Admission to the Carroll University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program requires a Baccalaureate degree and satisfactory completion of prerequisite coursework. The program considers all qualified applicants without discrimination regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, or handicap that does not interfere with the performance of professional physician assistant practice as provided by law.

Carroll University utilizes the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) to collect admission materials, which will be forwarded to the university.

Timeline for Admission Process

Applications for the 2013-2014 admission cycle are now available through CASPA. 

The application deadline date is Nov. 1. All materials (including Verified CASPA file) must be received by Carroll University on or before this date. Please note that verification of application materials might take up to 4-6 weeks. 

Candidates will be chosen for on-campus interviews in December-January. Twenty positions will be offered each year. Admission decisions are generally finalized in late spring.

Required Application Materials:

1. Verified CASPA application including:
   • Three letters of reference are required, preferably from a college instructor, a supervisor from a work or volunteer clinical experience, and a health care professional such as PA, NP, MD or DO. Letters of reference must be submitted via CASPA.
   • List of course work in progress
2. Carroll University PA Program Supplemental Application.
3. Official GRE score report using program code 0409. By entering program code 0409 your GRE exam score will automatically be sent to CASPA. Scores are also accepted by using institution code #1101 and department code #0634.

Prerequisite Requirements:

Compliance with the following requirements must be completed prior to beginning the physician assistant program. Completion of all prerequisites is required prior to June 1, 2014. 

           GPA: Cumulative GPA and prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale

           Patient Care Experience: A minimum of 150 hours of patient care experience or a combination of patient care,
           volunteer activities and mentor shadowing

           Baccalaureate degree: Must be awarded from an accredited institution or an equivalent institution. Degree must
           be completed prior to June 1, 2014.

           Prerequisite Courses: Please see below for the specific courses required under each discipline. Carroll University
           course numbers are provided for reference.

1. Biology (5 semesters)
   • 2 semesters general biology with lab (BIO 120 and 125)
   • 1 semester microbiology (BIO 212 or BIO 312 preferred)
   • 1 semester each of anatomy and physiology or 2 semesters combined A&P (BIO 130 and 140 or BIO 402 and 403)
   • 1 semester of general genetics is recommended (BIO 220)
2. Chemistry (4 semesters)
   • 2 semesters general chemistry with lab (CHE 109 and 110)
   • 1 semester organic chemistry (CHE 203)
   • 1 semester biochemistry (CHE 308)
3. Statistics (1 semester)
• 1 semester introductory statistics (MAT 112, 191, 312 or PSY 205 or CMP 112)
4. Mathematics (1 semester)
• 1 semester pre-calculus or calculus (MAT 130 or higher)
5. Psychology (1 semester)
   • 1 semester general psychology (PSY 101)

Note: Courses with labs are highly recommended in preparation for the rigorous curriculum.

Prerequisite Worksheet:

Prerequisite Worksheet Open Document

Applicants to the Carroll University PA program may complete no more than two prerequisite courses online. However, online format is not acceptable for anatomy/physiology courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a “C” or higher. Note that a “C-” will not be accepted. Applicants are allowed to replace only one prerequisite graded "C" or lower.

AP courses are accepted for general psychology, general biology I, general chemistry I, statistics and pre-calculus. Documentation must be submitted via official college transcript.

Time Limit for Completion of Prerequisite Requirements: Candidates with coursework more than five years old will need to repeat A&P I and II and microbiology. Candidates who have been working in a medical capacity and performing patient assessment must repeat A&P I and II and microbiology if their degree completion was more than 10 years prior to application.

The Carroll University MSPAS program will not accept transfer students or transfer credits for any required course in Physician Assistant Studies.  Student accepted into the program must complete all required physician assistant courses.  Advanced placement will not be granted for any reason, including prior academic studies or professional experience.  Only full-time students are admitted to the program.

Additional Information About the Admissions Process:

The selection process for the PA Program is highly competitive. Each application is evaluated on individual merits. The submitted materials will be used to evaluate applicants for potential success in the program based on proven academic performance and potential; knowledge of the PA profession; work, community service and other experiences; letters of reference; and essays.  Personal interviews, offered to the most qualified applicants, will aid the committee in assessing a variety of non-cognitive factors, including interpersonal skills, personal maturity, motivation and life experiences. Applicants may not be accepted without a personal interview. Invitations for admission will be extended to applicants who appear to be the most highly qualified to meet the mission and goals of the program. Students will be admitted to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program based on their admission materials and their interview.

Students need not have received their bachelor's degree from Carroll University, but those who do will receive additional admission points.

Any student accepted for admission to the program must have official college transcripts documenting completion of all requirements sent directly to Carroll University prior to matriculation. Accepted students are required to have completed a health screening, updated immunizations and tuberculosis screening according to current Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for health professionals, background investigation and drug screening prior to beginning the PA program.

International applicants and those who graduated from a non-US college or university must provide the following in addition to the above materials:

• Documented completion of baccalaureate degree from accredited institution or equivalent via an international credit evaluation sent directly to CASPA with an unofficial copy send to Carroll University. 
• Official TOEFL score sent directly to Carroll University.
• Proof of citizenship, permanent U.S. visa or visa appropriate for education
• Statement of financial sponsorship

Plus:
13-14 application cycle:

• Three (3) hours of English composition at a US or Canadian college or university is preferred if the initial education was not taken at an English-speaking university
• It is preferred all non-Canadian international graduates provide transcripts reflecting a minimum of 20 hours of natural sciences taken at an accredited U.S. college or university. These hours should include a full sequence of Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology.

14-15 application cycle:

• Three (3) hours of English composition is required at a US or Canadian college or university if the initial education was not taken at an English-speaking university
• All non-Canadian international graduates must provide transcripts reflecting a minimum of 20 hours of natural sciences taken at an accredited U.S. college or university. These hours must include a full sequence of Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology.

For more information regarding Carroll University application through the Office of International Education, go to http://www.carrollu.edu/programs/OIE/oiestudents/OIE_apply.asp