Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPAS)

Why Earn Your Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies at Sacred Heart?

Learn to provide compassionate, respectful, high-quality health care as a certified physician associate. This full-time, 27-month program consists of a 15-month didactic phase followed by a 12-month clinical phase segmented into five-week rotations. The program is conducted at 4 Hospital Plaza on the Stamford Hospital campus in the Tandet Center, a state-of-the-art medical setting that offers hands-on clinical experiences starting their first year.

You’ll end the program with a combined 1,600 hours of experience in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics and primary care/family medicine, as well as orthopedics, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral health and one additional elective area.

In the MSPAS program, you will also:

• Learn from world-class physicians, physician associates/assistants and other healthcare professionals in state-of-the-art medical skills labs and in a variety of clinical settings
• Benefit from a student-centered learning environment, in small in-person classes taught by experienced PA and interdisciplinary educators. We value in-person hands-on learning in our classrooms and skills labs and believe this is the best approach for PA education.
• Enjoy an integrated curriculum which in addition to organ systems-based medicine courses includes standalone courses in Primary Care, Professional Practice, and Population Health and Wellness that address aspects of health, wellness and safety
• Gain hands-on clinical experience starting your first year 
• Focus on primary care and population health and wellness through a patient-centric approach
• Study in SHU’s patient assessment suites, with state-of-the-art technology and clinical simulators such as Harvey, a cardiopulmonary patient simulator that provides high-fidelity heart and lung sounds
• Self-assess and develop ways to improve your clinical acumen through clinical simulation and recordings of your practice scenario experiences
• Complete supervised clinical rotation experiences at various SHU affiliated sites
• Work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional team 
• Have the opportunity to join the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies club
• Become proficient in PA profession competencies as defined by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• Be prepared to sit for the PA National Certification Exam (PANCE). When you pass the exam, you will be qualified to apply for state licensure in any state and work as a certified PA (PA-C) in collaboration with a licensed physician.

Physician Assistant vs. Physician Associate: What’s in the Name?

This program and degree were previously titled Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Sacred Heart University has updated the name to the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies to reflect the national movement within the profession to adopt the title “physician associate.” The new title more accurately represents the advanced education, clinical training and level of responsibility held by these medical professionals and conveys the collaborative role of PAs as integral members of today’s healthcare teams.

The shift in terminology is supported by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), which officially adopted “physician associate” as the preferred professional title to reflect the evolving scope of practice within the field. While the transition continues across state and national organizations, all licensing, certification and accreditation standards remain unchanged. Sacred Heart’s program continues to prepare graduates to provide exceptional, patient-centered care in diverse clinical settings.

Dual Degree Program

Dual degree students in the Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPAS) Dual Degree Program earn a BS and an MSPAS degree in 4+27 months. Students complete four years of undergraduate study to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science or Neuroscience while completing required Physician Associate (PA) prerequisites. Upon completing the bachelor’s degree, students matriculate into the 27-month Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies graduate program.

Program Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Sacred Heart University Physician Associate Program sponsored by the Sacred Heart University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA 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 March 2031. 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.

Graduates equipped to make a difference in patients' lives.

As a PA, you will be able to:

With your Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies, you can work in a variety of specialties and settings, including:

The job outlook for a physician associate/assistant is bright, with faster-than-average growth predicted, and a median salary of $133,260.

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