme starts (foreign degrees evaluated by WES). Prerequisites, each with a grade of 3.0/B or higher (B- not accepted): human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology with lab, general chemistry, biochemistry, developmental psychology, English composition and statistics; prerequisites must be completed by December 31 of the application cycle; no more than two repeated prerequisites. No cumulative or science GPA minimum. Verified CASPA application (deadline November 1) with personal statement and three letters of recommendation, plus MSUCOM secondary application (deadline November 15; fee $100). GRE, MCAT and PA-CAT not required. TOEFL iBT minimum 100 for applicants without four years of US high school (exam by December 1). Selected applicants interview one-on-one via Zoom; rolling admissions. Healthcare exposure and service are given preference.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May) in the MPH programme; intake terms for other graduate programmes are set by each department or program.

The graduate application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants, with one fee per application; applicants may submit up to two applications to different graduate majors per semester. Applications are reviewed by the department or program, which sets its own deadlines.

MPH application deadlines (SOPHAS completion): fall May 18, spring October 18, summer February 15; MSU supplemental application: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer March 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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