IUPUI Campus Bulletin 2017-2018

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

The program is intended for individuals with prior experience in a health related field (paid or volunteer) and who have a commitment to provide health care in underserved and rural communities. Students completing the program will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and practice as a physician assistant.  This program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Educations for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).  

Length of program

27 months (111 graduate credit hours) of graduate professional course work and field work presented in a full-time day format, starting in May each year. 

Prerequisites

• Human Anatomy with lab (1 semester)
• Human Physiology with lab (1 semester)
• Statistics or Biostatistics (1 semester - must include inferential)
• General Chemistry with lab (2 semesters - inorganic)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (1 semester)
• Microbiology with lab (1 semester)
• General Biology with lab (1 semester)
• Upper Level Human Biology^ (1 semester)
• Introductory Psychology (1 semester)
• Medical Terminology (minimum 1 credit)

ALL prerequisite courses must be a minimum of 3 credit.  Prerequisite courses must be complete with a grade of “C” or higher.

^Upper level human biology examples: genetics, immunology, molecular or cell biology, lab preferred.

All science courses must be at a level for science majors and include a lab. Online courses are accepted except for science courses with labs.

Credit Retake Hours

Students are approved to retake one (1) prerequisite course up to 5 credit hours, and the higher grade will be used to calculate the prerequisite GPA. Cumulative GPA will include each course completed according to the institutional repeat policy where the course was repeated.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit/Dual Credit

High School Advance Placement (AP) credit appearing on official college transcripts is accepted if score is 3 or higher. If the AP credit is for a prerequisite course, the course is omitted from the prerequisite GPA. For dual credit courses, the course title must appear on an official college transcript with letter grade.

Admission Requirements

Consistent with the Indiana University Physician Assistant Program mission to be responsive to the needs of medically underserved communities of the State of Indiana, we will be seeking applicants with strong academic preparation, evidence of dedication to medically-underserved areas and populations, and clinical / professional experience.  In support of the program’s mission, preference is given to two types of applicants: 1) active military personnel or veterans, and 2) applicants from a medically-underserved county in Indiana.  Application cycle is July 1 to October 1 annually.

Applicants must meet the following criteria by the application deadline:

• Complete a baccalaureate degree prior to the start of the program.  The program will not have a preference as to the background or type of bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution as long as the prerequisite courses are completed.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.2/4.0. GPAs will be calculated by CASPA. All undergraduate and graduate course work is included in cumulative grade point average calculations. 
• Completed all prerequisites, or have only one (1) outstanding by the application deadline.   The outstanding prerequisite course must be completed before start of the program with a grade of ‘C’ or higher while maintaining at least the required 3.2 admission cumulative GPA. Final transcripts accounting for any outstanding prerequisite coursework must be received prior to matriculation into the program.
• Completed the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test within 5 years of the application deadline and submitted test scores to CASPA using code 3752.
• Completed a minimum of 500 direct patient care hours in a hospital or inpatient facility within the past 5 years.  A minimum of 10 hours must be observing a licensed Physician Assistant.  The observation hours and the contact information of the supervisor are entered in the CASPA application.
• Submitted CASPA application in “Complete” status by application deadline. This means all application materials submitted to CASPA have been received and documented by CASPA. Applicants must submit materials to CASPA several weeks in advance of this date in order to be considered ‘complete’ by the application deadline.  Applications which are not in ‘complete’ status or which are submitted after the application deadline will not be reviewed.  
• Submitted an IUPUI Graduate/Professional Application by the application deadline.  

International applicants, or applicants with foreign transcripts, must meet additional requirements as determined by the IUPUI Office of International Affairs, http://iapply.iupui.edu.  Applicants must have TOEFEL scores in highest tier. Foreign transcripts must be translated and evaluated by WES, and submitted to shrsinfo@iupui.edu.

Applicants who previously matriculated in any physician assistant program in the United States are not eligible for admissions into the IU MPAS Program

 Required Application Materials

1.  IUPUI Online Graduate Application for Admission and $60 non-refundable application fee. This must be completed by application deadline.  For “Intended Program and Plan,” select the following:

2.  CASPA application—must be in “Complete” status by application deadline.  “Complete” status means all application materials submitted to CASPA have been received and documented by CASPA. Applicants must submit materials to CASPA several weeks in advance of this date in order to be considered “Complete” by the application deadline.  Applications which are not in “Complete” status by application deadline or which are submitted after the application deadline will not be reviewed.  Official transcripts from all universities where courses were completed should be sent directly to CASPA.

3.  Required Observational Hours.  Record all direct patient care hours (a minimum of 500) in CASPA in the Experiences section.

4.  Prerequisite Course Completion Form: upload and submit with the IUPUI Graduate Application.

5. Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree Requirements Form: as you complete the IUPUI Online Graduate Application by uploading the completed form under Department Information then Additional Upload section. You need to submit the above form if you do not currently hold a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree by the application deadline. Note: All degree requirements must be completed before the start of classes in May.  All coursework must be completed prior to the start of the program in May. Those applying without a degree will be required to submit a final transcript with proof of degree awarded.

6. Two letters of reference, one of which must come from a practicing Physician Assistant with whom the applicant worked or observed, submitted electronically via the CASPA application.

7. Personal Statement submitted via the CASPA application.

8.  GRE general test scores submitted to CASPA using code 3752

Admission to the professional Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is competitive and selective; therefore, completion of the prerequisites and submission of an application does not guarantee admission to the program.

All application materials must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered. Students who have submitted an application by the application deadline and who have met all admission requirements will reviewed.  There will be 90-100 applicants selected for an on-campus interview.  Interviews are held mid-October. The interview is required for both in- and out-of-state invited applicants.  

Admission decisions will be made based upon the combination of all admission requirements. 44 applicants will be offered a place in the Program. Preference will be given to residents of medically underserved counties in Indiana as well as military personnel and honorably discharged veterans.  A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time the student accepts admission into the program.  The deposit will be credited to the student’s first semester tuition if the student matriculates into the program.

Tuition

For the 2016-2017 academic year, the tuition rate per credit hour is $528.48 for Indiana residents and $761.94 for nonresidents.  Additional information about additional costs of attending, financial aid, and scholarships can be found at https://shrs.iupui.edu/tuition-scholarships/tuition.html.