Admissions

*For combined Human Anatomy & Physiology classes, a two-course sequence—two semesters or one full year—at a 200 level or higher is recommended.

All courses, except for Medical Terminology, must be at least three credit hours. Online courses are accepted for science courses with labs, though in-person labs are recommended.

Read the prerequisite course descriptions to make sure your prerequisites are a suitable match.

At the time of application, you may have one, yet-to-be-completed course. This outstanding course must be finished before starting the program. The IU MPAS prerequisite courses do not have an expiration date.

Online courses and labs are accepted for prerequisite requirements.

The required courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. In some cases, an official course description or syllabus may be requested to ensure the course you completed aligns with the required MPAS prerequisites.

If you have an outstanding prerequisite course, it too must be completed with a grade of C or higher. A final transcript indicating successful completion of the prerequisite is required prior to matriculation into the program.

The admissions committee accepts coursework from any U.S. regionally accredited institution. However, this does not guarantee that all coursework will meet IU MPAS prerequisite standards.

Transfer credits from PA programs are not accepted. Applicants should be aware that all courses in the program curriculum are required. There is not an option for the curriculum to be accelerated.

Prerequisites can be retaken. However, all attempts at prerequisite courses will be factored into the GPA calculations.

• The purpose of accruing patient care experience is to ensure the applicant has adequate exposure to the health care system, patients, and the role of a physician assistant.
• There is no requirement for the number of patient care hours an applicant must acquire.
• Each applicant’s patient care experiences will be individually evaluated on the variety and quality of the experiences and the cumulative patient care hours obtained.
• These hours may be paid, volunteer, or shadowing experiences.
• All hours linked to patient care will be considered, and there is no pre-approval process for patient care experiences.
• All patient care hours should be recorded in the CASPA application in the “Experiences” section.

The applicant/physician assistant student must be able to participate actively in all demonstrations and laboratory exercises in the basic medical sciences and to assess and comprehend the condition of all patients assigned to him or her for examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Such observation and information acquisition usually requires the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensation.

The applicant/physician assistant student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, assess non-verbal communications, and be able to effectively and efficiently transmit information to patients, fellow students, faculty, staff and all members of the health-care team. Communication skills include speaking, reading and writing, as well as the observation skills described above.

The applicant/physician assistant student must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers; be able to perform basic laboratory tests; possess all skills necessary to carry out diagnostic procedures, and be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients.

The applicant/physician assistant student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize. Problem-solving, the critical skill demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the applicant/physician assistant student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures. The applicant/physician assistant student must have the capacity to perform these problem-solving skills in a timely fashion.

The applicant/physician assistant student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and others. They must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, commitment, and motivation are personal qualities that each applicant/physician assistant student should possess.