2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Physician Assistant Studies
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Health Professions section in this catalog.
Website: gvsu.edu/pas
Degree Offered
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Physician assistants (PAs) are valued members of the healthcare team. PAs are certified and licensed in the United States by delegation or regulatory authority. PAs obtain medical histories, perform physical examinations, diagnose, treat illnesses, provide patient education, counsel patients, assist in surgery, and interpret laboratory/diagnostic studies in collaboration with doctors of allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine. In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, laws are in place that authorize PAs to practice medicine collaboratively with a licensed physician. PAs are educated in the medical model and have close working relationships with physicians and other healthcare team members. PAs see many of the same types of patients and perform many of the same tasks as physicians. PA responsibilities and scope of practice depend on state and territory laws and regulations, years of experience and training, and the practice setting.
Physician Assistant Studies at Grand Valley
Grand Valley State University established its physician assistant studies (PAS) program in the 1990s, accepting its first class for entry in 1995 and graduating the inaugural class into the profession in 1998. The program awards a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree after students complete a 28-month (seven semesters) professional studies curriculum.
Applicants to the PAS program must possess or be in the process of completing a baccalaureate degree from either GVSU or another institution of higher learning. All applicants must complete a CASPA application, prerequisite courses, minimum health care experience hours, the United States Casper 2 test, and submit recommendation rubrics (see application procedures gvsu.edu/pas). Students begin the professional curriculum after they have been admitted to the program. During the PAS didactic phase, students take coursework including human anatomy, clinical applications, clinical medicine, integrated physiology and pathophysiology, practical therapeutics, PA profession issues, collaborative healthcare practice, clinical problem-solving, and evidence-based medicine. The curriculum combines traditional classroom sessions with Web-based instruction, case studies, laboratory, and problem-based learning. Students spend the final three semesters completing rotations in various clinical specialties in clinics, emergency departments, and hospitals throughout Michigan, out-of-state communities, and potentially international communities. Core clinical rotations include behavioral health, emergency medicine, family practice, internal medicine, rural/underserved medicine, general surgery, women's health, and an integrated pediatric rotation. Students also receive enhanced didactic content throughout the clinical year to support the ongoing development of their medical knowledge in the Essential PA course series. This curriculum provides students with the knowledge base and clinical acumen to sit for their national certification examination and practice medicine competently upon graduation.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Grand Valley State University physician assistant program sponsored by Grand Valley State 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 September 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
Application Procedures
Admission to the PAS program is competitive. Please see the detailed application requirements at gvsu.edu/pas. Applicants may contact the PAS program at (616) 331-5700 or visit gvsu.edu/pas to address additional questions. The PAS program utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for processing applications.
Selected prerequisite courses, health care experience hours, Acuity Insights Comprehensive/Admissions Assessments (United States Casper 2 test), and recommendation rubrics must be completed by the application deadline unless a rare extension has been granted by appeal to the PAS Admissions Committee (see as follows for details). All application criteria and completion of undergraduate degree requirements must be completed by the month of May before starting the professional program.
High school seniors interested in a pre-professional undergraduate degree at GVSU prior to applying to the PAS program must first submit an undergraduate application to GVSU. During their first year, students begin their preprofessional studies and declare a major. The most common majors for students admitted to the program from GVSU are biomedical sciences (BMS) and allied health sciences (AHS), although students may elect to choose a different major. Academic advisors in the College of Health Professions Student Services can assist students with the selection of a major.
Undergraduate transfer students from community or four-year colleges must complete an undergraduate application to GVSU. Students are strongly encouraged to transfer by the beginning of their junior year to allow sufficient time to complete their undergraduate degree and preprofessional coursework. Transfer students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor in the College of Health Professions Student Services Office prior to enrolling at GVSU or as soon as possible thereafter, in addition to consulting their assigned undergraduate faculty/advisor based on the declared major.
The application deadline is September 1 during the calendar year preceding the year the student wishes to begin the program. CASPA applications must be in "complete" status by September 1 of the year of application. An application is considered complete when the online application and all supporting documents have been received by CASPA. The GVSU PAS Admissions Committee will review completed applications and choose candidates for interviews by mid-October. After interviews are complete, the GVSU PAS Admissions Committee will offer positions to qualified applicants.
Admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
PAS Admission web page: https://www.gvsu.edu/pas/admissions-criteria-91.htm
Selection Factors
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Applicants are considered without regard to age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight.
Additional information regarding interview and acceptance selection criteria can be found at the PAS website gvsu.edu/pas under admissions. Applicants must meet health and technical standards that demonstrate their capacity to function as physician assistants. Copies of these standards may be obtained from the PAS program office or the PAS website: gvsu.edu/pas.
Degree Requirements
Demonstration of completion of the 107 credits in the professional curriculum and competency in the PAS Program Competencies and Learning Outcomes are required for the student to be granted the M.P.A.S. degree. General graduate academic policies and regulations can be found in the GVSU graduate bulletin.
In addition, each PAS course or discrete unit of instruction within the professional curriculum has a minimum proficiency level established. A minimum of grade B is required all PAS courses. Additionally, the student's overall GPA must not fall below 3.0 in any semester, or the student may be placed on academic probation, remediated, or dismissed from the PAS program.
Professional Conduct
Medical knowledge and competence in patient care, professionalism, collaborative practice, and lifelong learning are crucial for success in the PA profession. These skills are tracked during the program; advancement in proficiency and behavior is expected. A complete copy of these skills is available from the program and may also be viewed on the program website under Mission, Goals, and Core Competencies at GVSU PAS Mission, Goals and Competencies with Outcomes - Physician Assistant Studies - Grand Valley State University
All students in the program are expected to comply with the ethical principles that embody the practice of medicine and the PA profession. A complete copy of the PA profession's (AAPA) code of ethics is available from the program and may also be viewed under the PA Resources tab at gvsu.edu/pas.
Criminal background checks and drug screens are required prior to admission into the PA studies program. After enrollment, certain clinical placements or state licensing requirements may require additional health compliance, background checks, and drug screens. Non-compliance or positive findings may negatively impact the educational process at GVSU or future licensure as a physician assistant. The cost of these evaluations is the responsibility of the applicant or student.
Clinical Placement
During the program's professional (clinical) phase, students may be required to travel long distances for rotations. Students should expect to complete two to four rotations that will require travel.
Program Requirements
The following program is available: