Requirements

Students enroll in the PA program in a cohort format. Degree completion will be 27 months.

Spring/Summer Year One: 14 Credits

• BIO 510 Human Anatomy and Physiology for Physician Assistants (cadaver) (2 lecture credits, 2 lab credits)
• PAP 511 Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Review (2)
• PAP 520 Hematology and Coagulation Medicine (1,1)
• PAP 521 Opthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology (1,1)
• PAP 540 Introduction to Pharmacology (1)
• PAP 550 Health Care Research Design (2)
• PAP 560 Physician Assistant Practice (1)

Fall Year One: 18 credits

• PAP 522 Dermatology (1,1)
• PAP 523 Cardiovascular Medicine (2,2)
• PAP 524 Pulmonary Medicine (2,1)
• PAP 525 Endocrinology (2)
• PAP 526 Gastroenterology (2,1)
• PAP 527 Nephrology and Genito‐Urinary Medicine (1,1)
• PAP 551 Critical Appraisal of Research Literature (1)
• PAP 561 Physician Assistant Practice II (1)

Winter Year One: 18 credits

• PAP 528 Orthopedics and Rheumatology (2,1)
• PAP 529 Neurology (1,1)
• PAP 530 Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (1,1)
• PAP 531 Psychiatry (2,1)
• PAP 532 Surgery and Emergency Medicine (1,1)
• PAP 533 Geriatrics (1,1)
• PHS 552 Epidemiology and Public Health (3)
• PAP 562 Physician Assistant Practice III (1)

Spring Year Two: 6 credits

• PAP 534 Pediatrics (2,1)
• PAP 535 Patient Assessment (1,2)

Summer, Fall, Winter Year Two & Spring Year Three: 44 credits

Clinical courses taken by all MS PA students scheduled in varying order:

• PAP 620 Clinical Internal Medicine (4)
• PAP 621 Clinical Surgery (4)
• PAP 622 Clinical Geriatrics, Long‐Term Care, Palliative Care (4)
• PAP 623 Clinical Emergency Medicine (4)
• PAP 624 Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology (4)
• PAP 625 Clinical Pediatrics (4)
• PAP 626 Clinical Psychiatry (4)
• PAP 627 Clinical Family Medicine (4)
• PAP 640 Clinical Elective I (4)
• PAP 641 Clinical Elective II (4)

Didactic courses:

• PAP 653 Ethics in Physician Assistant Practice III (1) ‐ Fall
• PAP 663 Physician Assistant Practice IV (1) ‐ Fall
• PAP 670 Inter‐professional Clinical Teamwork I (2) ‐ Winter

Summer Year Three: 3 credits

• PAP 672 Physician Assistant Practice V (3)

Eligibility:​

• Bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college or university completed prior to June start date.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. Graduate level courses are not included in grade point average calculations.
• Minimum prerequisite grade point average of 3.0. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C (not C-) or higher. Courses for which credit was awarded by examination and/or advanced placement credit are not acceptable toward any of the prerequisite courses.
• Prerequisite courses required include:
  
  • Human anatomy, human physiology, chemistry (two courses: one must be an organic or biochemistry course), microbiology with lab, developmental psychology, statistics, and medical terminology.
  • All prerequisite coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning within seven years from the date of the application submission.
  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed before a student submits the CASPA application. 
  • Examples of acceptable UM-Flint courses prerequisite options can be found here; course transfer equivalencies can be found here.
  • International students and/or those educated outside of the United States must provide a course-by-course transcript evaluation completed by WES or ECE. 
• Health Care Experience:
  
  • 500 hours of direct, hands‐on patient‐care experience in a health care environment within the two years prior to application submission is required. Paid work experience is preferred, but some volunteer experience may be considered. Health clinician shadowing and hours gained through student clinical experiences are not accepted toward this requirement. Examples listed here.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE scores sent as part of CASPA application)
  
  • Minimum acceptable GRE scores are (must be from same test date):
    • 285 combined verbal and quantitative
    • 3.5 writing score

The University of Michigan-Flint PA program uses a holistic admissions process when reviewing applications.  Holistic admission refers to the process of considering the educational experiences and attributes of applicants beyond just grade point averages and GRE scores.

All applicants must meet the Physician Assistant Technical Standards in order to be admitted to and retained in the UM-Flint PA Program. The Technical Standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout student progression through the PA Program. The Technical Standards are essential and necessary to practice and function as a PA and go beyond academic requirements for admission. These include physical, behavioral and cognitive abilities needed to complete the PA education curriculum and competently perform as a PA upon graduation.

The Technical Standards for the UM-Flint PA Program ensure that enrolled students have the ability to demonstrate academic mastery, competency when performing clinical skills, and ability to communicate clinical information with sound physical and mental capacities. Details can be found here.

For the June 2020 admission period, the University of Michigan-Flint will use the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). To be considered for admission a completed CASPA and UM-Flint graduate application must be submitted by September 1, 2019 (and CASPA “verified” by October 1, 2019). Both the CASPA and UM-Flint graduate applications will be available beginning May 1, 2019. It is suggested that applications be completed (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received, and three letters received) at least six weeks in advance of the PA Program September 1, 2019 submission deadline to ensure the application is verified on time.

Submit the following to CASPA by September 1, 2019

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended in the United States
  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed before a student’s submits the CASPA application. 
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
  
  • All applicants must complete the GRE within five years of the time of the application submission. Scores submitted after the September 1 deadline are not accepted. All scores considered will be from the same exam date (not the verbal and quantitative scores from one test date and the writing score from another). The UM-Flint CASPA GRE Designated Institution Code is: 1853. The Educational Testing Service will transmit official GRE scores electronically to CASPA and they will be included in your CASPA application.
  • Minimum acceptable GRE scores are:
    
    • 285 combined verbal and quantitative
    • 3.5 writing score
• Three letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through CASPA.
  
  • Letters of recommendation should be from persons who can attest to your potential as a PA, preferably from health professionals and/or college professors. Recommendation letters from family members or friends will not be accepted.
• Personal statement submitted through CASPA
• Health Care Experience: Hands-on Direct Care
  
  • A minimum of 500 hours of direct hands-on patient care experience in a health service environment is required (examples here). Paid health care experience is preferred due to the level of responsibility and duties afforded in these positions. Volunteer health care experience may be considered, but paid, supervised health care experience is strongly encouraged. These hours must be completed by the time the application is submitted and should occur within the two years prior to application submission. Due to the competitive nature of PA admissions, earning additional health-related hours is advised. When evaluating hands-on health care hours, we consider the use of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiologic concepts in the work experience. One letter of recommendation from a health care experience supervisor to confirm hours needed.

Submit the following directly to UM-Flint by September 1, 2019

• $55 UM-Flint Supplemental Application Fee (paid online)
• Official transcripts and diplomas or certificates of graduation from any colleges and universities you have attended from outside the United States (do not send to CASPA).
• Students with coursework completed outside of the United States must have their international transcripts evaluated by WES or ECE. The completed course-by-course transcript evaluation from WES or ECE must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Programs.
• English Language Test:
  
  • If English is not your native language, you must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting test scores for the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL). This applies even if an applicant has attended a United States institution to earn a university undergraduate or graduate degree. The TOEFL exam must be taken by August 1 and the score submitted in the UM-Flint PA supplemental application by September 1. The minimum TOEFL scores accepted: 250-computer based or 100-internet based. 
• Additional documentation if you are an international student seeking a student visa. Visit the International Students page for details.

The application process includes an on-campus personal interview; qualifying applicants will receive an invitation to interview.