Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)

December 1. To receive full consideration into the MSPAS for the next academic year, your CASPA application must be verified by CASPA no later than December 1.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the DeSales University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by DeSales 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 June 2027. 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 at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-desales-university/.

24 months. The Physician Assistant program at DeSales University is a full-time academic program. Advanced placement is not possible. There is no credit awarded for experiential learning. The didactic courses are completed in sequence as listed in the curriculum.

Admission into our MSPAS program is highly competitive. We conduct a completely holistic review of all applications. We strive to select a diverse student body who demonstrates maturity, professionalism, academic potential, knowledge of the healthcare industry and the PA profession, and service, particularly with vulnerable or traditionally underserved populations.

We encourage applicants from all socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and religious backgrounds to apply. DeSales is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and gives special consideration to applicants who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.

While the program prefers a higher GPA, higher direct patient care hours, higher standardized test scores, as well as higher service hours, we conduct a completely holistic review of each application meeting minimum admission requirements.  All components are considered including courses taken; GPAs, including trajectories; personal statement; the strength of the letters of recommendation; standardized test scores; and the breadth and depth of experiences.

Evaluation methods include:

• Potentially qualified applicants will be granted a personal interview by invitation only.
• Applicants will be evaluated on:
  • Academic credentials
  • Accountability
  • Communication Skills
  • Preparedness
  • Professionalism
  • Respectfulness
  • Self-Confidence
  • Understanding the role of the PA/Healthcare
  • Experience with vulnerable or traditionally under-served populations
• Military Applicants
  • As a proud Yellow Ribbon Program participant, special consideration is given to applicants who have served or are serving in the U.S. military.
• DeSales University Students and Alumni
  • DeSales University students and alumni will be granted an interview upon meeting minimum requirements.
  • Two seats are reserved for DeSales University students and alumni each incoming class.
• The Physician Assistant Program at DeSales University is a full-time academic program. Advanced placement is not possible. There is no credit awarded for experiential learning. The didactic courses are completed in sequence as listed in the curriculum.

The DeSales MSPAS program offers clinical rotations in the following fields of medicine:

• Emergency Medicine
• Family Medicine I and II
• Internal Medicine
• Women's Health
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Surgery
• Elective

Applicants with a degree or coursework outside of the U.S. should review the CASPA requirements for evaluated transcripts.

Applicants from a country where English is not the primary language must submit TOEFL scores with a minimum overall score of 90. 

DeSales University graduates are highly sought after. Based on graduate survey results, 100% of our graduates are employed as physician assistants within six months of graduating. Additionally, approximately 67% of students have already obtained jobs or fellowships by graduation.

We gladly help place our graduates in jobs and maintain a DeSales-only job list.

Yes! The Human Anatomy Lab (cadaver lab) is an important component and unique advantage to our program.  MSPAS students have access to first dissection, with hands-on experience that creates an active learning environment.  Students are provided with a real understanding of the human body, including the effects of diseases beyond a textbook description or digital/virtual anatomy platforms.

Interviews and acceptances generally begin in the summer and generally continue until early in the year.  All final decisions are made no later than February of the year students would matriculate into the program.

Students are taught to provide highly effective care to a diverse patient population.  Our student body consists of those with differing religious and spiritual beliefs, experiences, and values, enabling us to engage in rich dialogue in our medical ethics discussions.  While students are not directly involved with certain types of procedures, including abortion, they are taught how to best care for all patients, in any situation.

While we do not offer scholarships at this time, we encourage you to compare the total expense of our program during your evaluation.  Our tuition is already highly competitive, and our professional fees include, but are not limited to, all of your textbooks/medical resources, lab equipment and fees, technology and education fees.

In addition, our students save time and money without having to absorb the significant cost of travel to clinical sites, as all of our clinical locations are less than 60 minutes away (with the vast majority only approximately 20 minutes away).  No significant travel expenses (flights, hotels, gas, etc.), no worrying about changing your lease in your second year – so students can focus on their priorities.  

Limited graduate housing is available on-campus. Additional information regarding both on-campus and off-campus options is provided to students upon acceptance into the program.

No, if you have already taken the course, you do not need to repeat the course with the lab component. But, if you are enrolling in a science course, it is highly recommended that you take one with a lab. Your application and performance in the course will be strengthened by taking an accompanying laboratory experience.

Yes, the GRE or the PA-CAT are required.  MCAT scores will be accepted in place of GRE scores, provided the applicant scored a minimum of 500 on the exam.  No other standardized tests will be accepted.

When submitting your GRE scores, please use the program code 0540.

The most useful health care experiences relate to direct patient contact (i.e., EMT, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Medical Scribe, Surgical Technician, Dietician, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist Assistant, Mental Health Worker, etc.).  Usually, the more diverse the experience, the better for incoming students.  Shadowing of clinically active physician assistants is encouraged in order to gain an understanding of the role. 

Applicants must complete the minimum requirement of 500 patient care hours prior to matriculation into the program (late August every year).  Competitive applicants have already met the minimum requirement upon application submission, however you may submit your application with 250 hours completed.

You may submit your application while completing prerequisite courses, however only two outstanding prerequisite courses can be carried over into the year of matriculation into the program.

After your application has been verified by CASPA and DeSales has confirmed receipt with you via email, any updates to your application may be sent directly to mspas@desales.edu.

1. Maintain PANCE first-time taker pass rates higher than the national average. 

• Measure: PANCE first-time taker cohort pass rate  
• Benchmark: Above national average 
• Success of Goal:

2. Prepare graduates to obtain employment within the first six months following program completion.

The DeSales PA Program utilizes various modalities in the curriculum to prepare graduates for employment and assist with job placement.

• Measure: Curricular Offerings
• Benchmark: Provide more than 3 varied curricular offerings annually
• Success of Goal

• Measure: Job Placement
• Benchmark: 90% of graduates placed in six months
• Success of Goal*: 

*Results based on Graduate Survey (Response rate varies from 32% to 74%)

3. Foster and maintain collaborative connections between the students and faculty. 

• Measure: Student to Faculty Ratio 
• Benchmark: Better than National PAEA Average 
• Success of Goal:

*Data updated to coincide with current PAEA Program Report

**PAEA Program Report 34

***PAEA Program Report 35

****PAEA Program Report 36

• Measure: 
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students)
  • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students) 
  • Exit Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students)
  • Graduate Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Collaborative Connections between Faculty and Students)
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all assessments 
• Success of Goal:

4. Provide early clinical experiences to complement classroom teaching. 

• Measure: Exit Survey (Value of First Year Clinical Experiences) 
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0  
• Success of Goal

• Measure: 
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation)
  • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation)
  • Exit Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation)
  • Graduate Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation with Simulation)
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments 
• Success of Goal:

• Measure: Early Clinical Experiences including off-site experiences and simulation
• Benchmark: Provide more than 30 experiences on average annually
• Success of Goal

5. Develop critical thinking skills.

• Measure: 
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Critical Thinking Skills 2019-2021, Knowledge for practice 2022 cohort and beyond);
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking);
  • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking)
  • Exit Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking)
  • Graduate Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Problem Solving Skills/Critical Thinking)
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all three assessments
• Success of Goal:

6. Provide education on and/or experiences with diverse and vulnerable populations. 

The DeSales PA Program includes curricular elements that expose students to diverse and vulnerable populations. All students care for patients at the DeSales Free Clinic at the Allentown Rescue Mission multiple times during their education and may have experiences with other varied vulnerable populations.

• Measure: 
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations)
  • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations)
  • Exit Survey (Education/Experiences with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations)
  • Graduate Survey (Education/Experience with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations) 
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all three assessment
• Success of Goal:

7. Emphasize a focus on interprofessional education and practice. 

The DeSales PA Program participates in various interprofessional education activities including work with physical therapy students, nursing students, registered dietetics students, and medical students.

• Measure:
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
  • End of Didactic Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
  • Exit Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
  • Graduate Survey Evaluation of Curriculum (Interprofessional Team Care)
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments
• Success of Goal

8. Support the diverse backgrounds of all program constituents including students, staff, and faculty.

The DeSales PA Program has an active Diversity and Inclusion Mission Advancement Committee (DIMAC) which aids the program in developing goals, tracking progress, and providing curricular and extra-curricular diversity, equity, and inclusion activities for students, staff, and faculty.

• Measure: 
  • Faculty Survey Achievement of Goals
  • End of Didactic Survey Achievement of Goals
  • Exit Survey Achievement of Goals
  • Graduate Survey Achievement of Goals
  • Staff Survey
• Benchmark: Better than Program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on both assessments 
• Success of Goal:

• Measure:
  • Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Institutional Support of DEI)
  • Staff Survey (Institutional Support of DEI)
• Benchmark: Better than program benchmark of 3.5 out of 5.0 on all assessments
• Success of Goal: