Criteria for Admission as an Incoming Freshman

Students apply to the Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Dual Degree Program by selecting the dual degree program on the Common Application. Admission to the MSPAS Dual Degree Program is highly selective, and Sacred Heart University is able to offer admission to only 42 incoming freshman candidates. Students are evaluated for the program based on the following:

Overall high school GPA
Rigor of academic curriculum
Enrollment in four years of math and science academic coursework
Grades earned in all math and science coursework

Students admitted to the dual degree program must continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress to enrollment in the MSPAS program, as outlined below.

Criteria to Progress to the MSPAS Program

Successful completion of a criminal background check during the freshman year. The background check is required by most sites at which students will complete patient contact hours, as well as for matriculation into the MSPAS program and, ultimately, to obtain licensure.
Maintaining a minimum semester and cumulative (overall) GPA of 3.3
Maintaining a minimum semester and cumulative science GPA of 3.3
Following the major course outlined in the Dual-Degree Policy and Procedure Manual
Successful completion of all prerequisite courses for the MSPAS program by the end of the junior year with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in:
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
- Any upper-level human biological science course with or without lab (3-4 credits). Examples of acceptable coursework include: Cell Biology, Human Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology and Pathology. General Biology/Biology I or II is not an acceptable course for the upper-division biological science requirement. (any of the following: BI 201/203, BI 311/313, BI 315, BI 320, BI 325, BI 330, BI 345/346, BI 355)
- One course of each of the following:
  - Organic Chemistry I with lab (4 credits) and Organic Chemistry II with lab (4 credits); or Biochemistry with lab (4 credits) - Biochemistry preferred
  - Statistics (Biostatistics preferred)
  - General Psychology
Successful completion with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in highly recommended courses:
- Human Genetics
- Psychopathology (formerly Abnormal Psychology)
- Biostatistics
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Medical Terminology
Completion of a minimum 1,000 hours of direct patient care contact hours (a combination of healthcare-related volunteer and direct-patient care paid hours in the United States health care system are permitted) by the end of spring semester of the 4th year (senior year). 500 hours must be paid hours.
- Examples of paid, direct patient experience include, but are not limited to:
  - Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  - Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
  - Emergency Department (ER) Technician
  - Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)
  - Medical Assistant (MA) – Does not include administrative/clerical work
  - Medical/ER Scribe
  - Military medic or corpsman
  - Ophthalmic technician
  - Paramedic
  - Physical Therapy Aide
  - Radiology Technician
  - Registered nurse (RN)
  - Respiratory Therapist
Successful development of professional and interprofessional skills. Dual degree students participate in advisement sessions with MSPAS faculty throughout their undergraduate study. Faculty continually evaluate students’ progression in the development of the professional and interprofessional skills necessary for successful participation in the MSPAS program and practice as a Physician Assistant. Within the advisement, in light of licensure and credentialing requirements for PAs, students are required to annually respond to the SHU MSPAS Advisor: Have you ever been disciplined by any college, university, or professional school for: (1) unacceptable academic performance (academic probation, suspension, dismissal, etc.) or (2) conduct violations? If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, you must provide an explanation. Include 1) a brief description of the incident and/or arrest, 2) specific charge made, 3) related dates, 4) consequences, and 5) a reflection on the incident and how the incident has impacted your life.
Submission of a letter of recommendation from a medical supervisor who you worked with during your clinical experience to the MSPAS Chair of Admissions and program director during the senior year
Submission of a letter of attestation that speaks to the student’s academic ability, interpersonal skills and potential for success in the MSPAS program
Submission of a written statement addressing the following questions:
- Why do you want to be a PA?
- How has your background and experience prepared you to be effective in an environment that holds diversity and inclusivity as core to our mission and values?
SHU MSPAS Verification of Immunization Status (including tuberculosis screening, Hepatitis B vaccination, COVID-19 vaccination, and influenza vaccinations)
SHU MSPAS Health clearance by a healthcare provider
SHU MSPAS Technical Standards form completed by a health care provider
Students must hold U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status. Applicants with pending citizenship or temporary residency will not be considered.
Background check (criminal and financial) done prior to matriculation into the SHU PA Program
- Successful completion of the MSPAS Program includes satisfactory completion of the clinical education component of the curriculum. The majority of clinical sites now require students to complete a criminal background check prior to participating in clinical education placements. Some facilities may also require fingerprinting and/or drug screening. State licensure laws may also restrict or prohibit those with criminal convictions from obtaining a professional license to practice following graduation. Thus, students with criminal convictions or backgrounds may not be able to obtain required clinical education experience(s) thereby failing to meet the academic standards of the Program. It is therefore the policy of PA Studies Program that all admitted students planning to enroll in the MSPAS Program must consent, submit to, and satisfactorily complete a criminal background check before registering for courses as a condition of matriculation. Matriculation into the MSPAS program will not be final until the completion of the criminal background check with results deemed acceptable to the program director or MSPAS Director of Clinical Education.  All expenses associated with the criminal background check are the responsibility of the student. Students who do not consent to the required background check, refuse to provide information necessary to conduct the background check, or provide false or misleading information in regard to the background check will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including refusal of matriculation or dismissal from the program. Criminal background information is strictly confidential, for use only by authorized MSPAS Program faculty and/or administrative staff, and shall be retained only until the student graduates or is dismissed from the program.

Students who are on academic or professional probation may not matriculate to the MSPAS program.

Students who fail to meet the criteria to progress into the MSPAS program from the undergraduate program may apply to the program via the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) after completing all required prerequisites. See MSPAS admission requirements.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

The SHU PA Program requires COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters. Students must upload their proof of vaccination to their SHU health portal no later than July of the year of their matriculation.

Declining the COVID-19 vaccine may preclude the ability to complete required clinical rotations. Students may submit the COVID vaccinations at any date, however, if delayed it may impact ability to matriculate into the program. Sacred Heart University will bear no responsibility for failure to complete certain program requirements or ultimately graduate due to a student’s failure to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status.

Many of the partner sites are currently accepting only vaccinated students. Opportunities for placement of unvaccinated students is extremely rare and limited. Failure to secure a clinical placement will impact your ability to graduate on time because students must complete the clinical phase within 24 months to graduate.