Early Assurance Program

Admission Overview

The Early Assurance Pathway offers an alternative route for current Seton Hill University students to secure a seat in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) program at the end of their sophomore year. While any major is eligible to apply for a seat through this admissions process, the Pre-PA Track of the Health Science BS has been designed to coordinate with this program. It is possible to complete both the Bachelor of Science in Health Science and the Master of Science in Physician Assistant degrees in as little as six years. Students who are offered an Early Assurance seat complete the degree of Bachelor of Science prior to matriculation into the Master of Science in Physician Assistant.

Questions about the Early Assurance Program for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program may be directed to:

Lisa Glessner
724-838-4208
paadmission@setonhill.edu

Admission Requirements

Current Seton Hill University students are eligible to apply for an early assurance seat after completion of their sophomore year. To be considered for a seat, the following criteria must be met:

• Completion of four full-time terms of undergraduate study.
• Completion of a minimum of 12 credits of prerequisite courses.*
• Completion of SHL214 and SHL215 Human Anatomy & Physiology I lecture and lab.
• Completion of either SCH122 Foundations of Organic Chemistry or SCH210 Organic Chemistry I.
• Overall GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Science GPA of 3.2 or higher (following CASPA GPA Calculation Guidelines).
• Prerequisite* GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• C or higher in all completed prerequisite courses.*
• Completion of a minimum of 100 hours of health care experience.
• 2 PA shadowing experiences in different specialties, each a minimum of 4 hours.

* The prerequisite courses are listed below. The prerequisite GPA is based on the combined GPA for the courses on this list which have been completed at the time of application:

• General biology
• Organic chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry laboratory
• Medical terminology
• Human anatomy and physiology I and II with laboratories
• Microbiology with laboratory
• Lifespan development or abnormal psychology (or equivalent courses in psychology)
• Statistics

All current Seton Hill University students who meet these criteria are guaranteed an interview for a seat. The application process for seats in the Early Assurance Program is a competitive process due to space limitations in the program. The program utilizes a comprehensive rubric (below) to evaluate applicants to the program and thereby assign scores. Higher rubric scores are more likely to be awarded seats. The accepted Early Assurance student’s master's program starting date will be based on their anticipated graduation date. Students who do not meet the criteria or are not awarded a seat can still complete their undergraduate degree and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree.

Guidelines for Transfer Students

Students currently enrolled outside of Seton Hill University are eligible to apply for transfer to Seton Hill University following university transfer admissions processes. Students who transfer to Seton Hill University prior to the Spring semester of their sophomore year (Term 4) are eligible to apply for an Early Assurance seat at the end of Term 4. The length of the time to complete the BS in Health Science - Pre PA Track, or other undergraduate degree, is determined based on a transcript evaluation. Transfer courses that are accepted as substitutes for the prerequisite courses can be used for the Early Assurance application process. Students who transfer to Seton Hill University at the start of their junior year (Term 5) or later are not eligible to apply for an Early Assurance seat. Refer to Graduate PA Admissions for more information on direct application to the Master of Physician Assistant program.

Physician Assistant MS Matriculation Standards

Once granted an early assurance seat, students are guaranteed a spot in the MS program, so long as they maintain the following:

Completion of all program prerequisite courses. Students must earn a C or better in all prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed at Seton Hill University, with the exception of courses completed by transfer students prior to enrolling at Seton Hill University. A transcript evaluation will be completed upon application for transfer students to determine which transfer courses fulfill the requirements.

• Completion of the BS or BA undergraduate degree.
• Overall GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Science GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Overall prerequisite GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Minimum of 300 hours (total) of health care experience with direct patient contact.
• 3 PA shadowing experiences in different specialties, each a minimum of 4 hours.
• Meet and agree to the Technical Standards required by the MSPA Program.
• Agree not to apply to another school’s Master of Physician Assistant program.

Application and Interview Process

Applications for Early Assurance Program seats are accepted between May 1 - May 30th. Information about the application process, including a link to the application, will be available on MySHU by April 1. Interviews will be conducted during June and July. Admissions decisions regarding the awarding of seats will be made by August 1st, and students will be notified no later than August 15th. The MSPA start date for accepted students is based on their anticipated graduation date.

Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program Admissions Committee reviews all applications for the Early Assurance Program. Applicants who meet the criteria outlined above will be invited to participate in an individual online interview with program faculty. Applicants will be evaluated during the interview on the following:

• Communication skills
• Preparedness
• Professionalism
• Respectfulness
• Understanding of the PA role
• Knowledge of Seton Hill’s program